Why did this P-51 Mustang Land on a WWII Aircraft Carrier?

Why did this P-51 Mustang land on a WWII US Navy aircraft carrier?

Nearly 15,000 of the outstanding U.S. land-based WWII fighter planes were produced during World War II. During that time the US Navy began experimenting whether the P51 Mustang could operate as a carrier-based long-distance escort fighter.

Special thanks to Bob Kettenheim, Historian of the USS Shangri-La Association.

Additional imagery credited and sourced to the US National Archives

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[JohnChvatalGSTV]

The P-51 has a laminar flow wing which is more unforgiving at speeds close to stall.

[kwongsenglee]

The outline painting of the carrier deck onto the runway really puts the relative small size of a carrier flight deck into perspective. Kudos to all the naval aviators.

[ed]

they had some really valid points for not using the Mustang, another great clip Ken.

[michaelphillips]

There are a lot of different aircraft the Navy has tried to see if carrier landings were an option - even a C-130. We used to joke that if they ever figured out how to get a P-3 on deck, we were in serious trouble (and we weren't completely sure that they couldn't weld a tailhook on to the plane). I love the footage and the video - thanks.

[rogerd]

Once Iwo Jima was in American hands, they were able to base P-51 escort fighters from there to escort B-29's into Japan. While the Mariana islands were too far for the Mustangs to fly a round trip to Japan, Iwo Jima was in their range.

[billcarroll]

I consider myself a WW2/ general naval aviation buff, but I was today years old when I learned this nugget. Nice, quick and informative video. Thanks for posting, and learning me something new :)

[fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

Interviews like this are gold, but always fact check this stuff. The Packard Merlin V-1650 as installed in the P-51D uses ethylene glycol/water mix 30/70 as coolant. This mix is not flammable. Pure Eth glycol is flammable, but much less so than avgas, of which they had 240, 000 gallons on board. (feel free to fact check me as well)

[Idahoguy]

IIRC the Bearcat was a short ranged interceptor optimized for CAP against Kamikaze attacks. Versus the P-51D being a long range escort fighter. Very different aircraft requirements

[rsgoochiii]

Great info - I purchased a Titan 51D 3/4 scale mustang named "Sea Horse" complete with tail hook. The builder, Bill Graves was a Vietnam Naval Aviator who was thrilled to find a Mustang in Naval service. Thanks for putting up the video.

[luvr]

Including the P-51 in the fleet would also have added another logistical tail to provide planes and parts, which is why the Navy was satisfied with leaving the Corsairs to the Marines in favor of the Hellcat, until the advent of kamikazes made the Corsair's better ability as an interceptor a necessity.

[racerglr]

The Bearcat would have dominated the skies of Japan had it saw combat. Love that plane.

[danabogue]

Aesthetically one of the most Beautiful Aircraft ever produced! Hard to believe it could be so deadly in the right hands! Even the Germans were impressed!

[mcwerts]

My understanding is that the Bearcat was strictly a point defense fighter intended primarily for deployment on escort carriers. Don't think it would have been considered an alternative to a Mustang for long-range escort duties.

[dovetonsturdee]

Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown carried out a number of landings on RN aircraft carriers, using unlikely aircraft.

[enscroggs]

I'm suspicious about the claim the F8F Bearcat was considered a carrier-based replacement for the P-51 in the escort fighter role. From what I've read, the F8F was designed for high top speed, rapid climb rate, and the ability to operate from escort carriers as well as Essex-class carriers. (Until the debut of the Bearcat, escort carriers were restricted to the Wildcat for fighter duties.) To meet these requirements the Bearcat design was kept as compact and light as possible. (8.61 meters long vs 10.24 long for the F6F Hellcat. Wingspan 10.92 vs 13.06 for the Hellcat.) These size restrictions limited internal fuel to under 185 gallons. (The P-51 carried 269 gallons internally.) These stats don't make sense in a long-range fighter.

[ChefDuane]

My father flew P51 B's, C's, & D's bomber escort out of RAF Bodney. But never on/off the deck of an aircraft carrier!!

[flyingfortressrc]

Fantastic story.
I never heard about this and I'm glad you posted this.

[corporalpunishment]

For the first time in a long time I've learnt something new about the Mustang. Thanks for the video

[robertf]

Wow! This is the first time I had ever heard of this project.

[Steven-pj]

Even so, the Corsairs were used by the Navy extensively throughout the Korean conflict, and I have heard very little about the Bearcat, apart from some very nice performance reports. Some factor must have influenced the USN in this choice?