Hi all
we are talking about the ‘Seahorse’
Factory fresh P-51D-5-NA 44-14017 never saw active duty with the USAAF, it was assigned to NACA where it was registered as #102. The IAR mentiones the date of assignment as 23th June 1944. On 16th September 1944, this aircraft was loaned to the USN for a concept in using US Army figthers aboard USN aircraft carriers. The Navy issued BuAer No. 57987 for that purpose.
Lt Bob Elder, a veteran with many missions 1942 – 1943 and now test pilot at Mustin Field (NAS Philadelphia), was the daring pilot to land the first ever US Army plane (i.e. this P-51D) on an aircraft carrier.
The P-51D was factory-stock, the only change was the installation of a tail hook behind the Mustang’s tail wheel. The gun-ports and the gun-camera-openings also were temporarily taped over. Elder took off from NAS Norfolk, VA, on 15th November 1944 and arrived over USS Shangri La (CV-38) after 1 hour and 45 minutes. He landed his plane succesfully and later that day launched from the carrier again and returned to NAS Norfolk.
Although this trial was succesful, the Navy decided against any further trials.
Bob Elder mentioned the critical margin on final approach between stall speed and a potential snap roll from sudden acceleration was only five knots !
After removal of the tail-hook 44-14017 was returned to NACA where it finally was applied the number 102 and was used for various tests between 18th January 1945 and 5th June 1952. The Mustang then was declared surplus and eventually salvaged/scrapped.
There was a good article in WINGS Vol 31 No 6 December 2001, on Bob Elder and his career, with two photos and a nice two-page artwork (as posted by PapaLima above). Should be available as back-issue.
HTH
Martin / Swiss Mustangs
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