Joe Baugher wrote:
However, many pilots regarded the Malcolm-hooded P-51B/C as the best Mustang of the entire series. It was lighter, faster, and had crisper handling than the later bubble-hooded P-51D and actually had a better all-round view. Its primary weakness, however, was in its armament--only four rather than six guns, which often proved prone to jamming. Some of the modifications applied to the P-51D to improve the ammunition feed were later retrofitted into P-51B/Cs, which made their guns less prone to jamming. With modified guns and a Malcolm hood, the P-51B/C was arguably a better fighter than the P-51D, with better visibility, lower weight, and without the structural problems which afflicted the D. Its departure characteristics were also more benign.
Although the bubble-topped P-51D is far better known, the P-51B/C was actually the aircraft that turned the tide of the bomber war over Germany.
The P-51B/C remained the prime Mustang variant in service from December 1943 until March of 1944, when the bubble-topped P-51D began to arrive. However, P-51B/C fighters remained predominant until the middle of 1944, and remained in combat until the end of the war in Europe even after the arrival of large numbers of P-51Ds. Even as late as the last month of the war, 1000 out of the 2500 Mustangs serving in the ETO were of the P-51B/C variety.
The last P-51B passed out of service in 1949, having been re-designated F-51B in 1948.
Hi Shay,
Now THAT'S an interesting post. I've wanted to see that data for some time. Where did Baugher write that, and can anyone add to or challenge those stats?
There's two items here, IMHO.
a)
Was the P-51B/C (with Malcolm canopy) 'better' than a P-51D. Depending on your definition of 'better' that's an interesting WIX type tech/aesthetic debate. (There's a sub clause - did the guys keep their earlier P-51s because the really knew they were better, or was it fight-pilot conservatism again?)
The one I find a lot more interesting is the one that always gets over-looked - b)
The P-51B/C (of all kinds) was the Mustang type that was used for the hard graft when the still Luftwaffe was a major threat, and was the type that is overlooked in favour of the 'turned up late did less' 'glory-hunting' P-51D.
Numerous types are overlooked in favour of more glamorous, later, 'better' and less historically significant types. For instance the ultra-rare Lockheed Hudson is less known and thus recognised in warbird circles than the far less historically important, (but 'better' prettier etc. etc.) Lockheed Harpoon. Nothing wrong with the Harpoon, great aircraft; but it was the Hudson that stemmed the Axis tide 1939-42, and which was consumed by the war as a result. It was Hudsons that were used by incredibly brave men in penny packets against usually superior forces, but that don't read as well as a more 'impressive' aircraft with which we 'won' the war. (There's the tricky little question of current availability...
)
Let's hear it for the types that where there when needed, but don't get the glamour miles - the P-40, Hudson, Baltimore and Maryland, Boston, Hurricane, Whitley, Wellington, SBD and even that early model P-51.
Thoughts?
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