Mustang Night Fighter ...

[Mark Allen M]

"Night fighter paint schemes were researched by the Air Material Command during World War 2 as a form of camouflage. After extensive testing on many airframes, it was determined that either a glossy black finish or a standard Olive Drab was more effective at hiding an aircraft from ground or air observation and reflection of search light beams vs a flat black finish. By 1944 the USAAF directed that all night fighters (P-61s, P-70s and later P-38Ms and P-82s) were to be painted with glossy black and, if possible, polished to a mirror-like finish (i.e.: Jet Finish No. 622) while most late war ceased to receive camouflage painting."
Sources:
A Look Back: Olive Drab, Haze Blue and Jet Black: the Problem of Aircraft Camouflage prior and to and during WWII, Brian J. Duddy, June 21, 2023, Air Force Materiel Command History Office.
David Lay, member of the "P-51 Mustang" Facebook site.


North American P-51B with night fighter finish, February 21, 1944.

[LegendaryWings]

I've never seen this before. Were there any plans to actually use the P-51 as a night fighter, or was this just a test?

[junkman9096]

I've never seen this before. Were there any plans to actually use the P-51 as a night fighter, or was this just a test?

I believe it was just a test. The USAAF/USAF never bought into the concept of the pilot being the radar operator until the F-102 era. The Navy went along with it from the first.

[quemerford]

I've never seen this before. Were there any plans to actually use the P-51 as a night fighter, or was this just a test?

The USAAF/USAF never bought into the concept of the pilot being the radar operator until the F-102 era.

F-86D and L preceded the F-102 in being pilot/radar operator in one.

I doubt the P-51 shown would have had radar.

[mike furline]

This is what is referenced on the original photo's.

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[Shay]

Interesting to note that this P-51 has had it's gun ports faired over.

[junkman9096]

I've never seen this before. Were there any plans to actually use the P-51 as a night fighter, or was this just a test?

The USAAF/USAF never bought into the concept of the pilot being the radar operator until the F-102 era.

F-86D and L preceded the F-102 in being pilot/radar operator in one.

I doubt the P-51 shown would have had radar.

I'd forgotten about the F-86's, though to be sure the time frame between the F-86D and the F-102 was pretty short. There was one Mustang with radar installed and a second crew member to operate it. From what I've read it was an early exploration of an AWACS-type operation rather than a night/all weather use but was too late to be used in that role before the war in Europe ended.

[quemerford]

There was one Mustang with radar installed and a second crew member to operate it. From what I've read it was an early exploration of an AWACS-type operation rather than a night/all weather use but was too late to be used in that role before the war in Europe ended.

That is a new one to me: thanks for posting!

And incidentally thanks to Mark for another set of awesome photos.

[mike furline]

Found this photo, but no info with it.

[AG pilot]

Pretty wild! Any pics of it completely closed?

[quemerford]

Found this photo, but no info with it.

If it went to the Swiss AF then I assume more chance of there being further shots?

[quemerford]

Found this one!

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[quemerford]

And another!

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[quemerford]

Swiss AF J-2115 then.

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