British A-36 ? - Aircraft of World War II

maxs75 · 05-17-2006, 06:34 PM

Did RAF used North American A-36 during WW2?
http://www.military.cz/usa/air/war/bomber/a36/a36b.jpg

Is it a test a/c only?

Regards
Max

plan_D · 05-17-2006, 06:58 PM

Britain received a single A-36A for evaluation and never adopted the design. The official RAF designation was Mustang Mk.I (Dive Bomber).

Glider · 05-17-2006, 07:15 PM

I understood that we used the Mustang I in some numbers which was basically an A36 without the dive brakes.

plan_D · 05-17-2006, 07:20 PM

The RAF received 608 Mustang Mk.I.

Wurger · 05-18-2006, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plan_D

Britain received a single A-36A for evaluation and never adopted the design. The official RAF designation was Mustang Mk.I (Dive Bomber).

The A-36 with dive brakes tested in Britain was named Mustang Mk.I Dive Bomber.Its serial no. 42-83685/EW998.

maxs75 · 05-18-2006, 05:20 PM

Thanks,
very definitive answers

MAx

merlin · 01-20-2007, 03:10 PM

Look at the situation the other way around. Why did the US have the A-36? Because there was hostility to the Mustang initially. It was perceived as a British inspired aircraft - it was. The US fighter policy was for the P-40, P-47 & P-38. Although Mustangs were accepted for evaluation, the initial order for the US was as a Dive-bomber A-36 Apache, the only difference to the standard airframe, I believe, was the addition of air-breaks. Then came the US acceptance of the P-51A. Whilst those in the know in the RAF - especially AVM Freeman, could see the potential of the Mustang with a Rolls Royce engine. It took a lot of persuading on his part, for Mustang production with the Packard Merlin engine to be increased - to be the saviour of the 8th Air Force.

the lancaster kicks ass · 01-21-2007, 04:58 AM

and what thanks do we get

Jarda Rankl · 02-02-2007, 11:31 AM

I send other (very interesting) pic A-36A in RAF marking.

maxs75 · 02-09-2007, 10:58 AM

Thanks

ScaleAero · 03-24-2007, 12:12 PM

Thought you might find these shots helpful. Its currently being worked over
at Chino after returning from a trip to GB.
A36 Dive Bomber

HealzDevo · 03-26-2007, 12:59 AM

The way I understood the matter was that there were problems with the original engine which relegated it to the dive-bomber role, and then the British changed the engine and voila the characteristics of the plane were changed and the US then licenced the engine to build and the legend of the P-51 Mustang was born...

FLYBOYJ · 03-26-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HealzDevo

The way I understood the matter was that there were problems with the original engine which relegated it to the dive-bomber role, and then the British changed the engine and voila the characteristics of the plane were changed and the US then licenced the engine to build and the legend of the P-51 Mustang was born...

"In April 1942, the RAF's Air Fighter Development Unit (AFDU) tested the Mustang at higher altitudes and found its performance inadequate, but the commanding officer was so impressed with its maneuverability and low-altitude speeds that he invited Ronnie Harker from Rolls Royce's Flight Test establishment to fly it. Rolls-Royce engineers rapidly realized that equipping the Mustang with a Merlin 61 would substantially improve performance and started converting five aircraft as the Mustang X. Ministry official Sir W.R. Freeman lobbied vociferously for Merlin-powered Mustangs, insisting two of the five experimental Mustang Xs be handed over to Carl Spaatz for trials and evaluation by the US 8th Air Force in Britain."

HealzDevo · 03-28-2007, 12:06 AM

Ok, thanks interesting. I had thought it was in service as a dive-bomber originally because it didn't have the performance wanted for a fighter. I suppose it might have languished in the dive-bomber role a bit longer than necessary due to hostility by the US...

FLYBOYJ · 03-28-2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HealzDevo

I suppose it might have languished in the dive-bomber role a bit longer than necessary due to hostility by the US...

OK genius, where did you come up with that?

05-17-2006, 06:34 PM	#1
maxs75 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 241	British A-36 ? Did RAF used North American A-36 during WW2? http://www.military.cz/usa/air/war/bomber/a36/a36b.jpg Is it a test a/c only? Regards Max

05-17-2006, 06:58 PM	#2
plan_D Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 11,978	Britain received a single A-36A for evaluation and never adopted the design. The official RAF designation was Mustang Mk.I (Dive Bomber). __________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club.

05-17-2006, 07:20 PM	#4
plan_D Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 11,978	The RAF received 608 Mustang Mk.I. __________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club.

05-18-2006, 05:20 PM	#6
maxs75 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 241	Thanks Thanks, very definitive answers MAx

01-21-2007, 04:58 AM	#8
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	and what thanks do we get __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

05-17-2006, 07:15 PM	#3
Glider Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 3,655	I understood that we used the Mustang I in some numbers which was basically an A36 without the dive brakes.

01-20-2007, 03:10 PM	#7
merlin Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 263	Look at the situation the other way around. Why did the US have the A-36? Because there was hostility to the Mustang initially. It was perceived as a British inspired aircraft - it was. The US fighter policy was for the P-40, P-47 & P-38. Although Mustangs were accepted for evaluation, the initial order for the US was as a Dive-bomber A-36 Apache, the only difference to the standard airframe, I believe, was the addition of air-breaks. Then came the US acceptance of the P-51A. Whilst those in the know in the RAF - especially AVM Freeman, could see the potential of the Mustang with a Rolls Royce engine. It took a lot of persuading on his part, for Mustang production with the Packard Merlin engine to be increased - to be the saviour of the 8th Air Force.

02-09-2007, 10:58 AM	#10
maxs75 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 241	Thanks

03-26-2007, 12:59 AM	#12
HealzDevo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Queensland Posts: 1,249	The way I understood the matter was that there were problems with the original engine which relegated it to the dive-bomber role, and then the British changed the engine and voila the characteristics of the plane were changed and the US then licenced the engine to build and the legend of the P-51 Mustang was born...

03-28-2007, 12:06 AM	#14
HealzDevo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Queensland Posts: 1,249	Ok, thanks interesting. I had thought it was in service as a dive-bomber originally because it didn't have the performance wanted for a fighter. I suppose it might have languished in the dive-bomber role a bit longer than necessary due to hostility by the US...

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