RAF and US Mustang Designations

[MikeCharlie]

Hi all,

It's been suggested that I start a thread about Mustang designations, so here is what I have.  I've omitted mention of the A-36, as I don't think this variant was ever named in the series by we Brits, we didn't use them, but borrowed a few for trials I believe.

British	US Fighter	US Recce
Mk I	None	None
Mk Ia	P-51	F-6A
Mk II	P-51A	F-6B
Mk III	P-51B & P-51C	F-6C
Mk IV	P-51D	F-6D
Mk IVa	P-51K	F-6K

 

Confusing isn't it?  (But not quite as confusing as Bf 109G variants perhaps  )   Note how although the US P-51(no suffix) is equivalent to the Mustang Ia, as there was no use of the Mk I by the US.  But the FR P-51 was the F-6A.  Even more confusing, but logical given the preceding, is that Mk II = P-51A = F-6B, as F-6A had been already allocated.

Just for completeness, the Mk III did not differentiate between P-51B and C, and nor does the  F-6C designation.

Which brings us to the Mk IV/P-51D/F-6D and IVa/P-51K/F-6K - It's almost as if someone said "We need to sort this out!"

Main references:

   Allison-engined P-51 Mustang https://ospreypublishing.com/uk/search/?q=Allison-Engined+P-51+Mustang

   The Mustang Story https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mustang-Story-Ken-Delve/dp/1854092596

Comments welcome, and hope this is of use.

 

[Spitfire]

All very useful information, thank you for posting it up, I may have to build an early Mustang one day so all info is appreciated..

Cheers

Dennis

[Bomber_County]

Very interesting, I’ve the ZM Mk IV in the stash. Thanks for posting…