Federal A-36B Mustang

[comrade harps]

Federal A-36B Mustang
1st Expeditionary Squadron, Venezuelan Air Force
San Angelo, Italy
June, 1945



To meet an RCAF requirement for a single-seat, single-engine fighter-bomber, the government owned Federal Aircraft Ltd transitioned form making Avro Anson trainers to a series of modified P-51 Mustangs in late 1943. All production examples were powered by the Packard Merlin 266 (there also being prototypes with Rolls Royce and Packard Griffon engines) and all were armed with four 20mm Hispano cannon. 956 were produced in several versions, including the Mustang XXX and identical A-36B (based on the P-51B) and Mustang XXXI (based on the P-51D). The A-36B were built to U.S. government Lend-Lease contracts and used by Brazil and Venezeuala in Italy.




The Venezuelan Air Force had been building its size and combat power throughout the 1930s with finance from country's oil export revenues. In 1941, it featured two squadrons of Boeing P-34Cs, one with Gloster Gladiators and a Fiat BR.20 bomber unit. Joining the Allies in January, 1942, the Venezuelan government set about building on this and forming expeditionary forces to combat the Axis powers. During 1942-43,  P-40Ks were received and many personnel were sent to America and Canada for training. The A-36B was delivered from January, 1944, and the 1st Expeditionary Squadron entered combat in Italy from May, 1944.




One of the features of the Canadian Mustangs is that all were equipped with zero-length rocket launchers. Bypassing the heavy rails of the British 3 inch RP-3 and the bulky triple Bazooka tubes of the USAAF's M10 3.5 inch rocket pack, the Canadian's chose the U.S. Navy's 5 inch FFAR as their standard rocket, later upgrading to the 5 inch HVAR when it became available. The 5 inch FFAR featured a 5 inch anti-aircraft HE warhead, with an alternative 5 inch anti-armour hollow charge warhead becoming available from April, 1944 (as seen here).



The 1st Expeditionary Squadron mostly conducted interdiction missions, flying strikes against pre-planned targets and conducting armed reconnaissance missions to engage targets of opportunity. They struck at tanks and other road vehicles, trains and ships and hit bridges, fuel and ammunition stores between 3 May, 1944, and the Separate Peace of 21 August.

[Army of One]

Very nice....very nice indeed.....

[Old Wombat]

Pretty!

Neat, believable back story, too.



Guy

[NARSES2]

I like that