Warplanes of the USA: North American A-36A, XP-51, X-P-51B and P-51C Mustangs

North American A-36A, XP-51, P-51B, and P-51C Mustangs

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in the USA.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are as credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second World War in the United States of America would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

Mustang variants:

P-51 Mustang XP-51/P-51 Mustang, P-51-2 Mustang, P-51A Mustang, P-51A-1 Mustang, P-51A-5 Mustang, P-51A-10 Mustang, F-6A Mustang, A-36 Apache, A-36A Apache, A-36A-1 Apache, P-51B Mustang, P-51B-1 Mustang, P-51B-5 Mustang, P-51B-5NA Mustang, P-51B-7NA Mustang P-51B-10NA Mustang, P-51B-15NT Mustang, P-51C Mustang, P-51C-1NT Mustang, P-51C-5NT Mustang, P-51C-10NT Mustang, P-51C-11NT Mustang, F-6C Mustang, P-51D Mustang, P-51D Mustang ,P-51D-5 Mustang, P-51D-10NA Mustang, P-51D-15NA Mustang, P-51D-20NA Mustang, P-51D-30NT Mustang, ETF-51D Mustang,  F-6D (P-51D-1NA) Mustang, P-51H-1NA Mustang, P-51K-1NT Mustang, P-51K-5NT Mustang, P-51K-10NT Mustang, F-6K Mustang.

(USAAF Photo)

A-36A Mustang aircraft with chin mounted guns and an impresive number of mission markings on the cowl, Gaudo Airfield, southern Italy, 14 Jan 1944.

North American P-51 Mustangs preserved in the USA by aircraft type, serial number, registration number and location:

(Bill Abbot Photo)

North American XP-51 Mustang (Serial No. 41-038).  This is the original XP-51, Reg. No. N51NA, EAA Air Venture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

North American XP-51 (Serial No. 41-038) was reported to be the fourth NA-73 ("Mustang Mk I" to the RAF) and SN 41-039 was reported to be the tenth NA-73.  Their RAF SNs were AG348 and AG354, respectively.  There was no "P-51A" yet, and when it did come along, it wasn't an NA-73, it was 4 versions later.  (Tom Griffith)

(RAF Photo)

North American NA-97 Mustang (an A-36A Mustang in the USAAF), RAF (Serial No. EW998), ex-USAAF (Serial No. 42-83685). This A-36A in RAF colours has dive brakes and the unique (among Mustangs) spear-like pitot mast/assembly.(Tom Griffiths)

(RAF Photos)

North American NA-97 Mustang (an A-36A Mustang in the USAAF), RAF (Serial No. EW998), ex-USAAF (Serial No. 42-83685). This was the RAF's only A-36A (Serial No. EW998), showing that this aircraft did not have the nose-mounted .50 cal Brownings. This was the 26th of the 500 A-36As built by NAA.

In the Italian/North African area of the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO), the RAF was provided with six A-36As by the USAAF 12th Air Force. They removed the nose guns, but left the 4 wing guns, and installed cameras in the rear fuselage. The RAF flew many missions with them. They were allocated RAF Serial Numbers and the code letters A thru F. (Tom Griffith)

North American A-36A Mustangs.  Three A-36A Mustangs still exist in the US, with one on static display at the National Museum of the U S Air Force, one with the Collings Foundation currently airworth, and one owned by the Friedkin family.

(NMUSAF Photo)

North American A-36A Apache/Mustang (Serial No. 42-83665), "Margie H" at the NMUSAF, Dayton, Ohio, in the scheme of the A-36A flown by Captain Lawrence Dye of the 16th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy.

(Goshimini Photo)

North American A-36A Apache/Mustang (Serial No. 42-83665), "Margie H" at the NMUSAF, Dayton, Ohio

North American A-36A Apache/Mustang (Serial No. 42-83738) "Baby Carmen", Collings Foundation, Stowe, Massachusetts.

North American A-36A Apache/Mustang (Serial No. 42-83731), MSN 97-15949, Reg. No. N251NA, private owner in Houston, Texas.

There are currently no examples that exist of another production Allison Mustang, the NA-91, one of an important "batch" of 150 aircraft destined for the RAF (the US wasn't in the war yet).  From the NA-91 batch, the USAAC "pulled" 57 aircraft and at first, they were "P-51 Apaches".  These fighters were armed with four 20-mm cannons in the wings (two in each wing) and the RAF designated them "Mustang Mk IA."  Fifty-five of the ones in the USAAC were converted to photo-reconnaissance aircraft, by adding two K-24 cameras to the left fuselage, behind the cockpit.  Because of the cameras modifying the role of the aircraft, the first of the 55 was first designated "P-51-1-NA" after cameras were added by NAA.  The other 54 were modified outside of NAA's factory, and they were designated "P-51-2-NA."  Because the USAAC designated photo-recon aircraft with an "F-" these 55 aircraft were then redesignated "F-6A," and many of them were later operational during the Second World War.
In mid-summer, 1942, the F-6As "Apache" was officially renamed, "Mustang," for commonality with the RAF name.  Dutch Kindelberger notified the USAAF's PR staff in a Telegram, that all aircraft of the "P-51 fighter type," would be called "Mustang," which so that included any fighter that looked like the Mustangs we know and are familiar with.  The NA-99 aircraft run, officially designated "P-51A," didn't come along until after the A-36A, and when the last P-51A was built (and those going to the RAF were designated Mustang Mk IIs), it was the last production Allison Mustang.  (Tom Griffith)

(NMUSAF Photo)

North American XP-51 Mustang (Serial No. 41-039), the second XP-51 built.

(NACA Photo)

North American XP-51 Mustang (Serial No. 41-039), the second XP-51 wearing a cam paint scheme.  This aircraft arrived at Langley in March 1943.  It was the first aircraft to incorporate an NACA laminar-flow airfoil.

(Kogo Photo)

North American P-51A-10NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-6006), "Polar Bear", Reg. No. N51Z, John Dowd in Syracuse, Kansas. Airworthy.

"Polar Bear", now, is a much more representative aircraft in the Allison Mustang family, now that John Muszala, et al, have done a pretty comprehensive "restoration/rebuild/remodel" of her more-or-less from stem to stern.  With only a couple differences, "Polar Bear" is now physically about 95% Mustang Mk I in appearance.  She's restored as one of two NA-73s that the USAAC got from the first batch of NA-73s...specifically 41-039 which the USAAC designated as "XP-51," the same designation for 41-038, in the EAA Museum.  (Tom Griffith)

North American P-51A-10NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-6178), Reg. No. N51KW, in storage at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

(Goshimini Photo)

North American P-51A-10NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-6251), "Mrs. Virginia", 13, Reg. No. N4235Y, Planes of Fame in Chino, California. Airworthy.

(USAAF Photo)

North American P-51A Mustang (NA-99) Fitted with Allison V-1710-39 engine. A photoreconnaissance P-51 Mustang with a very unusual dazzle camouflage, pictured in 1942. This example is also armed with four 20 mm cannons.

(USAAF Photo)

North American F-6C Mustang (Serial No. 42-103--), CO, "Big Momma", 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, ca 1944.  In June 1943 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, flying Allison engined F-6A or F-6B Mustangs (taken from a British order of Mk. IAs), became the eyes of the 7th Army in Sicily, on Operation Husky.  They were temporarily assigned to the 5th Army in Italy, but returned in July 1944 in time to support the 7th Army’s invasion of southern France, on Operation Dragoon.  In addition to the older F-6A and F-6B Mustangs, they began receiving F-6C Mustangs (the photo recon version of the P-51C).  The 111th remained with the 7th Army through the end of the war.  From VE Day until December 1945, the Squadron served in the occupation force, and conducted postwar photo-mapping of the devastation in France.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

North American P-51A-10NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-6274), c/n 99-22377, H, Reg. No. N90358, restored as an F-6A, 67th Reconnaissance Group, unnamed, Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.  Early RAF Mustang I aircraft were fitted with an F.24 camera mounted obliquely behind the pilot's seat.  The USAAF followed the RAF example by fitting a pair of K-24 cameras to fifty seven examples of the P-51 as the F(Foto)-6A, followed by thirty five F-6Bs converted from P-51As, and 136 P-51Ds converted into F-6Ds.

(NASA Photo)

North American P-51B-1-NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-12491), at NACA Langley Field, Virginia, 1945.

(USAAF Photo)

North American P-51B Mustang (Serial No. 43-6999), coded B-B6.

North American P-51C-1NT Mustang (Serial No. 42-103100), Reg. No. N426QA, being restored to airworthy status by John Muszala, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

(Paul Nelhams Photo)

(RadioFan Photo)

North American P-51C Mustang (Serial No. 42-103645), "Tuskegee Airmen", Reg. No.  NL61429, Commemorative Air Force (Red Tail Squadron) in South St. Paul, Minnesota. Airworthy.

(USAAF Photo)

North American P-51D Mustang (Serial No. unknown), N-3, wearing signature red tail of the 332nd Fighter Group known as the Tuskegee Airmen, ca 1945.  The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; the P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.

North American P-51C Mustang (Serial No. 42-103740), Reg. No. N309PV, being restored to airworthy status by The Oklahoma Museum of Flying in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

(USAAF Photo)

North American P-51C-10NT Mustang (Serial No. 42-103896), 311th Fighter Group, 14th Air Force, escorting Douglas C-47 Skytrains over China on 24 July 1945.

North American P-51C Mustang (Serial No. 43-6859), Reg. No. NX5528N, being restored to airworthy status by Warren Pietsch in Minot, North Dakota.

(Anthony92931 Photo)

(Goshimini Photo)

North American P-51C-10NT Mustang (Serial No. 42-103293), "Betty Jane", Reg. No. N251MX, Collings Foundation, Stow, Massachusetts.  Airworthy.

(Tech. Sgt Ben Bloker, USAF Photo)

North American P-51C-10NT Mustang (Serial No. 42-103645), "Tuskegee Airmen", Reg. No. NL61429, Commemorative Air Force, St. Paul, Minnesota.  Airworthy.

North American P-51C-5NT Mustang (Serial No. 42-103740), Reg. No. N309PV, Brent Hisey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

(Kogo Photo)

North American P-51C-10NT Mustang (Serial No. 42-103831), "Ina the Macon Belle", Reg.No. N1204, Kermit Weeks, Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, Florida.  Airworthy.

(USAAF Photo No. 080306-f-3927A-059)

North American P-51B-1NA Mustang, USAAF (Serial No. 43-12433), coded AJ-M, "Miss Pea Ridge", flown by Mack Tyner with the 356th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group.  This aircraft was originally destined for the Royal Air Force as a Mustang Mk. III, (Serial No. FX905).  It did not serve with the RAF but was returned to the USAAF on 30 December 1943.

(RAF Photo)

RAF North American Mustang Mk. IIIs of No 19 Squadron based at Ford, Sussex. Note the white paint on the nose and wing stripes to prevent mis-identification as Me 109s,21 April 1944.

(Mark Wagner Photo

(Articseahorse Photo)

North American P-51B-10NA Mustang (Serial No. 42-106638), "Impatient Virgin", Reg. No. N5087F, Historic Flight Foundation in Everett, Washington. Airworthy.

(USAAF Photo)

North American P-51B-10NA Mustang (Serial No. 42-106772), pilot of the 363rd Fighter Group sitting on the wing of his figher coded B3-M, 1943.

(USAAF Photo)

North American P-51B-15-NA Mustang (Serial No. 42-106811), "SUZY-G".

(USGOV-PD Photo)

North American P-51B-1NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-12252), coded L5, 4th Fighter Group (Single Engine). Hillsborough Army Airfield, Florida 17 April 1944.

North American P-51B-1NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-12252), "Old Crow", Reg. No. N551E, Jack Roush, JRM Investments LLC in Livonia, Michigan.  Airworthy.

North American P-51B-15NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-24760), Reg. No. NX28388, in storage, Mike Coutches, Hayward, California.

(Airwolfhound Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photo)

North American P-51B-1NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-24837), c/n 104-25866, painted as (Serial No. 43-24823), "Berlin Express", Reg. No. N515ZB,  Comanche Fighters, Maverick Air LLC in Houston, Texas.  Airworthy.

(NASM Photo)

Donald S. Lopez sits inside the cockpit of his P-51C Mustang "Lope's Hope III", in Chiahkiang, China, 11 Nov 1944.

North American P-51C-10NT Mustang (Serial No. 43-24907), "Lope's Hope", Reg. No. N6555B, May Mustang C LLC, Minot, North Dakota.  Airworthy.

(USAAF Photo)

North American P-51C-10NT Mustang (Serial No. 43-25050), 503rd FS, 339th FG, 8th AF, assigned to 1st Lt. Esteban A. Terrats, RAF Fowlmere, England, 1945.

(Goshimini Photo)

North American P-51C-10NT Mustang (Serial No. 43-25057), painted as (Serial No. 36819), "Boise Bee", B-QP, Reg. No. N4651C, Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, Idaho.  Airworthy.

(Tim Felce Airwolfhound Photo)

North American P-51C-10NT Mustang (Serial No. 43-25147), "Princess Elizabeth", Reg. No. N487FS, Dan Friedkin, Comanche Fighters LLC in Houston, Texas.  Airworthy.

(Eric Salard Photo)

North American P-51C-10NT Mustang (Serial No. 44-10947), "Excalibur III", Reg. No. N1202.  This aircraft is preserved in the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia.

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