CA-17/CA-18/CA-21 Mustang
Commonwealth CA-18 Mustang 21 (P-51D) AN0802074.jpg
CA-18 Mustang Mk 21 in 2005
Role Fighter
National origin Australia
Manufacturer Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
First flight 29 April 1945
Introduction 4 June 1945
Retired 1959 (Citizen Air Force)
Primary user Royal Australian Air Force
Number built 200[1]
Developed from North American P-51 Mustang

The CAC Mustang is an Australian variant of the North American P-51 Mustang. It was built under license by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in the final stages of World War II, and though it was too late to see combat, it did participate in the Occupation of Japan after VJ-Day.

Design and development

In December 1942, the Australian War Cabinet made arrangements for the local production of the P-51D Mustang. These arrangements were finalized in November 1943, with Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation to build 690 aircraft through kits supplied by North American Aviation (NAA).[2] Only the first 100 unassembled aircraft were delivered, and four reportedly had the "razorback" style canopy of the P-51B/C variant. 80 of the kits were assembled under the designation CA-17 Mustang Mk 20 with Packard V-1710-3 Merlin engines, the remainder being used for spare parts.[2][3][4] The end of the war led to most of the orders being canceled.

In late 1946, CAC received a contract to build 170 (later reduced to 120) Mustangs locally from scratch. These aircraft carried the new designation CA-18, with the first 40 being designated Mustang Mk 21 and powered by Packard V-1710-7 Merlins. 66 Mustang Mk 23s followed with British-built Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 or 70 engines. 14 Mustang Mk 22 reconnaissance aircraft were built with F24 cameras, and a further 14 were converted from Mk 21s.[4] Additional orders for the CA-18 and 250 two-seat variants to be produced as the CA-21 were canceled in favor of US-supplied P-51D/Ks.[5]

Operational history

The first production CA-17 Mustang Mk 20, serial number A68-01 (not to be confused with the US-built prototype A68-1001), made its first flight on 29 April 1945 from Fishermans Bend, Victoria.[5][6] The aircraft was handed over to the RAAF on 4 June 1945 and was tested by the No. 1 Aircraft Performance Unit. Trials ended in October 1946, and the aircraft was placed in storage until 1953.[5] Only 17 CA-17s were delivered to the RAAF by VJ-Day.[2]

The first operational units to receive the CAC Mustang were No. 84 and No. 86 Squadron.[2] Additional squadrons equipped with Mustangs (both American and locally-built) were No. 3, No. 4, No. 76, No. 77, and No. 82 Squadron as well as No. 21, No. 22, No. 23, No. 24, and No. 25 Squadron of the Citizen Air Force. The RAAF replaced its last Mustangs with de Havilland Vampires in 1959, while the last Mustang-equipped Citizen Air Force squadron, No. 24, retained its Mustangs until the CAF was disbanded in 1960.[2]

Variants

CA-17 Mustang Mk 20
Aircraft built from kits supplied by NAA with V-1710-3 engines. 80 built.[4]
CA-18 Mustang Mk 21
Locally-built aircraft with V-1710-7 engines. 40 built.[4]
CA-18 Mustang Mk 22
Reconnaissance variant with F24 cameras. 14 newly built aircraft and 14 converted from Mk 21s.[4]
CA-18 Mustang Mk 23
Variant with British Merlin 66 or 70 engines. 66 built.[4]
CA-21 Mustang Mk 24
Two-seat variant of the CA-18. 250 ordered but not built.[5]
Dart Mustang
Civilian modification of a CA-18 Mustang with a Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engine. 1 modified from a Mustang Mk 22 but never flown in this configuration.[1]

Survivors

Main article: List of surviving North American P-51 Mustangs

Australia
United Kingdom
United States

Replica

A full-scale replica of a CA-18 Mustang Mk 23 is located at the Queensland Air Museum at the Caloundra Airport. Construction of the replica began in May 2005 and was placed on static display on 27 December 2008. It carries the fictitious serial number A68-201, continuing the original sequence which ended with A68-200.[23]

Accidents and incidents

Main article: Accidents and incidents involving the North American P-51 Mustang

Specifications (CA-18 Mustang Mk 21)

P-51D/CA-18 Mustang
P-51D/CA-18 Mustang

Data from [5]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ a b "ADF Serials - Mustang". www.adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e "P-51D/K In Foreign Service". www.joebaugher.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  3. ^ "P-51 Mustang Variants - P-51D - MustangsMustangs.com". www.mustangsmustangs.com. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Anderson 1975, p. 3.
  5. ^ a b c d e "A68 Mustang". RAAF Museum. Archived from the original on 2021-10-03. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "A68 Mustang Mk 20, 21, 22 Fighter" (PDF). Boeing. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-10. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  8. ^ "P-51 Mustang Survivors - MustangsMustangs.com". www.mustangsmustangs.net. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  9. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  10. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  11. ^ PacificWrecks.com. "Pacific Wrecks - CA-18 Mark 21 Mustang Serial Number A68-110 Registration VH-MFT". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  12. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  13. ^ "P-51 Mustang Survivors - MustangsMustangs.com". www.mustangsmustangs.net. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  14. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  15. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  16. ^ "P-51 Mustang Survivors - MustangsMustangs.com". www.mustangsmustangs.net. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  17. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  18. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  19. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  20. ^ "P-51 Mustang Survivors – A68-175 N51DT "Slender Tender Tall"". Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  22. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  23. ^ "CAC CA-18 MUSTANG MK.23 "A68-201" REPLICA". qam.com.au. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  24. ^ a b "ADF Serials - Mustang". www.adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  25. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  26. ^ "The Age - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  27. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  28. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  29. ^ a b "P-51 Mustang Survivors - MustangsMustangs.com". www.mustangsmustangs.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  30. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  31. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  32. ^ "Warbird Registry - North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  33. ^ "P-51 Mustang Survivors - MustangsMustangs.com". www.mustangsmustangs.com. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
  34. ^ "Douglas A-1 Skyraider Registry - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2020-07-05.

Bibliography