The elusive P-51M (45-11743)

Steve Pace

Steve Pace

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I have a 3.98mb pdf that shows the one of P-51M airplane (45-11742). -Steve Pace
 
Re: P-51M discovered

How does one get a copy?
 
Re: P-51M discovered

Thanks Steve. Here is the picture in question (the aircraft is described as the last built P-51D...).
 

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Re: P-51M discovered

Here's the correct info - i stand corrected. -SP

Steve,
That photo is the last P-51D built at Dallas, according to our NAA records, 45-11742 was the last P-51D - that photo was taken around Aug. 1945.

The P-51M was 45-11743. Have not been able to find any photos or other information on the illusive P-51M, the only notes we have on the P-51M is that it was used to test the Merlin V-1650-9A – there are unfortunately no records of any flight tests.

I know there are a lot of stories about the P-51M but I have not been able to substantiate any of them.

Michael Lombardi Corporate Historian - The Boeing Company
Click to expand...
 
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Re: P-51M discovered

This is how I've decided to tell the P-51M story. Any corrections/additions are welcome. Steve Pace
P-51M Mustang

On 21 September 1944 the U.S. War Department amended USAAF contract AC 2400 for the production of 401 additional Dallas-built NA-124 Mustangs as follows: 100 P-51D-25-NT, 45-11343 to 45-11442; eight TP-51D-25-NT, 45-11443 to 45-11450; 92 P-51D-25-NT, 45-11451 to 45-11542; 112 P-51D-30-NT, 45-11543 to 45-11654; 35 F-6D-30-NT, 45-11655 to 45-11689; 53 P-51D-30-NT, 45-11690 to 45-11742; and a single P-51M-1-NT, 45-11743. At the same time 999 follow-on P-51M airplanes with the assigned USAAF serial numbers 45-11744 to 45-12742 were cancelled. This order was follow-on to the previous order for 600 Dallas-built NA-124 Mustangs (1,001 in all) on 30 June 1944 as previously described under P-51D (NA-124) above.

By 31 August 1945 all 1,001 of these Mustangs – including the one-of-a-kind P-51M – were to have been completed, accepted and delivered to the USAAF.

The one of P-51M, powered by a Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin engine designated V-1650-9A, was to be the 1,001st and last NA-124 built – to be created from the last P-51D-30-NT built to be exact. Or was it? As I write there remains to be no documented evidence that the P-51M was ever completed; thus, flown. Yet, officially, it was ordered and it was to be built. Whether it actually was built remains a mystery. It also remains unclear as to why the P-51M carried the NA-124 classification instead of its own NA-number. There are a few photographs of the last Dallas-built P-51D-30-NA (45-11742) in existence but none showing the one of P-51M (45-11743).

Supposedly, the mysterious P-51M was to be the Dallas-built version of the Inglewood-built P-51H Lightweight Mustang, but once more, documented proof of this is nonexistent. Moreover, since it was to be created from the last P-51D-30-NT built, how could it be completed as a look-alike P-51H airplane?

In any event, the V-1650-9A engine was to produce 1,380 takeoff horsepower and a war emergency horsepower rating of 2,218. It was very similar to the V-1650-9 but did not have the water-methanol (methyl alcohol) injection system. This engine change would have given the elusive P-51M a lower altitude combat capability as well.

So was the P-51M truly built and flown? If so it will be most interesting to discover when it was completed and who the pilot was that flew it. And more importantly, its final place of rest.
 
Re: The Elusive P-51M 45-11743

I got an IAR Card today on the P-51M 45-11743. It only says the airplane was accepted 6/7/45; delivered 6/15/45; arrived 6-25/45. But it proves the airplane did indeed exist. -SP
 

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Found another last production Dallas-built P-51D-30-NT image like above image with s/n 45-11742 on it. -SP
 

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Great write-up Steve, so after all that the P-51M was indeed a D with a different engine rather than a variant of the H?
 
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Steve Pace said:
Re: P-51M discovered

Here's the correct info - i stand corrected. -SP

Steve,
That photo is the last P-51D built at Dallas, according to our NAA records, 45-11742 was the last P-51D - that photo was taken around Aug. 1945.

The P-51M was 45-11743. Have not been able to find any photos or other information on the illusive P-51M, the only notes we have on the P-51M is that it was used to test the Merlin V-1650-9A – there are unfortunately no records of any flight tests.

I know there are a lot of stories about the P-51M but I have not been able to substantiate any of them.

Michael Lombardi Corporate Historian - The Boeing Company
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
The NAA Contract NA-124 had an initial contract run of 2000, but contract cancelled after 1001. P-51D-30-NT number 1001 was 45-11743 and was pulled into Experimental Department to install the 1650-9A engine in lieu of the 1650-7. Otherwise it was 'pure P-51D-30-NT"
 
I realize this is an old thread... but now that I'm back into model building after 35 years I gotta build an M version. I see it was built in Dallas, and will need the Dallas hood, but what type of propeller? I saw mention of a Hamilton, but is that the cuffed version?
 
drgondog said:
The NAA Contract NA-124 had an initial contract run of 2000, but contract cancelled after 1001. P-51D-30-NT number 1001 was 45-11743 and was pulled into Experimental Department to install the 1650-9A engine in lieu of the 1650-7. Otherwise it was 'pure P-51D-30-NT"
Click to expand...
Recent research correction. The P-51D-30 was built from second block of P-51D-25-NT Spares pool. It was completed 7 weeks (6-7-45Z) before the P-51D-30-NT run started deliveries 7-27-45. It was assigned serial number following last P-51D-30-NT but was definitely Not #201 of the 200 P-51D-30 block.

Without the water injection tank and piping, the installation was exactly that for the 1650-3 and had a maximum power rating and FTH for both low blower and high blower as the 1650-3. In other words never rated above 67" on 100 octane fuel. Don't know if either a 1650-3 or -9A was ever tested with 145 octane fuel like the 1650-9 at both 80" (Dry) and 90" MP (WI)
 
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drgondog said:
Recent research correction. The P-51D-20 was built from second block of P-51D-25-NT Spares pool. It was completed 7 weeks (6-7-45Z) before the P-51D-30-NT run started deliveries 7-27-45. It was assigned serial number following last P-51D-30-NT but was definitely Not #201 of the 200 P-51D-30 block.

Without the water injection tank and piping, the installation was exactly that for the 1650-3 and had a maximum power rating and FTH for both low blower and high blower as the 1650-3. In other words never rated above 67" on 100 octane fuel. Don't know if either a 1650-3 or -9A was ever tested with 145 octane fuel like the 1650-9 at both 80" (Dry) and 90" MP (WI)
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Thank you! I dug through my decals and found I have enough to do the tail numbers. Other than that I'm guessing it was just national insignia and an anti-glare panel.
 
Looks standard scheme, 'natural metal' fuselage, painted silver wings, Olive Drab glare panel, Black serials
 
TsrJoe said:
Looks standard scheme, 'natural metal' fuselage, painted silver wings, Olive Drab glare panel, Black serials
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Thanks! Pretty much what I was thinking. No weathering needed, so an easy build.
 

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