TAF Mustangs

[ams888]

Hey All,
I was looking through Facebook and found this interesting photo of a TAF mustang. 40446706_10209932366145633_8167352231465582592_n (1) by Andrew Sutton, on Flickr I was wondering if it was standard practice to put NZ2 (i'm assuming the other wing has 417 on it) on the bottom of the wings like they appear in this photo? Or were those put on so that they knew the chopped off wings went with that mustang when it was sold off?

[Dave Homewood]

I am sure Anthony Galbraith posted that photo here many years ago?

[baz62]

Fairly sure the complete number was under both wings, I'd have to have a look at my RAAF/RNZAF Mustang book to confirm. Don't forget the wing is cut off is well outboard of the undercarriage so enough room for the last three digits.

[ams888]

I looked in my mustangs of the RAAF and RNZAF and couldn't see any with numbers on the wings. None of my decal sheets ever did either, so wondering too if it was unique to this aircraft?

[tbf25o4]

I have reviewed all of my mustang photos and cannot see any evidence of a serial number under the wings. I also note that in the photo supplied the "NZ" is not on the centre chord of the wing which
is where all other underwing serials for other aircraft were painted.

[agalbraith]

Hi all, Dave is correct this is a photo of Ron Fechney's that he kindly allowed me to scan from his wonderful collection. I asked if i could show a friend them which Ron agreed and then he went and got them published in books and magazines. Ron and I were upset as no permission was given and neither of us ever saw a cent (not that I wanted anything but would have been nice for Ron to have gotten something! However David Muir used a couple in his awesome book "Southern Cross Mustangs" with permission

Anyway.... Yes indeed 17 had complete underwing serials as did a couple of others, not many though. I could go through my files and see what others did if anyone wants to know.

John Smith ended up with '17's wings and the RP stubs are on the Wigram Mustang from memory

Hope this helps
Anthony

[ams888]

Mar 4, 2019 14:46:59 GMT 12 agalbraith said:

Hi all, Dave is correct this is a photo of Ron Fechney's that he kindly allowed me to scan from his wonderful collection. I asked if i could show a friend them which Ron agreed and then he went and got them published in books and magazines. Ron and I were upset as no permission was given and neither of us ever saw a cent (not that I wanted anything but would have been nice for Ron to have gotten something! However David Muir used a couple in his awesome book "Southern Cross Mustangs" with permission

Hi Anthony, I had no idea sorry. I just saw this photo on facebook. I can take it down if you want

[agalbraith]

No no, not at all mate!

It's the nature of the beast when it comes to images. It's out there now and may as well be enjoyed!!

[tbf25o4]

I would be interested to see photos of the underwing serials on the mustangs, as I indicated above their positioning does not follow the conventions that were in force for other aircraft of the period

[agalbraith]

Not sure who's these are originally but I got them via Colin Sutherland




And this is another of Ron's from the other side



Hope that's of interest

Cheers Anthony

[tbf25o4]

Thanks for posting those photos, what it does show is that the serials were displaced from the usual mid chord to the rear to miss the undercarriage bay, unlike the method that was used on the
Vampires with a split serial because of the undercarriage arrangement. The question now is when in their career were these underwing serials applied, and how many carried them. Of note, both aircraft shown were 3TAF which was based at Wigram where all the training aircraft carried underwing serials. Is that perhaps the reason?

[Calum]

great photos for those modellers out there

[agalbraith]

Thanks guys....maybe we should have a 'Mustang Pile' ?

[Dave Homewood]

Do it!!