NA-106 P-51D-1-NA Mustangs 42-102539/-102540

[Steve Pace]

What became of the two premier P-51D Mustangs?
According to Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research (AAIR) USAAF pilot Agustus W. Pitcarin was flying NA-106 P-51D-1-NA number one (42-106539) near Redondo Beach, California on 11 January 1944 when it crashed to destruction in the Pacific Ocean during a USAAF Material Command test flight killing the pilot.
AAIR also states that USAAF pilot Henry E. Crist was flying NA-106 P-51D-1-NA number two (42-106540) about a mile south of Chunky, Mississippi on 25 June 1945 when it crashed to destruction killing the pilot. The plane had been based at Key Field near Chunky with the 347th Combat Crew Training Squadron.
-Steve Pace
24 June 2012

 

[Steve Pace]

Incidentally - has anyone ever seen photos of these two elusive P-51D airplanes? -SP

 

[drgondog]

Incidentally - has anyone ever seen photos of these two elusive P-51D airplanes? -SP

I have only armament and wing images. According to my key sources, images of P-51D-1-NT existed in the NARA folders for Both the P-51D-1 Mustang and MX-241 Rocket mounts.

42-106540 was distingushable only by the existance of the filler cap for the 55gal fuse tank and the 2106540 tail number.
I do have the 106-00001 P-51D Three View General Assemby drawing which correctly identifies the fuselage of a P-51B-1 with no carb screen. It was drawn 3-13-1943 when the P-51D/E were concieved as six gun wing/birdcage canopy and re-drawn November 1943 to show bubble canopy and five early stub mounts for 4.5" rockets.

The P-51D & D-1 were abandoned when AAF ordered that all Mustangs (P-51B/C/D) delivered after Jan 1 1944 must have 85 gal fuselage tanks. Only the 55gal could be fitted in the new modified P-51B-1 fuselage when the additional weight/moment arm of the two additional guns and 1200 rounds of ammo were positioned aft of the existing aft CG limit.

 

[Howardp]

Thanks for the information my uncle was Gus Pitcairn

 

[drgondog]

Thanks for the information my uncle was Gus Pitcairn

I suspect that the wing failure on his dive was traceable to either the ammo door of lack of gear uplock..

 

[Vic]

I suspect that the wing failure on his dive was traceable to either the ammo door of lack of gear uplock..

Marshall and Ford's book "P-51B, North American's Bastard Stepchild that Saved the Eighth Air Force" (2020) is an excellent and detailed Mustang history, This, together with this and earlier posts on this Forum, leaves me with more unanswered questions.

Gus Pitcarin flew P-51D 42-106539 on January 11, 1944. AAIR identifies him as “ USAAF pilot”. This is questionable because the currently living family has no recollection of him in uniform, but the references are strong evidence that he was.

Family members also question the location of the crash “in the Pacific Ocean”, and believe it was on land in Redondo Beach.

Missing are information on any additional modifications or tasking on 539/540 between November 17th and January 11th and subsequent testing of 2106540. Was Gus Pitcarin the first to fly the re-modified 2106539 or 2106540? Do the log books for these aircraft still “exist”?(UNLIKELY) Did this crash end the “Secret” program? 540 ended up in a training program 1 ½ years later.

 

[drgondog]

Marshall and Ford's book "P-51B, North American's Bastard Stepchild that Saved the Eighth Air Force" (2020) is an excellent and detailed Mustang history, This, together with this and earlier posts on this Forum, leaves me with more unanswered questions.

Gus Pitcarin flew P-51D 42-106539 on January 11, 1944. AAIR identifies him as “ USAAF pilot”. This is questionable because the currently living family has no recollection of him in uniform, but the references are strong evidence that he was.

Family members also question the location of the crash “in the Pacific Ocean”, and believe it was on land in Redondo Beach.

Missing are information on any additional modifications or tasking on 539/540 between November 17th and January 11th and subsequent testing of 2106540. Was Gus Pitcarin the first to fly the re-modified 2106539 or 2106540? Do the log books for these aircraft still “exist”?(UNLIKELY) Did this crash end the “Secret” program? 540 ended up in a training program 1 ½ years later.

For certain, 540 was first P-51D to install MX-241 rocket launch - then travel to Orlando and Eglin for testing. It also was retrofitted with stubs for zero launch 5" rockets. 540 ended up most of its career at Eglin, but was lost in a rat race mock combat in July 1945 after traveling to MS.

Chilton flew first P-51D-1-NA 42-106539 on November 17th

I have Chilton's log an his entries for 539 in November/December 1943. He never flew 540.

Redondo Beach sounds correct but I'll have to look it up. The 539 was turned over to AAF in December - not aware that any civilian contract pilots flew for Army after WWII started. Ditto for NAA after NA-73 production deliveries began in April1941.

Thank you for the compliment.

Bill