A few more to add:
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This is a P-51D serial 44-73099 fitted with an experimental Aerojet "Superperformance" rocket engine. The 75 gallon wing tanks contain the fuel. This is a hypergolic one consisting of 65% RFNA and 35% Aniline. The tanks are permanently mounted. The engine was rated for 1300 lbs. thrust but failed to deliver the full value in testing. The installation weighed 1090 lbs., including fuel.
Test pilot Bob Chilton flew the plane several times and achieved 513 mph at 21,000 feet, about a 100 mph improvement in speed.
On at least one occasion fumes from the fuel entered the cockpit, and the whole test program was deemed too dangerous and unnecessary for operational use.
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The navalized P-51 was tried with launch and landings on the USS Shangri La in late 1944 as seen here. The results were that the pilot's view was poor during most stages of launch and landing, that the plane had just an 8 mph window of speed it had to maintain on landing, and the landing gear had too much rebound. The plane was equipped with an arresting hook and catapult hook up points.
Another I don't have a photo I can post is a P-51B serial 42-10675WW (War Weary) that was converted to an ECM plane with a Perfectos set installed. Antennas several feet long were placed mid-wing with large insulators at their base, along with two similar antenna on the fuselage. The plane was with the 353th FG, 350th FS.
