- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- No - I would not like to see the Kiwi Mustang in game.
The NZ 2423 as of today, being restored to flying condition in 2023.
Description:
Purchased as to supplement, then replace the RNZAF’s ageing FG-1D and F4U-1A fleet in late 1945, over 30 airframes of the P-51D-25NT variant would be delivered. They would be standard to the USAF models, however could mount some British stocks such as the RP-3 rocket in addition to the American types.
They would be produced at the North American Texas plant in 1945, with the US serials 11490 to 11496, 11498 to 11513, 11515 to 11519, and 11521 to 11522. In RNZAF service they would carry NZ 2401 to NZ 2430.
In Service they would be mostly referred to as Mustangs, rather than their official P-51D-25NT designation, but would not adopt the British naming scheme of Mustang I/II/III/IV.
NZ 2406 being refuelled at Ohakea, ~ 1955
History:
Although ordered in late 1945 for a total of 130 airframes, the large order would be cancelled due to the end of Japanese hostilities, leaving only the 30 airframes and 12 spare engines which were already on delivery to NZ aboard the Canadian freighter Dominion Park and could not be returned.
Due to post war restructuring of the composition and size of the RNZAF in the immediate postwar period, all 30 airframes were placed in storage at RNZAF Hobsonville, as their use was in the air at this time and was not guaranteed. They would later be moved to No.1 Stored Depot Te Rapa, then further to RNZAF Ardmore, as the restructuring was taking longer than expected.
By 1947 this restructuring was complete, and included the creation of the Territorial Air Force (TAF), which was to act as a volunteer air force to complement the main RNZAF. This force would use outdated aircraft, such as the Tiger Moth, and Havard training aircraft upon its creation.
Four TAF squadrons would be re-equipped with the then unused Mustangs in early 1951, as to act as a fighter and fighter/bomber force. They were the, No.1 TAF Squadron (Auckland) at RNZAF Whenuapai, No.2 TAF Squadron (Wellington) at RNZAF Ohakea. No.3 TAF Squadron (Christchurch) at RNZAF Wigram, and finally No.4 TAF Squadron (Otago) at RNZAF Taieri.
Two Mustangs were also used by the RNZAF’s Flying School, being assigned in June 1952. Due to mechanical complexities, these aircraft would transfer to No.14 and No.75 Squadrons as Drouge target towing aircraft, an ex TAF airframe would also be sent to No.42 Squadron for the same purpose.
The airframes were assigned as follows;
No.1 TAF Squadron : NZ 2413, 2428, 2425, 2416, 2414
No.2 TAF Squadron : NZ 2402, 2411, 2404, 2419, 2408
No.3 TAF Squadron : NZ 2417, 2409, 2412, 2415, 2424
No.4 TAF Squadron : NZ 2426, 2429, 2421, 2430
RNZAF Flying School : NZ 2406, 2422
Seven airframes were damaged due to their long term storage and were used for parts, they were the
NZ 2401, 2403, 2405, 2406, 2407, 2410 and 2418. NZ 2401 and NZ 2405 were both sent to the No.4 Technical Training School at Wigram for use as instructional airframes.
NZ 2417 after being sold to civilian service in 1964, sitting in her “Mobil” scheme at RNZAF Wigram.
In TAF service they would mostly engage in training, with air to ground rocketry and gunnery practise, navigation and familiarisation flights, as well as aerobatic practise. In this role they would suffer a high attrition rate, with 10 aircraft being written off, with the death of multiple pilots. Of these airframes, NZ 2430 would be placed on Ohakea target range as a target.
By August 1955, due to multiple undercarriage failures, along with corrosion in the coolant system, all Mustangs were withdrawn from service. Their replacement was due to be the DH Vampire, but this fell through, and the TAF squadrons were re-equipped with Harvards until the TAF’s dissolution in 1957.
The 19 surviving airframes were listed for sale, three as whole aircraft, the rest as scrap. The survivors were, NZ 2427, 2423, and 2417. Of these aircraft, NZ 2427 would be scrapped in 1973 due to damage, as she was dismantled and left on a field. NZ 2417 would be purchased for use as a race aircraft, being rebuilt using spares and painted with their sponsors logo. She would break the air speed record between Dunedin to Auckland (1h 48m) in 1965. She would be sold to a US buyer in 1974, and currently flies in the scheme of a US aircraft, Cripes A’Mighty 3rd.
NZ 2423 would’ve shared the same fate as NZ 2427, however she was purchased by the Biggin Hill Trust, Ohakea in 2019, going back to a flying condition as of the restorations completion in 2023 still wearing her NZ colours.
Note: Two other Mustangs are currently in New Zealand colours, but are not ex-RNZAF airframes, these have the US serials 41367, and 74892. The former is an ex-Indonesian Cavalier model with the colours of the NZ2410. She is currently sitting at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Christchurch. And the latter is an ex-RCAF airframe, with the colours of the NZ 2415, and is currently in private ownership in Australia.
| Dimensions: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Length: 32 ft 3.5 in (9.84m) | |||||
| Wing Span: 37ft (11.28m) | |||||
| Height (tail wheel on ground, prop vertical): 13ft 4.5in (4.08m) | |||||
| Weight (dry): 7,635lb (3,463.18kg) | |||||
| Weight (gross): 9,200lb (4,173.05m) | |||||
| Wing Area: 235 sqft (21.83sqm) | |||||
| Crew: 1 | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Engine Performance: | |||||
| Engine: Packard Merlin V-1650-7 (1,490hp (1,111.09kW) @ 3,000rpm) | |||||
| Fuel: 100/130 Octane | |||||
| Prop: 4-bladed, constant speed, variable pitch, 11ft 2in (3.40m) diameter | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Aerial performance: | |||||
| Climb Rate: 3,200 ft/min (16.26m/s) | |||||
| Wing Loading: 39 lb/ sqft (190.42kg/ sqm) | |||||
| Maximum speed (clean) : 440mph (708.11kph) | |||||
| Range (clean) : 1,650 mi (2,655.42km) | |||||
| Ceiling: 41,900ft (12,771.12m) | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Armament: | |||||
| Guns: 6x .50 (12.7mm) Browning AN/M2 (three per wing), 1880 rounds | |||||
| Under-wing Bomb stores: 2x 500/250 lb bombs. 2x 75 or 108 gal drop tanks | |||||
| Under-wing Rocket stores: 6x RP-3 (three per wing), 6x HVAR (three per wing) |
NZ 2423 sitting dismantled on a Blenheim farm, ~ 1964.
Extra Photos
Crash photos (yes there is enough to validate this list, and yes there is more)
Sources:
P.N.Anderson (1975), Mustangs of the RAAF and RNZAF. (pp.44-48, 92-97, 101-103)
RNZAF Mustang NZ2401 to NZ2430
RNZAF P-51D pilots in WWII | Wings Over New Zealand
North American P51D Mustang NZ2423 – Biggin Hill, RNZAF Ohakea
1945 USAAF Serial Numbers
P-51 Mustang NZ2423
North American P-51 Mustang in New Zealand service - Wikipedia
Norh American P-51D-25-NT Mustang