The North American A-36 Apache which is listed in some sources as “Invader”, but also called Mustang was the ground-attack/dive bomber version of the North American P-51 Mustang, from which it could be distinguished by the presence of rectangular, slatted dive brakes above and below the wings. A total of 500 A-36 dive bombers served in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Italy and the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II before being withdrawn from operational use in 1944.
The first A-36A was rolled out of the NAA Inglewood plant in September 1942, hurriedly going through flight testing with the first flight in October, with deliveries commencing soon after of the first production machines emerged. The A-36A continued the use of nose-mounted .50 in machine guns along with wing armament of four .50 in caliber machine. The USAAF envisaged that the dive bomber would operate mainly at altitudes below 12,000 ft and specified the use of a sea level-rated Allison V-1710-87, driving a 10 ft 9 in diameter three bladed Curtiss-Electric propellers and delivering 1,325 hp at 3,000 ft. The main air scoop inlet was redesigned to become a fixed unit with a larger opening, replacing the earlier scoop which could be lowered into the airstream. In addition the A-36 carburetor air intake was later fitted with a tropical air filter to stop sand and grit being ingested into the engine.
The USAAF later ordered 310 P-51As which were essentially A-36s without the dive-brakes and nose mounted weapons, leaving an armament of four wing-mounted 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns. An Allison V-1710-81 1,200 hp was fitted and used the same radiator and air intake as the A-36A. The P-51A was still fitted with bomb racks although it was not intended to be used primarily as a fighter-bomber and the racks were mainly used to carry drop tanks.
The A-36A-1-NA “Apache” joined the 27th Fighter Bomber Group composed of four squadrons based at Rasel Ma in French Morocco in April 1943 during the campaign in North Africa. The 27th had a mixed component of Douglas A-20 Havocs and A-36As while the second operational unit, the 86th Fighter Bomber Group (Dive) arrived in March 1943 with the first pilots trained and qualified on the A-36A. On 6 June 1943, both of these A-36A units flew combat missions directed against the island of Pantelleria. The island fell to Allied attack and became the home base for the two A-36A groups during the invasion of Sicily. Dive brakes in the wings gave the A-36A greater stability in a dive; however, a myth has arisen that they were useless due to malfunctions or because of the danger of deploying them and that they should be wired closed.
However, tactical reconnaissance training with P-51 and A-36 aircraft had delivered some disquieting accident rates. At one time, A-36 training had resulted in the type having “the highest accident rate per hour’s flying time” of any USAAF aircraft. The most serious incident involved an A-36A shedding both wings when its pilot tried to pull out from a 450 mph (724 km/h) dive. Combat units flying the A-36A were ordered to restrict their approach to a 70° “glide” attack and refrain from using dive brakes. This order was generally ignored by experienced pilots but some units did wire dive brakes shut until modifications were made to the hydraulic actuators. Nevertheless, the A-36 was used with great success as a dive-bomber, acquiring a reputation for precision, sturdiness and silence.
By late May 1943, 300 A-36As had been deployed to the Mediterranean Theater, with many of the first batch sent to the 27th to re-build the group following losses as well as completing the final transition to an all-A-36A unit. Both groups were actively involved in air support during the Sicilian campaign, becoming especially adept at “mopping” up enemy gun positions and other strong points as the Allies advanced. During this operation, the 27th Group circulated a petition to adopt the name “Invader” for their rugged little bomber, receiving unofficial recognition of the more fitting name. Despite the name change, most combat reports preferred the name “Mustang” for all of the variants. The Germans gave it a flattering, if fearsome, accolade, calling the A-36As: “screaming helldivers.”
For can get all details and combat history of this dive bomber from NORTH AMERICAN A-36A APACHE (Yellow Series) Paperback by Przemyslaw Skulski. Get the book here.
Specifications
Crew: 1
Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 0.25 in (11.28 m)
Height: 12 ft 2 in (3.71 m)
Loaded weight: 10,000 lb (4,535 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Allison V-1710-87 liquid-cooled piston V12 engine, 1,325 hp (988 kW)
Maximum speed: 365 mph (315 kn, 590 km/h)
Cruise speed: 250 mph (215 kn, 400 km/h)
Range: 550 mi (478 nmi, 885 km)
Service ceiling: 25,100ft (7,650 m)
Armament: 6 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns; Up to 1,000 lb (454 kg) of bombs on two underwing hardpoints
North American A-36 Apache was first posted on November 16, 2013 at 7:48 am.
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