WAR FILM 20-2 P-51 MUSTANG / A-36 APACHE GROUND GERMAN WAR PRODUCTION (Print 1 -- see 87874)

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This Film Communique from WWII, "A Day with the A-36s" shows North American A-36 Invaders operating in Italy, performing ground strike missions against German targets in Southern Italy including roads leading to Mt. Etna. The North American A-36 Mustang (sometimes also dubbed the "Invader" by members of the USAAF) was the ground attack/diver bomber version of the North American P-51. (Nomenclature note: during WWII, the 12th Air Force petitioned to have the A-36 called the "Invader", but that name was already assigned to the Douglas A-26. The aircraft was also informally nicknamed the Apache.) It could be distinguished from the P-51 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served in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Italy and the China-Burma-India theater during World War II before being withdrawn from operational use in 1944.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 A-36A-1-NA first 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 A-36A proved to be a potent weapon; it could be put into a vertical dive at 12,000 ft (3,658 m)with deployed dive brakes, thus, limiting the dive speed to 390 mph (628 km/h). Pilots soon recognized that extending the dive brakes after "peel-off" led to some unequal extension of the brakes due to varying hydraulic pressure, setting up an invariable slight roll which impeded aiming. Proper technique soon cured this anomaly and, subsequently, pilots achieved extremely consistent results. Depending on the target and defenses, the bomb release took place between 2,000 ft and 4,000 ft (610 and 1,219 m), followed by an immediate sharp "pull up."
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.
Besides dive bombing, the A-36A racked up aerial victories, totaling 84 enemy aircraft downed and creating an "ace", Lieutenant Michael T. Russo from the 27th Fighter Bomber Group (ultimately, the only ace using the Allison-engined Mustang). As fighting intensified in all theaters where the A-36A operated, the dive bomber began to suffer an alarming loss rate with 177 falling to enemy action. The main reason for the attrition was the hazardous missions that placed the A-36A "on the deck" facing murderous ground fire. German defenses in southern Italy included placing cables across hill tops to snare the attacking A-36As.] Despite establishing a "reputation for reliability and performance, "the one "Achilles' heel" of the A-36A (and the entire Mustang series) remained its vulnerable cooling system leading to many of the losses. By June 1944, A-36As in Europe were replaced by Curtiss P-40s and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts.
The A-36A also flew missions in the CBI throughout 1943-1944 with indifferent results. The A-36A remained in service in small numbers throughout the remaining year of the war, some being retained in the US as training aircraft.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFi...

[@miklmiklmtrcycl6009]

All these young studs having the best years of their lives while having the worst years of their lives. True bravery is carrying on despite constant fear. Thank you all.

[@abundantYOUniverse]

My best friend Mark A. Doc Savage was in this film, he served in Sicily flying A-36's.

[@andrewrcmadwilkinson6999]

THANK YOU GENTLEMEN FROM THE UK

[@Ballerfella2007]

Loving the jovial spirit of the narrator and the actual sounds of war without the music. Great job

[@dgsantafedave1]

The dude rolling the bomb out of the C-47 around 3:01 and letting it drop onto the cart is classic!

[@xmanhoe]

A36 was a rare bird, only 500 built of which only 2 remain airworthy

[@Franky46Boy]

As far as I know, none of the A-36s remain airworthy... You must mean the P-51C that looks about the same.

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

@@Franky46Boy There is/was at least one P51A flying although it had some major components [ wings maybe ] from later versions. It's been at least 10 years since I subscribed to Air Classics or Aviation History so maybe it's crashed by now.

[@Franky46Boy]

@@truthboomertruthbomber5125 The P-51A was not the same as the A-36. The A-36 had dive brakes and was a real dive bomber!

[@stevelindsey5560]

The good old days when we were the leaders of the free world and the Nazis were from another country. Hopefully we'll get back there...

[@Doonie310]

im starting to see Hitlers logic tbf.

[@mikek4610]

Steve Lindsey nazis were from another country? Inferring?

[@supressorgrid]

I guess you would call Hitler a progressive, gun control, abortion of unwanted persons, take over of industry, transport, communication schools...

[@linus6634]

theres so much wrong with this se tence

[@dukecraig2402]

Yep, all the crybaby Antifa children in this country who like to go around throwing the word Nazi around should go over to Germany and take a tour of Dachau, then they'll know what Nazi's really were and won't be so quick to apply it to someone from their own country just because they voted differently from them, actually that's being a Nazi in it's own right, they should just go ahead and put brown shirts on and have done with it.

[@AreeyaKKC]

Official name was A-36 Mustang. Apache and invader were nicknames given by the press. Only name that was official from NAA and USAAF was Mustang.

[@WildBillKelso32]

Sharing a restricted video on a public domain!? Don’t you know that loose lips sink ships! 😂😂😂 Love these. Keep it up.

[@Russia-bullies]

😂 The walls have ears too.😃

[@davidhimmelsbach557]

The A-36 was the ORIGINAL motor. Once the shift to the Merlin -- the rest was history.

[@chaui71]

That one pilot was definitely from Oklahoma. The plane was named "Boomer Sooner".

[@joepeanut6827]

May GOD bless what's left of this once grate country.

[@jakklump]

A metal filtration device? People should always specify WHICH "god" there are millions of them, if any of these all-powerful "gods" existed, they would be responsible for child cancer, all of the miscarriages, the killing of INNOCENT people, starvation of innocent children etc. The fact is, there are no "gods", Loch Ness monsters, Big Foot, or tooth fairies. It's time to grow up and stop being afraid of taking responsibility for everything in life.

[@BaroqueViolin]

Very interesting! Thank you!

[@bobwilson758]

I would sure rather fly this mission in a P-47 !

[@WetaMantis]

WW2 air combat footage is still better than 2015 Apache gun camera video 0_0

[@democratsarescumnukemecca4004]

Weta no its amazing they just don't release it they learned good from Vietnam video of War is not good pr

[@scottward7813]

A-36 I believe was the Allison engine version before the Rolls- Royce Merlin engine upgrade. The rest, as they say, is history.

[@johndell3642]

A-36 did have the Allison engine, but its main difference to the early fighter P-51 were air-brakes above and below each wing to make it into a dive-bomber. After the initial production run of 620 Allison-engined "Mustang Mk I" for the British had been finished the production line was due to close down. North America asked the Army Air Force if they wanted to take delivery of the new fighter, but there was no money in the budget for any new fighters. However, there were unallocated funds for "attack aircraft". So the USAAF asked for the Mustang to be reconfigured as a dive-bomber, hence the A-36, nicknamed the "Invader" by the US pilots that flew it in North Africa, Sicily and Italy (because they were always "invading places"). The USAAF later went on to order the fighter version, still with Allison engine, but minus the dive-brakes and nose-mounted guns, as the original P-51 (only 150 built, most of which went to the RAF as "Mustang MK Ia") and the P-51A (310 built, some went to the RAF as "Mustang Mk II"). The Packard-built Merlin engine was fitted from the P51B onwards (Mustang Mk III), thousands of it and succeeding marks were built.

[@LesPaulExpress]

At the end was Adolf Galland: Ace, pilot's pilot, and commander of all Me-262's.

[@SoCalDualSport]

All that and they still lost. Lol

[@bezimienny_andzej6425]

@@SoCalDualSport Comments don't get much dumber than yours. LesPaulsExpress just mentioned, who the guy was, of course they would have lost even with 100 Gallands, but that's not the point.

[@cannabisbananabis5031]

Thank you. I recognized the face but couldn't come up with a name. The modified Hitler moustache is so recognizable.

[@l337pwnage]

@@SoCalDualSport The world lost.

[@pneumatic00]

These must have been adapted from P-51 A or B, not D. They do not have the bubble canopy, they have the razorback in back of the cockpit. I wonder if they have Merlins or Allison engines. I'll have to go look. ............Yes. Allison engines; 3 blade prop (vs Mustang 4-blade) different air scoop. A lot of these were taken out by enemy ground fire.

[@wilburfinnigan5627]

pneumatic The A36 was an adaption of the Mustang 1 & II that the Brits got !!! Then the USAAF ordered 500 A36 to keep the assembly line open until the USAAF ordered the P51A all Allison Powered !!! Then the Merlin powered P51 B/C and then the P51D/K the Bubble canopy version !!! Just the facts of history less the guessing and Bull Shit !!! See the book P51 Mustangs in action by Larry Davies for all the details and truth !!!

[@kenneth9874]

Ground attack is one of the most dangerous types of missions for any type of aircraft

[@DogVonDobie]

@@wilburfinnigan5627 Not from the Mustang II, which was the same as the P-51A. Developed from an NA-83 which came from the second batch of Mustangs ordered by the British. Both original batches, NA-73 and NA-83 were Mustang I's.

[@digger5521]

Gotta love that sound

[@tennesseeridgerunner5992]

Remember when America pulled together and performed as a team? From the pilots, to the ground crews, to the Merchant Marines bringing the supplies, to the war workers producing the ordnance, to boys collecting all the metal in their neighborhoods. We were a well oiled machine then and we weren't worried and consumed with the TOTAL SOCIAL GARBAGE as now.

[@bobwilson758]

Scary diving attack ! Damn - Wow

[@garykreutzer1239]

You can tell this is early in the war. The later versions went with bubble canopies that slid open backwards. Made it MUCH easier to get out if you had too. Plus they had much better visability. Once they got the spit engines in them they were superior to the 109s and 190s. They save many airman's lives over Germany. The bomber guys loved them!

[@jonathansteadman7935]

Well you had the 'Malcolm' hood, like a Spitfire, then the full bubble canopy.

[@adastra5889]

There is no known contemporary reference of the A-36 being called an Apache. That was the original factory name for the P-51 before it was officially named the Mustang. The myth probably started out over confusion about original North American advertising for the P-51 Apache.

[@kenneth9874]

The A36 is always called the Apache

[@johnhopkins6260]

Never heard of the A-36 before...

[@michaelatkins9780]

The A-36 was the worst attack plane with the non compound turbo-Allison but became the greatest fighter with the Merlin. Well, the radiators under the belly sure may be an easy target on attack missions, also.

[@kenneth9874]

Actually the A36 was faster than any spitfire at its time of introduction. The merlin didn't come into its own until it received an infusion of American technology.....

[@michaelatkins9780]

@kenneth9874 none of that was true. America did nothing but build the Merlin under license from Rolls-Royce. A36 was faster under 15,000 feet. Not at interceptor altitude where the air is thin and in need of boost for power. And where the messerschitts and folke wolf fighters were.

[@nigelsmith7366]

Such dumb comments for some actual research not repeat what other idiots say

[@davidkeeton6716]

According to my uncle that was an armorer in an A36 squadron in the 12th Army Air Force in Africa in 1942, these were ground attack aircraft. Used for strafing and bombing enemy convoys, supply and fuel dumps and troops and air fields. They didn't go upstairs looking for trouble, the plane wasn't designed for that.

[@seabertotter4325]

This is before they had the seamless canopy.

[@bobechs7234]

If the Signal Corp's can't handle an apostrophe how could they possibly assist in winning a war?

[@barryhopesgthope686]

I noticed,did they fire through the propellers?

[@AreeyaKKC]

Mustang Ia had the cheek guns. Not the A-36

[@l337pwnage]

love the ending, america, of all places, claiming to be for the workers. 🤣

[@garthsnidpick4151]

@ 3;01 really ? just drop the bomb on the trailer ???? wow

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

There are no fuses in those bombs. The fuses are installed before takeoff.

[@wasserdagger]

At that point, the bombs were not "armed" with the fuses that go into the nose cone. So, there was no danger when he dropped the unarmed bomb on the trailer. Now, if he'd dropped it on his foot, that'd be another matter.

[@l337pwnage]

@@truthboomertruthbomber5125 all probably true, but who knows if the handlers even knew that. Had a buddy who went through the AF, and this was recently, and they had to have a PSA telling people not to use .50 cal rounds as hammers because some guy blew his hand off doing that, lol.

[@1gallimaufry]

The time counter is incredibly annoying. Other than that good footage.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Here's the issue: Tens of thousands of films like this one were destroyed and many others are at risk. Our company preserves these precious bits of history one film at a time. How do we afford to do that? By selling them as stock footage to documentary filmmakers and broadcasters. If we did not have a counter, we could not afford to post films like this on online, and no films would be preserved. It's that simple. So we ask you to bear with the watermark and timecodes. So, in the past we tried many different systems including placing our timer at the bottom corner of our videos. What happened? Unscrupulous KZbin users downloaded our vids, blew them up so the timer was not visible, and re-posted them as their own content. We had to use content control to have the videos removed and shut down these channels. It's hard enough work preserving these films and posting them, without having to deal with these kind of issues.

[@unhippy1]

i didn't notice it after the first 20 or 30 seconds

[@deetjay1]

The history is too important to worry over details...Good work...

[@Caseytify]

You folks are doing a great job. Don't let the ankle-biters bother you too much... :)

[@SolBadGuy06]

@@PeriscopeFilm totally understandable!! Keep up the good work!

[@bobwilson758]

Love those Jeeps --

[@bwilliams463]

On to Montecassino!

[@jameslucas5658]

Ah yes the happy, soon to be unhappy time

[@swampfox1776.]

USA BABY...OUURAHHHH SEMPER FI

[@MrMAC8964]

Man when you look at what the Allies had to destroy in order to tame that beast ffs .

[@l337pwnage]

Well, the allies were extremely outmatched intellectually. They just had 5 times the fodder. They had to steal some of the production machines in this video after the war because they couldn't figure out how to build them in us.

[@MrMAC8964]

@@l337pwnage But then those dummies made the bomb that ended 2 wars on 2 fronts against 2 idiot Nations . All the germans had to do was stop listening to drug addicted ww1 corporals .

[@MrMAC8964]

@@l337pwnage ps more Germans died in the war than everybody else combined so fodder is relative .

[@l337pwnage]

@@MrMAC8964 More died after the war due to mistreatment, so, ya the deaths were high on that side. Morganthau plan. They knew it was an existential struggle.

[@l337pwnage]

@@MrMAC8964 and Eisenhower's death camps

[@Franky46Boy]

The name 'Apache' was never used for this Mustang variant. The name Invader or just Mustang was the common name for this Mustang variant.

[@davidkeeton6716]

My uncle was an armorer in an A36 squadron in Africa in 1942. He NEVER referred to these in any way other than calling them an A36. They were used by the 12th Army Air Force for ground attack. He transferred to the 488th bomb squadron, 340th bomb group of the 57th bomb wing 12th Army Air Force . He fought with them in Africa Corsica Sicily and Italy.

[@billt6116]

The following presentation has been rated"R" By the motion picture industry of America.... why? Have you seen Video games these days?

[@l337pwnage]

lol, first thing us did was release all the mobsters and put them back in charge.

[@oceanicfeeling3135]

By God air buggies.

[@PauloPereira-jj4jv]

There was never officially the name "Apache ", the A-36 was named MUSTANG as any other P-51.

[@thisisnumber0]

V12 Merlin engines that sound like radials. Right, then.

[@robertfreeman3831]

BRANDON....By the looks of your wall, what it represents materially and spiritually... I´d say you could use a few teaching moments.... grow up.

[@blumenthol]

Allies killed 20,000 French civilians with indiscriminate bombings and straffings. . . FYI.

[@PauloPereira-jj4jv]

Source...?

[@nigelsmith7366]

You are such a idiot 🤣

[@l337pwnage]

I'd be shocked if it was only that.

[@bills2003]

TRUMP 2024

[@NemoBlank]

Those were Allison engine dive bombers, pretty useless.

[@copisetic1104]

It reminds me of our Congress and senate, and all of the fascist bureaucrats in Washington DC.

[@kenneth9874]

The democrats at any rate....

[@jakklump]

@@kenneth9874The Democratic party is for DEMOCRACY and does not hold rallies for der FATTER. The republikkkan party holds continuous hate rallies, blames jews (soros/ hollywood) for their everything, are planning concentration camps (project 2025 look it up), have done a beer hall putsch on Jan 6th 2021 etc. Only liars and idiots cannot see that the turdpublikkkan cult is a crappy copy of hitler's nazi party.

[@kellyburket6955]

Yes! Vote straight blue!!!

[@kellyburket6955]

​@@kenneth9874those are the good guys, the Patriots!!!

[@madmikemadmike2175]

too many indian people coming to canada especially P.E.I. they are turning a beautiful island into india.

[@Banksia]

These planes sound like my old Ford Zephyr when they used to start !

[@oledahammer8393]

German Propaganda - "Our production has increased over 400% over last year"..."as has our slave labor use"...

[@l337pwnage]

I think it's pretty commonly accepted that their production kept increasing up to the end of the war. That's a bit misleading, tho, as allies tended to target civilians instead of production facilities. If you want to whine about prison labor, though, knock yourself out, as if prisoners in america don't do jobs now.

[@JB-rt4mx]

Man, Goebells blows Trump away when it comes to Rally attendance, but saying the same thing...🤔

[@kenneth9874]

Actually Goebbell is spouting the democrat party line....he was just vastly more popular than sniffy joe....

[@johnchamberlain8148]

Really? Did you have to bring politics into this? But that's ok. I'm sure Orange Man is preparing a watch list for people like you so he can weaponize the alphabet agencies against you. Oh wait...that was the dems that do that.

[@michaellogston4236]

Oh so it's not your liberal friends attacking jews at their synagogue? Tell me again who the Nazis are.

[@l337pwnage]

TBF, almost nobody will match that level of popularity ever again. And Trump just copies, and he never intends to deliver.

[@markjennings2315]

More film ruined by your obtrusive clock running. You guys dont own the rights nor have the moral right to interfere with this footage like this.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Here's the issue: tens of thousands of films like this one were destroyed and many others are at risk. Our company preserves these precious bits of history one film at a time. How do we afford to do that? By selling them as stock footage to documentary filmmakers and broadcasters. If we did not have a counter, we could not afford to post films like this on online, and no films would be preserved. It's that simple. So we ask you to bear with the watermark and timecodes. So, in the past we tried many different systems including placing our timer at the bottom corner of our videos. What happened? Unscrupulous KZbin users downloaded our vids, blew them up so the timer was not visible, and re-posted them as their own content. We had to use content control to have the videos removed and shut down these channels. It's hard enough work preserving these films and posting them, without having to deal with these kind of issues.

[@rickyt43515]

Boring