North American A-36 Mustang

North American Aviation · United States · first flew 1942 · bomber

The A-36, named Apache in service but widely called the Mustang after its parent type, was a dive-bomber version of the early P-51 Mustang, adding dive brakes and underwing bomb racks to the same airframe.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	9.83 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

perforated dive brakes on the upper and lower wing surfaces, unique among Mustang variants
chin-mounted radiator scoop below the cockpit
underwing bomb racks

Perforated dive brakes on the upper and lower wing surfaces are unique to the A-36 among Mustang variants, alongside the classic Mustang's low tapered wing and chin-mounted radiator scoop.

Specifications

The North American A-36 Mustang has a length of 9.83 m (32 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.28 m (37 ft).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1942, the A-36 was ordered as a ground-attack variant before the Mustang's fighter potential was fully recognized, seeing combat over North Africa, Sicily and Italy on dive-bombing and strafing missions.

Variants

Essentially a modified Allison-engined Mustang I/P-51 airframe; its dive brakes and bomb racks were unique to the A-36 among wartime Mustang variants.

Where you'll see it

Flown operationally by the USAAF in the Mediterranean theatre in 1943-44 before being withdrawn as later Merlin-engined Mustang fighter variants took over; none remain in military service, with a handful preserved or flying privately today.

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