While the Mustang had long legs, to get from Iwo Jima to the Japanese Home Islands and back required more than the standard 75 gallon drop tanks used in the European Theatre. In the two photos below, ground crewmen are seen unloading 110 gallon metal drop tanks in preparation for a VLR mission to Japan. On the trip to Japan, pilots would expend the aviation fuel from the drop tanks first, and then switch to the 85 gallon fuselage fuel tank which was situated right behind the pilot seat. Once that was expended, it was the fuel tanks in wings that would bring the Mustang home to Iwo Jima.

I love the photo below of the 335 “Is This Trip Necessary?”, a 531st Fighter Squadron, 21st Fighter Group P-51D-20 NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-63289). It captures the eloquent and graceful lines of the P-51D’s nose.

Please note in the photograph below that the “plumbing” between the drop tanks and the wings has already been installed before the tanks are attached to the underwing ordinance racks. Just from the numbers on the photographs, we know that top photo was taken before the bottom photo. The assumption here is that 7th Fighter Command became more efficient over time in how they prepared their fighters for VLR missions. Or it could have been just how a particular squadron installed their drop tanks. Either way, the photos show some possibilities for some interesting diorama settings.

In addition, the second photo provides information regarding the proper placement of kit decals on the drop tanks. Very neat.