North American F-6 Mustang

The F-6 Mustang is a photo reconnaissance development of the North American P-51 Mustang.

History
The first American order for 150 P-51s, designated NA-91 by North American, was placed by the Army on 7 July 1940. This was on behalf of the RAF in a Lend Lease deal. All but the last 57 went to the British. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USAAF 'held back' these Mustang Mk IAs for their own use. 55 of these so-called P-51-1s were outfitted with a pair of K.24 cameras in the rear fuselage for tactical low-level reconnaissance and re-designated F-6A (the "F" was for Foto (photographic), although confusingly also still referred to as the P-51 or P-51-1 ).

Following the early 1942 A-36A Apache (NA-97) order, the USAAF ordered 310 P-51As, of which 35 were equipped with K-24 cameras and designated F-6B.

These were followed by an unknown number of P-51B and P-51C aircraft, fitted for photo reconnaissance and designated F-6C, 147 F-6D-NA and 136 F-6D-NT aircraft, based on the P-51D, and 163 F-6K aircraft, based on the P-51K. The F-6Ds were later redesignated RF-51D.