Čaj Severnoamerički A-36 Apač (navedena u nekim izvorima kao "Osvajač", ali se naziva i Mustang) bila je zemljano-napadna/ronilačka bombarderska verzija severnoameričkog P-51 Mustanga, iz kojeg se može razlikovati prisustvo pravougaonih, zašiljenih ronilačkih kočnica iznad i ispod krila. Ukupno 500 ronilačkih bombardera A-36 služilo je u Severnoj Africi, Mediteranu, Italiji i pozorištu Kina-Burma-Indija tokom Drugog svetskog rata, pre nego što je povučen iz operativne upotrebe 1944.
Čaj Severnoamerički A-36A Apač(often called the “Invader” by its crews) was the ground-attack version of the early P-51 Mustang. Before the Mustang became a high-altitude escort legend with a Merlin engine, it was a low-level specialist powered by the Allison V-1710. The A-36A was specifically adapted for the dive-bombing role to satisfy U.S. Army Air Corps contracts. It was rugged, fast, and surprisingly effective, proving that the Mustang airframe was a winner long before it ever saw a drop of British-designed power.
Hydraulic Dive Brakes:The most distinctive feature of the A-36A was the set of rectangular, cast-aluminum “slats” on the upper and lower wings. These acted as fences to limit dive speeds to a manageable 390 mph, allowing for much greater bombing accuracy during a steep descent.
Nose-Mounted Guns:Unlike later Mustangs which carried all their guns in the wings, the A-36A carried two of its six .50 caliber machine guns in the lower engine cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc. This provided a very concentrated “point” of fire for strafing.
The Allison Engine:The V-1710 was a fantastic engine at low altitudes, but it lacked a multi-stage supercharger. This made the A-36A a “mud-mover” by necessity, as its performance dropped off significantly above 12,000 feet.
Rugged Cooling:The iconic scoop under the belly was reinforced on the A-36 to handle the debris and high-stress maneuvers associated with “hedge-hopping” and low-level ground support.
Combat History: Screaming Over the Mediterranean
Sicily and Italy:The A-36A saw its heaviest use in the Mediterranean Theater. Pilots would dive at 70-degree angles to drop bombs on bridges, trains, and bunkers. It was so quiet in a dive that it often achieved total surprise over German and Italian positions.
A Surprising Dogfighter:Despite being weighed down by bombs and dive brakes, the A-36A was still a Mustang. A-36 pilots were credited with 84 aerial victories, and the type even produced one ace: Lt. Michael T. Russo.
The Name Game:While the factory called it the “Apache,” the AAF initially tried to name it the “Invader.” However, crews and the public eventually just started calling them “Mustangs,” leading to the A-36 name largely fading into the shadow of the P-51.
The Burma Front:The A-36A also served in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater, where its long range (compared to the P-40) allowed it to strike Japanese supply lines deep in the jungle.