Hacks" and two-seat conversions

With the arrival of the new D- and K-models, some aircraft of the earlier 'birdcage' versions were transferred to Training and Replacement units in the UK (ofter referred to as OTU [operational training unit - a British term]), but some were also kept as so-called 'Squadron-hacks', i.e. aircraft declared unfit for combat and therefore used for local navigation training missions, familiarisation flights by newly arrived replacement-pilots, and other duties. Usually such aircraft were marked with "WW" on the tail, an abbreviation for "war-weary", to make sure that they were not used for combat-missions anymore. Quite a number of these planes were converted to two-seaters, by removing the fuselage tank, relocating the radio equipment and installing a second seat behind the pilot's seat. These conversions sometimes were also used to give some lucky groundcrew-men the experience of a flight in a fighter plane. After VE-Day, some Mustangs were adorned with colourful schemes.
Probably the most famous two seater was "The Stars Look Down" this was the P-51 used by General Dwight Eisenhower,to fly over the landings at Normandy on July 4th.















Regards Duggy.