[Blasph-Mossquitty]

We have enough Doras in the game, I believe.

[Jefferson]

ETF-51D-5NA "Seahorse"

The photos below show ETF-51D-5NA #44-14017 on the deck of USS Shangrai-La for flight trials with Bob Elder at the controls on November 15, 1944. The ETF-51D-5NA was a navalized prototype based off of the P-51D-5NA created as part of Project Seahorse. It was designed to be a quick modification of the Mustang to operate as a very long range escort carrier fighter to assist B-29-BO and B-32-CO raids on the Japanese mainland. Due to the capture of Okinawa and Iwo Jima, both islands had airfields that allowed normal Mustangs to operate within range of Japan, the Seahorse was no longer needed and the project was canceled. This is to hoping that the ETF-51D-5NA that was under construction here didn't go the same way as the original bird so that one of the most unusual and beautiful sea birds lives on.


http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/6370/...ondeck.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2038/...akeoff.jpg

As a note, the photographs are downsized here, but links to the full size versions are under each. Below this you will find an article documenting the history of Project Seahorse in greater detail.

http://www.mustang.gaetanmarie.com/artic.../naval.htm