Unless otherwise noted, all photographs on this website are copyright of the Martin Kyburz / Swiss Mustangs collection.
P-51D-20-NA J-2003 (44-72350) shortly after delivery to the Swiss Air Force. Note the early style markings - full red rudder with white cross and square insignias on wings.
P-51D-20-NA J-2012 (44-72304) Spring 1948 at Payerne Airfield. This aircraft shows the standard markings: roundels on tail-fin and wings. J-2013 at right (44-72461)
Mustangs on the ramp at Dübendorf Airfield 1949. Second aircraft is P-51D-20-NA J-2036 (44-72201).
Newly refurbished P-51D's at Buochs Airfield, Summer 1948.
P-51D-20-NA J-2068 (44-72283) on high-altitude patrol.
P-51D-20-NA J-2064 (44-63666) crossing the alps. The yellow fuselage band and spinner in same colour were short-lived war-game markings.
Mustang line-up at Dübendorf. Nearest aircraft is P-51D-20-NA J-2015 (44-72243). Note insignia-red noses and fuselage bands.
Fine close-up-study of a Mustang and its Hamilton-Standard HS 24D50-87 (cuffed) propeller.
Packard Merlin V-1650-7 engine-installation. This is P-51D-20-NA J-2002 (44-72374).
P-51D-20-NA J-2037 (44-72316) at Emmen, Summer 1953. This aircraft is equipped with a Hamilton Standard HS 24D50-105 propeller (uncuffed, 'paddle-blade' type).
Dübendorf, Summer 1949; nearest aircraft is P-51D-20-NA J-2002 (44-72374) with P-51D-20-NA J-2062 (44-63440) behind.
Mustangs on patrol over the Swiss mountains, Spring 1949. Nearest aircraft is P-51D-20-NA J-2018 (44-72301).
F-6K-10-NT J-2128 (44-12525), an original reconnaissance-conversion made at the Dallas-factory, seen here on a test-flight, Summer 1950. Note camera-port for oblique-mounted K-24 aerial camera (Alfred Muser).
Nice in-flight study of P-51D-25-NA J-2122 (44-73048) (Alfred Muser).
P-51D-20-NA J-2103 (44-63643) during warm-up at Buochs during Spring 1954. Note the Swiss developed rocket-launchers (Franz Kuster).
Cold weather operations at Buochs.
P-51D-20-NA J-2053 (44-72149) at Payerne, early 1954, with P-51D-20-NA J-2024 (44-72469) behind. Both aircraft have Hamilton Standard HS 24D50-105 paddle-blade propellers installed (Franz Kuster).
A pair of Swiss Air Force P-51D Mustangs assigned to FlSt 19 taking off from Buochs Airfield 1950.
Arming the guns of P-51D-20-NA J-2049 (44-72458). The small air-intake in front of the cockpit is a Swiss modification; it provided additional fresh air to the cockpit.
A Swiss Air Force pilot getting ready for a training mission. The aircraft is P-51D-25-NA J-2095 (44-73233), with P-51D-25-NA J-2119 (44-72789) in the background.
P-51D-20-NA J-2046 (44-63717) at Emmen Airfield, Summer 1949.
P-51D-25-NA J-2094 (44-73109) at Dübendorf, Summer 1957. This is one of nine aircraft that received camouflage in 1954. (Albert Violand)
Camouflaged Mustangs at Dübendorf, Fall 1954. Seen here is P-51D-20-NA J-2063 (44-64149) with P-51D-20-NA J-2043 (44-72504) next in line (Karl Sturzenegger)
Runways can be slippery when wet.... On 29th February 1952, J-2006, a P-51D-20-NA (44-72456), overshot the runway after landing at Dübendorf in heavy rain and subsequently bent itself and three parked cars.
Signs of time. A DeHavilland Dh-100 Vampire taxies past several Mustangs, Dübendorf, Summer 1954. The jet-age was about to render the piston-engined fighters obsolete.
The end. The entire Swiss Mustang-fleet withdrawn from use and stored in the open at Buochs Airfield awaiting scrapping, June 1958. Nearest aircraft is P-51D-5-NA J-2115 (44-13316), one of four two-seat conversions with the Swiss Air Force. Note the unusual canopy which allowed the two halves to slide separately for better access to the rear seat. (Albert Violand)
For more details on the storage and scrapping process, go to:
out of service / scrapping page
© Martin Kyburz / Swiss Mustangs 2003 - 2020