According to Wikipedia's article on the P-51[1]:

> Bomber escort defenses were initially layered, using the shorter-range P-38s and P-47s to escort the bombers during the initial stages of the raid before handing over to the P-51s when they were forced to turn for home.

So it sounds like even if the Germans knew it wouldn't have mattered much, and even then these planes were taking off from Britain for the most part.

Even then, a lot more than just this piece of intelligence would need to happen for the Luftwaffe to engage airplanes shortly after takeoff across the English channel.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_P-51_Mustang#P-...

The Luftwaffe even in 1944 was known to sneak through Allied defenses and shoot down B-17s. My father served as a B-17 navigator in 1944 and heard a Luftwaffe fighter shoot two bursts and bring down 2 B-17s in the landing pattern. The B-17s were caught by surprise cleaning their guns and never fired a shot back.

The Luftwaffe could have taken out a squadron of P-51s with just a handful of fighters. This would have required the AAC to then launch a bunch of fighters to protect the long range fighters until the tank was burned off, significantly hampering their power.

The P-51 was basically unable to turn with the center of gravity so far back.

That's not how aircraft aerodynamics work.

Tail heavy aircraft turn faster than nose-heavy aircraft. With the centre of aerodynamic pressure in front of the centre of mass the wings contribute extra turning force whenever the aircraft isn't facing exactly into the airstream.

If the centre of mass is too far behind the centre of pressure the aircraft becomes unstable - continuously trying to snap around and fly backwards.

I think we're on the same page. When I wrote "unable to turn" I meant "unable to turn in a stable manner". It would exhibit what in a car we'd call "oversteer". The pilot would have to be very gentle and careful in turns, which means death in air combat.

Wait, was your dad a P-51 pilot, or a B-17 navigator? Quite different roles. I know the AAC moved people around at whim, but this seems unusual.

He was a B-17 navigator during WW2 for 32 missions. After the war, he left the military and went to college. After that he rejoined to become a fighter pilot (what he wanted originally anyway). He flew P-51s, and later transitioned to jet fighters. Flew combat in the Korean War, mostly ground attack missions.

I would have joined the Air Force too, but with my thick glasses the AF told me no way I would be a pilot. So I wound up as a compiler nerd instead :-)

That's amazing. My grandfather flew for Pan Am during the war, and his flight career spanned biplanes to the 707. I'm in awe of that generation. Your dad sounds like he had a similar adventure!

Yup, he learned to fly in stringbag biplanes. An era that will never come again. My father had a long and very full life. Sounds like your grandfather did, too!