Warbird Information Exchange

Can anyone identify the unit of this P-40N flying near Mt. Vesusius, 1944?

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Lightninglover

The emblem on the cowling looks like its probably the 66th Fighter Squadron ~ they started off in P-40s in WWII, then converted to P-47s by '44

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“Make A Difference, Be Inspired, Inspire”

Does kind of look like the 66th. Camo is interesting. Appears like the top and bottom ones in this:

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Lightninglover

I think it's some sort of photo shop pic. I pretty sure that P-40Ns ever made it to American units in the MTO. Also there are no unit markings or serial number on the a/c.

Not photoshop. This photo came from a National Geographic article about the USAAF from Feb 1946. it was written by Hap Arnold. Squadron insignia, probably the 66th FS, is on the aircraft. P-40Ns did serve in the MTO from 1944 on.

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Lightninglover

Hi Gents

The markings as possibly of the 66th FS, however its missing the large white X that was behind the Sqdn badge on the P-40's and P-47's.

The Camouflage scheme is not one that is normal for any P-40, the closest being the Cam of the RAF airframes or a respray from 2ED (only ever seen the resprays on F/L airframes).

No P-40N to date has been found to have served with any USAAF Unit in the MTO (plenty in RAF/RAAF and SAAF Units). So basically what I'm saying is a nice artists rendition (for the day) commissioned in support of the National Geographic article, but not an example of a picture/photo (colourised) of any form.

Best regards

Buz

I would not take bets on the camouflage being accurate either. It appears to me to be a colorized photo and it very well could have been an overall OD bird but the green has faded and/or been reapplied in places. Thus making it appear, in the b&w original, to have a two color camo on the top surfaces. Just speculating here but, as noted by Buz, the scheme is very non-standard.

The 1940s equivalent of Photoshop was air brushing. If you look at enough photos from that era, you start to see some "photos" which are more paintings. An easy example, Betty Grable's bum pic. The actual photo was deemed too racy, so it got an airbrush makeover, and became suitably famous.

I know nothing about camo colors and unit markings, but the this photo could well have been heavily reworked.