Warbird Information Exchange

I'm trying to identify the airworthy P-40 that was used in the flick '1941'.

Tom Camp is listed in the credits as a pilot and I know that he owned a Kittyhawk I at the time. However, Frank Tallman has also been attributed to the film as a pilot and he also owned a P-40 or two during the same timeframe. But I believe that they were P-40Ns and I'm leaning towards Mr. Camp's Hawk (AK979) as the likely suspect.

I know that the aircraft had a custom canopy fitted after being damaged during filming of 'Tora Tora Tora', retaining this canopy as late as 1975 and that Mr. Camp sold the aircraft in 1978. But I do not know when the custom unit was replaced again with a standard canopy; before or after the sale.

The airplane eventually wound up with Flying Tiger Line/Tiger International Inc, wearing an AVG paint scheme and here's a sticking point for me... I seem to recall seeing an early 80s photo of the aircraft in this scheme with the custom canopy fitted, but the aircraft in the film (released in 1979) had a standard canopy.

My memory could be faulty, (I was about 12 or 13 when I first saw the photo) and I cannot locate said photo as confirmation either way.

Any information that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated!


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Tallman's P-40E had earlier lost it's canopy in flight. They used a N canopy on it until the proper replacement was found hence the awkward appearence.

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Yes I'm familiar with that Hawk...


From the Aero Series #3


But it's not the ship I'm talking about. That was AL152 (N1207V) and it lost the canopy sometime before 1965. When exactly, I dunno... if you know the date and more specific info as to how the canopy was lost I'd be interested to know.

This is the P-40 I'm looking at...


Steve Williams photo (Oshkosh 1970)


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That one looks sorta like one I saw when I was a kid in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the 60s. But, it had a 4 bladded prop and was green and tan.
I seem to recall the pilot was taking it to a museum though??

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I believe it was Rudy Frasca's N40PE. As I recall, it was repainted with water colors over his #47 AVG scheme.

This was long before that one. The pilot's name on the a/c has I remember was Gil Mackey or something close to that.

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Wonder if it was AK979, as she had a four-bladed prop during the 60s.




Image sources: unknown web


Now I'm beginning to wonder about that funky canopy because these two photos are from the Lambert Field Open House in 1963... hmmm...




Gilbert Macy owned AK979 for a time...


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Is this the airplane you saw Jack?



Here's a couple more of her from the 50s and early 60s...




Image sources: 'Famous Aircraft: The P-40 Kittyhawk' by Ernest R. McDowell, published by Arco


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Here's the history of said aircraft!

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/re ... ak979.html

T J

Yup, that's the one. I beleive it was headed to the EAA museum which was at Hales Corners at that time.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Thanks for the link TJ, but if you notice... I already posted it above... hehe...


Do you mean that you think Rudy Frasca's P-40 (AK905) was used in the film? Hmmm... according to the registry it was owned by Max Hoffman of Colorado in 1976 before going to Rudy Frasca (Illinois) in the same year. I suppose it's possible, but I would think there were more likely suspects. However I'll follow any lead I get. Do you have any specific reason for thinking it might have been that ship?


Fade to Black...

If I was a betting man, I'd guess John Paul & Tom Camp. Maybe J-C Paul can weight in on this.

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I attended the University of Illinois starting in 1977 so I was around Rudy's P-40 and Wildcat quite a bit. I recall that his was the P-40 that was used in the flying scenes. From Google I found this link:

FlightSim.Com Conferences - Anyone know about airports around ...
... and their Frasca Trainers facility is just west of the hangers. Rudy is owner of
the world famous P40 Warhawk used in the movie 1941 w/John Belushi...they shot ...
forums.flightsim.com/dcforum/DCForumID2/8316.html - 37k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages

Aha! Well, now there have been three people to say that it was Rudy Frasca's Hawk and with the fella who made that post it's four.

Thanks for the info guy!


Fade to Black...

Now my question is who were the P-40 pilots in Tora-Tora-Tora???

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!