Warbird Information Exchange

Since there do seem to be a couple of folks here who like one of my favourite warbirds, I thought I'd post a couple of shots of John Paul's Hawks when he brought them both down to Reno back in 1995. I think these birds are not seen a whole lot back East...

John has said that when he finishes the P-51C he hopes to bring all three airplanes to Reno one year. Now that would be cool.

John Maloney flew the -E and Tom Camp the -N that year.

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Neal Nurmi

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Definitely not seen back east very often. Thanks for sharing your great pictures (again).

Smiling in Beantown...

Sweet!

And a couple more quickie scans of old slides...

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Neal Nurmi

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Love the last shot with the G.59, thanks for sharing.

Chad --- I'm fond of that shot too, but I also have a sentimental attachment to the idea of a P-40E leading a P-51D on the race course. I do like Hawks! When I first got interested in Warbirds long ago I was lucky enough to have 3 P-40Es within 30 miles, and John's -N under construction. Kinda took it all for granted back then -- didn't realize that this was probably over half the world's flyable or near flyable Curtiss Hawks at the time...

They were flown for pure fun, too, and flown like they were fun! Now so many warbirds are so valuable, and so horrendously expensive to maintain and insure that much of the scene, on the upper end at least, has gotten terribly precious and, I suspect, a bit less fun...

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Neal Nurmi

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Speaking of fun -- here's the late Fred Sebby in the office. The first two were in 1987 and the third in 1992, so Fred was at least consistent. Fred was the one guy who everybody, in the West at least, seemed to trust to fly their P-40s anytime. He had a LOT of P-40 time, and as far as I know never bent one, even flying like this. That's why he was trusted, I guess.

Another good guy, and missed by all who knew him...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Actually, I double checked, and have a correction. That's actually Steve Hinton in the third photo in his very last race, (as race pilot, at least).

He's a pretty good pilot too...

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Neal Nurmi

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There was one year when Fred Sebey was flying Pauls N model at reno and tore up the field.Even had the kills on the side of the cockpit.Funny as the dickens.

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Hang The Expense

Those are awesome!!!!

FYI Neal...
We still fly them just for fun.

I am aware of that John, which is why after something like 32 years, I still love to see you AND Tom Camp in action! I first saw you guys at Chandler Field in good old Fresno about 1975 or so, and I want to come down this spring to your fly-in to keep the string going.

Keep them flying, John, and keep having fun! (Whichever John this is -- there's a Senior and a Junior isn't there?)

How is the Mustang coming along?

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Neal Nurmi

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And, John, another question for my records -- is that Tom wearing John Maloney's helmet on the side shot of Spud Lag (taken on Thursday)? Wasn't John in the same race (this was Thusday heat 1C)? I have a pilot with red helmet and blue flight suit on Thursday and a white helmet and looks like tan flight suit on Saturday while the RARA database says Tom Camp both days...

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Neal Nurmi

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Wow, GREAT SHOTS!

Nothing like seeing a P-40 from head on. Mean and scary as hell looking. And HAHAHAHA that P-40 is ahead of the P-51 and Spitfire! Yay for the P-40!

I love the P-40, my fav!

Tom Camp still flies for fun, too. Here he is chugging around on the very last lap of the Bronze Race Sunday afternoon last year at Reno.

Note the canopy...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---