Mystery P-40 marking

JDK · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 1:15 am

Bit of a poser this one. It's a pic from an Australian collection, but I'm not sure where the pic was taken - my first guess was N Africa, but I think it could be the Pacific.

I'm presuming it's a Commonwealth operated Kittyhawk, because their looks to be a wing roundel, but the interesting thing is the rudder marking - looks like a bird.

Anyone know more?

Buz · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 8:42 am

Hi James

I would lean towards somewhere in SWPA and most likely a RAAF aircraft. Not taken in North Africa, at most if in that area would have been taken in Italy.

Aircraft type an P-40N-5 or greater, shame we can't see any codes on it.....

Buz

Dave Hadfield · **Joined:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm **Posts:** 1672

Isn't that the visor of a knight's helmet?

It's an Aussie-looking hat on the guy behind the wing.

Dave

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:39 am

Is it just me, or do the aircraft in the background look like Hurricanes or early-model Mustangs?

Ryan

gregv · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:51 am

RyanShort1 wrote:

Is it just me, or do the aircraft in the background look like Hurricanes or early-model Mustangs?

Ryan

Look like P-51's of some type, and either they all have canvas covers over the noses or the noses are painted overall a dark color. The rest of the airframes seem to be a light shade, maybe natural aluminum?

Interesting pic!

greg v.

Shay · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:55 am

Anyone know what's going on in the picture?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 12:09 pm

Burma 1944 :idea:

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Not a US truck, the P-51s have 4-bladed props and bubble canopies, right?

David W3 · **Joined:** Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:16 am **Posts:** 16

Labuan, September 1945. 84 Squadron RAAF Mustangs in the background?

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 7:01 pm

I'm guessing a runway recovery, maybe R/H gear folded, props look bent but it's hard to tell. Maybe a bedford style truck, and why else would they have a lift there and a crowd of onlookers?
maybe the hawk or eagle on the tail is a personal insignia?

rcaf_100 · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:31 pm

I can't identify the P-40, but the truck's from Canada

(Canadian Military Pattern built by both Ford and Chevrolet)

Ian Quinn · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 1:09 am

Thought Labuan as well, photo found in Aussie collection etc, until the truck was identified as Canadian so possibility RCAF P-40 in Southern Italy...

Wherever it was, unfortunately some of those vets would have joined the thousands who had serious skin cancer problems in later life...

rcaf_100 · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 4:18 pm

CMP trucks were used by practically all the commonwealth countries, so don't limit it to the RCAF.
If I had to guess, I would say SE Asia, so probably an RAAF scene as stated above...

David W3 · **Joined:** Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:16 am **Posts:** 16

CMP pattern trucks were on Labuan...they were widely used in Australia and the Pacific. Go to www.oldcmp.net and you will see lots of examples...and there are a heap of aircraft photos as well.

JDK · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2009 1:31 am

Lots of interesting stuff, thanks. I remain open minded and as yet unconvinced that we've got a definite fix anywhere - I'm also interested that no-one's come up with an id on the rudder marking's 'owner'; as I suspected, I guess it's pretty obscure.

This in from my friend Sigurjon:

Quote:

The motive on the tail is a stylized peacock. In this thread you can see why I think so:
http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.ph ... ht=peacock
The one on the P-40´s tail has it´s feathers out and is complete with head ornament as seen on the pictures in that tread. I do not remember why, but I´m sure I´ve seen a motive like that used to depict pecocks quite often.

Regarding the aircraft in the background, I´m pretty sure they are A-36 Apache/early Allison engined P-51´s. Reason I say this, is the landing gear doors arrangement, the slim fuselage just ahead of the fin (without added dorsal fin) and the three bladed prop. It all just screams early Mustang!!

This really has not narrowed the operating base down, as A-36´s were used in North Africa, Italy, India and Burma. As the truck on the photo has been identified and associated with southern Italy, I would say that would be the best bet. Are there any known RAAF P-40 squadrons that shared a base with A36´s?? The prang might not have happened on the P-40´s base so might be a bit of a stab in the dark.

Now, this little quiz of yours has helped me spend an hour of my two day lay over in China! That is a good thing.

All the best,
Sigurjon

Warbird Information Exchange

Mystery P-40 marking

Who is online