Warbird Information Exchange

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Don't touch my junk!!

Pretty sure #337 is a P-40C.

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Didn't the second plane collide with the first one while taxiing?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

yes. And it happened on Dec 8.

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Hi Nathan,
How is it determined from this photo that this is a P-40C? I have often wondered and am still puzzled. Anyone jump in here as I do need to know.
Thanks,
David

David, What happened to all the planes damaged on Dec 7th? Would they have been shipped back to the states to be scrapped, dumped at sea or otherwise?

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

This one lived to fly again...

The basic difference (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the 'C' had provisions for carrying a drop tank.

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Don't touch my junk!!

According to a conversation I had with the late Erik Shilling, one of the differences between the B and the C was that the self-sealing on the tanks of the B were on the outside of the tank. He said it looked a little like burlap. On the C, he said the self-sealing was on the inside.

This was one of the major bases of his rather acrimonious argument with Dan Ford over whether the Flying Tigers flew B's or C's.

Ahhh, Django,
Your assistance is great. That plane crashed on 24 Jan 1942...with BUZZ number 284 on its side, and was serial 41-13297. It was recovered from its crash position in 1985 and returned to the air in 2007.

Note that the BUZZ number and the serial number have no relationship to each other....thus my question about BUZZ number 337.

Congressional Investigation document says that P-40C 41-13337 was in the 44th Pursuit Squadron...yet we have learned the large BUZZ number has no relationship to the serial. What assures us that the plane in the photo with BUZZ number 337 is a P-40C?

Still puzzled...
TIA to ALL,
David

Pat was asking if any survived... this one did. And since it is my favorite P-40 in existence... I supplied a pic.

AFAIK, it did a belly landing in Oct '41 and was in a maintenance hangar during the attack (not sure which field), surviving a few more weeks before it's final crash in January.

As for the differences between Bs and Cs... I haven't a clue.

The FLying Tigers flew neither the B or C model. They flew the Tomahawk Mk. IIB

Running and ducking for cover!


I have no proof that P-40 #337 is a P-40C. But seeing how the roster at Bellows had more P-40C's on it just tells me there is more chance of this being a P-40C then a B. Thats my only thing I have come up with. Silly thinking I know......

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You are right on all points!
Cheers,
David

Hahaha well I had no dog in that fight so no need to duck. The fact that they were IIB's came up as well and was hotly debated.

Hi Nathan,
The above is the thinking of a logical mind. I LIKE to hear the gears working! Thanks.

Now to add to the unanswered questions.

We know the 44th PS had a cross section of P-40s:
P-40B:
41-5206
41-5207 BUZZ 341
41-5208
41-5209
41-13319
*41-13320 in repair 6 Dec
*41-13322 in repair 6 Dec
41-13323

P-40C:
41-13328
41-13331
41-13332
41-13337
41-13340
41-13344
41-13367

We know that the 44th sent on temporary duty to Bellows Field for gunnery training. What aircraft were brought to Bellows from Wheeler? Two were in maintenance on 6 Dec so what aircraft were borrowed from other squadrons to make up the difference (this was done, and often!).

On 7 Dec what aircraft were brought in from Wheeler to Bellows to help 'spread the wealth' in case of another attack?

Let's see what happens...
Cheers,
David Aiken