Jack Cook wrote:
2Lt Don Lee of the 7th FS 49th Fg with his parts built P-40E #15 aptly named "BITZA-HAWK" Darwwin, AU 1942.
Don scored 4 kills before being shot down and badly wounded by a Val DB rear gunner off the coast of New Guinea.
He returned to combat in 1945 has CO of the 67th FS 347th FG.
I think we're all overlooking the REAL issue here... did the mechanics have a dataplate to start with? Because if they didn't, then this aircraft has no provenance and is worth nothing.
Cool shot and story, Jack... that's the second Pacific fighter I know of that was built from spare parts, the other being the silver Corsair of some Marine service squadron, coded SS-11.
Lynn
PS: Bonus points if you can let us know what serial they assigned to that Hawk...
