Mystery P-40 marking

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2009 1:40 am

JDK wrote:

This in from my friend Sigurjon:

Quote:

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!!

Now that jives a bit more with what I was thinking. The noses on the distant birds just look like an A-36 or Mustang I to me. What puzzles me is the dark noses and apparently lighter colored bodies.

Ryan

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2009 5:10 am

.

I think you will find those three bladed A-36's are in fact four bladed P51-D's & K's probably of 84 or 86 Squadron RAAF, which were disbanded in October 1945 and their aircraft ferried to Labuan to re-equip 76 and 77 squadrons from their existing P-40s, prior to re-deployment to Japan as part of the occupation forces.

It seems clear it is in the South Pacific on an island atoll and the P-40 is also a RAAF example with blue and white roundals, perhaps supporting the earlier suggestion that it is Labuan in 1945, and most likely during the operational conversion from P-40's to Mustangs.

I would also agree with the earlier post that the colourings of the P-51 are most likely due to engine and canopy covers being fitted over the bare metal RAAF aircraft and markings, apparantly the operational conversion at Labuan was undertaken quickly to minimise wear and tear on the Mustangs prior to arrival in Japan, and perhaps that resulted in the use of covers?

regards

Mark Pilkington

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2009 5:39 am

.

I think this photo of the RAAF pilot conversions of 81 sqn from P40 to Mustang at Labaun Island supports the view they are RAAF bare metal mustangs with engine covers in place.

81 squadron along with 76 and 77 squadron did their conversions at Labuan in 1945.

photo linking not working?? , see AWM search link below! and enter OG3616 into the search field.

http://cas.awm.gov.au/PROD/cst.acct_master?surl=1650748507ZZKDUIKKCGAQ71304&stype=5&simplesearch=&v_umo=&v_product_id=&screen_name=&screen_parms=&screen_type=RIGHT&bvers=4&bplatform=Microsoft%20Internet%20Explorer&bos=Win32

photo caption

Quote:

LABUAN, NORTH BORNEO. 1945-09-24. LEARNING THE FINER POINTS OF FLYING MUSTANG AIRCRAFT, THESE NO. 81 (FIGHTER) WING RAAF PILOTS WHO HAVE JUST TOUCHED DOWN AT LABUAN AIRSTRIP ARE HAPPY IN THE SERVICE. FROM LEFT: 443672 SERGEANT (HANK) HANKINSON, GLEBE, NSW; 436185 WARRANT OFFICER KEN CROOK, CANTERBURY, NSW; 435971 FLIGHT SERGEANT (FLT SGT) KEN HALL, LISMORE, NSW; 10545 F SGT MORRIS PAYNE, THE ROCK, NSW.

and this one of a RAAF spitfire taxi-ing past RAAF Mustangs at Labuan, again wearing engine and canopy covers.

photo linking not working?? , see AWM search link below! and enter OG3592 into the search field.

http://cas.awm.gov.au/PROD/cst.acct_master?surl=1650748507ZZKDUIKKCGAQ71304&stype=5&simplesearch=&v_umo=&v_product_id=&screen_name=&screen_parms=&screen_type=RIGHT&bvers=4&bplatform=Microsoft%20Internet%20Explorer&bos=Win32

Code:

LABUAN, NORTH BORNEO. 1945-10-19. TAXIING OUT TO THE RUNWAY AT LABUAN AIRSTRIP, TO TAKE OFF ON THE FIRST STAGE OF THE FLIGHT BACK TO AUSTRALIA, THIS SPITFIRE AIRCRAFT FROM THE FAMOUS NO. 457 (GREY NURSE) SQUADRON RAAF, PASSED LINES OF RAAF MUSTANG AIRCRAFT AWAITING ORDERS TO MOVE TO JAPAN. THE SPITFIRE WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO LEAVE FOR THE MAINLAND IN THE MASS EXODUS OF AIRCRAFT THAT BEGAN IN BORNEO DURING THIS WEEK

regards

Mark Pilkington

shelldrake · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2009 6:03 am

From the ADF serial site. use of the Canadian Built Ford Truck and the 'A' frame, some slight damage to rudder and RH wing I'll go with the following:

A29-1196 P-40N-40 44-47824 1/45 served with 76 Sqn; on 7/6/45 received by 76 Sqn from 11 RSURP; on 16/9/45 allocated to 4 Sqn, but this was cancelled 4 days later; on 18/9/45 during t/o it tipped onto its nose at the end of Labuan strip due to engine failure; on 28/9/45 returned to 76 Sqn from 1 RSU after repairs; on 10/10/45 received by 1 RSU from 76 Sqn; on 21/11/45 received by 6 AD from 1 RSU for storage; on 29/11/45 received by CFS from 6 AD; on 9/5/46 received at Pt Cook storage from CFS; on 3/12/48 approval to convert to components.

Shelldrake

PeterA · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2009 10:30 am

James,

I am wondering if there is a Polish connection here.

Attached the fighting cock emblem of 315 Squadron RAF Spitfires.

I am thinking Skalski and Co in North Africa. Maybe a personal marking of a former 315 pilot.

PeterA

airnutz · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2009 3:30 pm

JDK wrote:

but the interesting thing is the rudder marking - looks like a bird.

One thought I had, was that it looks like a stylized raptor such as a long-crested eagle which are indigenous in Africa
south of the Sahara, but the crest is a bit of a stretch. Possibly a raptor with a knights plume. :roll:

Another way the image appears to me, is that it could be some sort of ring-necked vulture or buzzard looking over its
shoulder. Dunno...ask Mr. Rorschach?

airnutz · **Posted:** Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:41 pm

shelldrake wrote:

From the ADF serial site. use of the Canadian Built Ford Truck and the 'A' frame, some slight damage to rudder and RH wing I'll go with the following:

A29-1196 P-40N-40 44-47824 1/45 served with 76 Sqn; on 7/6/45 received by 76 Sqn from 11 RSURP; on 16/9/45 allocated to 4 Sqn, but this was cancelled 4 days later; on 18/9/45 during t/o it tipped onto its nose at the end of Labuan strip due to engine failure; on 28/9/45 returned to 76 Sqn from 1 RSU after repairs; on 10/10/45 received by 1 RSU from 76 Sqn; on 21/11/45 received by 6 AD from 1 RSU for storage; on 29/11/45 received by CFS from 6 AD; on 9/5/46 received at Pt Cook storage from CFS; on 3/12/48 approval to convert to components.

Shelldrake

I bounced your suggestion off of some of your mates and they replied the lack of the "lightning bolt" on the
fin would steer them away from 76 Squadron? Penny for your thoughts?

PR May · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:25 pm

I think this Kittyhawk is getting ready for it's last flight off the back of a barge. Please note the damage to wing which I have highlighted. I think they are giving it a severe clip.

Note this following picture of another Kittyhawk prepared in a similar fashion (AWM pic). Note the lack of a canopy on both. Note date of this photo, which is just prior to the move of the now Mustang equipped 81 Wing to Japan.

AWM ref is "LABUAN, 1946-01-15. DAMAGED KITTYHAWK FIGHTER AND SPITFIRES AWAITING DISPOSAL BY DUMPING IN THE SEA. DONOR: N.M. WALKER"

If this was the case , I don't think it could be 1196. What do you think?

Peter

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:08 am

Peter,

I think you are absolutely correct, the aircraft is being clipped before dumped, with the replacement mustangs sitting opposite with engine and canopy covers before the flight north to join the occupation of Japan.

PR May · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:02 am

Almost certainly aircraft coded AM-V belonging to, or formally belonging to 77 Squadron in the time period Sept 1945 through Jan 1946. Who can supply a serial? I can only guess that part but I "suspect" A29-806

cheers

Peter

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Wow, excellent detective work..,

Thanks!

PR May · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:28 pm

This photo is from the collection the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia and is posted with permission.

The details i have are that it was taken at Higgins Field, Qld around Oct/Nov 1945.

Is the tail artwork unique to one aircraft of 77 squadron?

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