Early P-40 pic

[mike furline]

Ebay pic,

Curtiss P-40 39-158 to CL-26 at Aeronautical University, Chicago.


http://cgi.ebay.de/NR-4478-FLUGZEUG-USA ... dZViewItem

[CWBuff]

He's had that one up a few times now. I wish he'd bring the starting bid down a bit...


Fade to Black...

[systemofadown1162]

Whats up with the 'X' on the pictures?

[tom d. friedman]

interesting location. philippine islands?? a most sure bet. the x's are their to prevent copyright infringements if it is an original pic, & it certainly looks that way!!!

[CWBuff]

interesting location. philippine islands?? a most sure bet.

Nope... this is a late war photo (star and bar on the wing) of the third production P-40 built. The emblem on the fuselage is that
of a training unit, although I'm not too familiar with training unit insignia and so don't know which it may be.

These photos show another early production P-40 (39-160, 5th airframe built) with what at first looks to be the same insignia.
The info I have for these photos states that the aircraft was assigned to the Air Corps Technical School's 10th Air Base Squadron.






I'd think it likely that the ship in the auction photo was also assigned to the ACTS 10th ABS at one point.
But upon closer examination, the emblem in the auction photo looks to be slightly different from that shown above.
It's not that clear an image though and, again, I just don't know training unit insignia well enough to be sure what unit
it could be. Hopefully somebody who does know will chime in here.


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[mike furline]

I believe the pic was taken when the plane was at the school in Chicago.

Regards,
Mike

[mjanovec]

Whats up with the 'X' on the pictures?

A lot of Ebay sellers put things like that on their items, so other people don't save the jpeg's and use them later for something else. However, the resolution of the photo is low enough that the "X's" really weren't necessary.

[airnutz]

interesting location. philippine islands?? a most sure bet.

Nope... this is a late war photo (star and bar on the wing) of the third production P-40 built. The emblem on the fuselage is that
of a training unit, although I'm not too familiar with training unit insignia and so don't know which it may be.

These photos show another early production P-40 (39-160, 5th airframe built) with what at first looks to be the same insignia.
The info I have for these photos states that the aircraft was assigned to the Air Corps Technical School's 10th Air Base Squadron.



The lower P-40 photo emblem is the heraldry of the US Army Air Force
Technical Training Command. Check out page 693 of the June 1943 issue
of the National Geographic...the only insignia plate NOT in color of an other
wise set of color-plates of US Armed Forces insignia of 1943...an excellent
issue to have!

The emblem is a shield bearing "the burning lamp of knowledge", above
which a plume of 3 feathers radiate. Below the shield is a scroll with the
Latin...SUSTINEO ALAS. "I Sustain The Wings", or more loosely translated,
as I understand it..Keep 'em Flying. I suspect additional detail above the
herald on the 1st bird, may apply to a different school within USAAFTTC.




I'd think it likely that the ship in the auction photo was also assigned to the ACTS 10th ABS at one point.
But upon closer examination, the emblem in the auction photo looks to be slightly different from that shown above.
It's not that clear an image though and, again, I just don't know training unit insignia well enough to be sure what unit
it could be. Hopefully somebody who does know will chime in here.


Fade to Black...

[airnutz]

I don't know how the heck my post ended up between the 2 photos.
Between the computer being weird and screwed-up phonelines for over
a month, I've been doing more reading than contributing. This is the 2nd
time I've tried this post tonight.

Anyway run a search on "sustineo alas"..which incidently is also a biograph
title of Glenn Miller...as well as service pins from the period.

And try Chicago Schools AAFTTC or Chicago AAFTTC for some pdf's I'm
unable to access right now.

ARRRGGHH!!!...I just love computers....

[TAdan]

BlackWolf3945...Is that P-40 you posted in a Natural Metal Finish?

If it is I think it would be a great modelling subject.

[marine air]

There are a lot of clues in this photo;

Look at how dirty the aluminum skin on the aircraft is. It has been sitting outside for a few years. Look at how filthy the plexiglas aooears to be; it hasn't flown in a few years. No exhaust stains or fuel stains suggest it has been parked in the weeds for a long while. Buildings in the background suggest some sort of airport environment. Look at the guys tidy uniforms and smiles suggest they are not "sick of the army" yet!!
My guess is a training base, the guys were classmates of some kind checking out a no longer needed instructional airframe, in this case a P-40. At first I thought it was a ground trainer, but there would be more panels missing, bent, mismatched screw heads etc.
The windshield being slightly cleaner, yet still dirty suggests that people have sat in it, cleaned the plexiglas and done some very fun "hangar flying" . It looks just like some semi abandoned Beech 18's we had on the field when I was a kid. Would love to have that P-40 now.

[global111]

Whats up with the 'X' on the pictures?

To stop people from taking the picture, its like a watermark

[CWBuff]

Airnutz, thanks for the info...

BlackWolf3945...Is that P-40 you posted in a Natural Metal Finish?

If it is I think it would be a great modelling subject.

Yessiree, only the first few P-40s built were left in bare metal.
As to it being a good modeling subject...
I'll post photos in the modeling section when I finish mine.

That is, if I ever finish it... I started with the Hobbycrap kit and then changed to the Trumpeter kit.
Hopefully Tamiya will come out with a Tomahawk and I can make another switch... yippee!


Speaking of school birds, this is P-40 40-305 being used for old-school BDR training.

Here's the caption to the photo:

Los Angeles, California. "Flying Patch," a Curtiss "Warhawk" fighter plane complete except for engine and tail assembly,
with simulated bullet holes and patches. It is used at the sheet metal mechanics school operated by the Anderson organization
for the United States Army Air Force Technical Training Command. The soldier trainees are shown punching holes, measuring
for patch sizes, drilling, and riveting.


Image from the Library of Congress Archives


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[systemofadown1162]

the x's are their to prevent copyright infringements if it is an original pic, & it certainly looks that way!!!

A lot of Ebay sellers put things like that on their items, so other people don't save the jpeg's and use them later for something else. However, the resolution of the photo is low enough that the "X's" really weren't necessary.

To stop people from taking the picture, its like a watermark

Thanks for the replies on the "X". I understand it now.