Warbird Information Exchange

Interesting shot of 49th PG P-40s in Australia prior to the move up to Darwin. Note the reduced size of the red center of the fuselage insignia on one a/c.Some P-40s of the 8th PS were known to have that
variation. Another, in the background appears to have the center painted out while one in the foreground lacks a fuselage insignia of any kind.

Gemmer

Not the 49th PG nor on their way to Darwin, these are from another unit entirely. Three photos were taken at the time these aircraft visited - more to follow.

Buz

I was curious about it myself, but that's how it was captioned. I figured it was correct because of the small red center on one of the a/c. It occurred to me that they might have been en route to Java.

Pretty much, photo was taken 15 Feb 1942, I believe the base is Richmond, and its one of the PS off to Java (sorry for taking so long to get back to you).

These photos are hard to find, interested where you found this one, it was one of a group of 3 photos taken at the time (I joined another gent and bought two of the three a few years ago for a fair amount of money).

Buz

looks like a couple of Wirriways out on the line with? father out.

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Stoney

Good eyes, there's a couple of Wirraways and 4 Hudson's (turrets fitted), you can't make out the codes for either type thou.

Buz

I've had it for quite some time so I don't recall the source. The period from Dec. 8th 1941 to August 1942 with the FEAF/5th AF is a passion of mine. Photos are rare and often misidentified. I never get
tired of digging for more.

Regards,

Duane

Duane

I've correct my post from before Base was Richmond and has the correct date now (confirmed as the 15th Feb 1942).

Also sent you a PM

Buz

Here's a 49th FG photo that could use some clarification. Is the caption correct? I'm not sure.

Mark


"49th Fighter Group Curtiss P-40 Warhawk at Darwin Australia c 1942"

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I've the same image gemmer posted in my archives, and this is the source I have recorded for it: (scroll down about 2/3 of the page)

http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stor ... greatness/

Here's the caption for the photo from that page:

"The only known photo of the P-40Es of the 13th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional) at Richmond Field, Sydney, Australia, Feb. 13, 1942, after being hastily assembled and painted – some with non-standard insignia. One bears the name FU MANCHU, a reference to the fictional master killer created by British author Sax Rohmer. Nearly all of these P-40Es went to the bottom of the sea when the Japanese sank the USS Langley. Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University Press"


Mark, that shot you posted is one of a series of press photos... here's another from my collection.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)


And here's the reverse of the print, which should answer your question:




Fade to Black...

Interesting that the first pic was taken from underneath a B-25>>>