Kittyhawks, Or As I Say, P-40s, Where we at..why so long?

[Warhawk]

Just an update per my recent but long "MIA" status from the ADf-Serials.com.au circles.

I have been immersed in reconciling the 380 plus P-40E/E-1s that landed to ensure that the database is accurate over the past twelve months.

A recent research concerning the first 25 P-40E/E-1s USAAF Serials found quite a few surprises and a "friggin" serial issue. We have all 25 FY Serials documented by both the RAAF and USAAF, and few correlating A29-1 to A29-25 tie ups by Pilot Logs, Crash excavations PNG, or the odd E/E-88 Card etc.


One of the designated "10" from Mascot Based 7th Pursuit Sqn Pool was not (Yes,...NOT) flown up to Archerfield on the 10th March 42. It was apparently substituted by yet another unknown P-40E/E-1 not on the list. Why and how I found out? One of these "10" was extant, albeit wrecked at Canberra ACT waiting to be sent to 5AD/USAAF in May 42. I says WTF? and Error? No, repeated yet again in a RAAF Canberra period Doc.

Thought that was bad? Well Police reports and eye witnesses state that A29-1 was destroyed on that same day by fire and impact, with pilot attempting to bail out after the aircraft stalled in flight. That means the future A29-1 rebuilt was not the same aircraft.

Indeed it was not, for it was by research, the damaged wreck of stated 1AD Numbered (on E/E-88Card only) A29-4 ex Garbutt, that was in fact painted as A29-1 when RAAF HQ ordered them prepared and marked 12/03/42 on their arrival in Townsville SHQ. A ex 24Sqn RAAF Rigger 's diary opened that can of worms, yet solved the original A29-1 designated Crash in NSW. Sigh

Thought that was bad,..the USAAF cheated us out of A29-2 (CW#344,..aka P-40E 41-5324) designated since it was still in USAAF Markings at Archerfield when it was, yes underlined, repaired, and listed in the 49th FG TOE thereafter in April 42.

As I continued on,..another or many issues per the flux of transfers(Paybacks) of DA3 P-40E-1s to the USAAF.

Example, though the E/E-88 Card states that A29-148 is 41-36246, it isn't,..as this bird is recorded three times by serial in USAAF 5th Fighter Command Reports in the 8th FS between Jan to June 1943. (Once by FO Sammy Pierce and s/d an SSF!!) Reconciliations per USAAF IARCs and records held, points to it being actually 41-36245, not 41-36246 which was SOC "LEFT 6/08/1943" aka 5th AAF per USAAF IARC.

(Similar issue per Lightning A55-3 as Shep knows, stating on its E/E-88 Card that its 41-2122, whereas that was lost and recorded in USAAF 8th Photo Sqn in mid 1943. A second source RAAF Reconciliation Document has it in fact as 41-2144 along with 41-2158 (A55-1) and 41-2159 (A55-2) which is correct and supported by nose "last two" #44 still extant on delivery.)

[I]

I just want to get this right,..with supporting documents before I air all of this in an Update per A29-1 to A29-163.

I may even do a special one off ADf-Serials Telegraph "P-40E Supplementary" issue, providing I live that long!

Until then..ciao
Gordy

[Shep]

Great work, Gordy !!

[Brenden S]

Fantastic work mate.