1943 Curtiss-Wright P-40N-5-CU Kittyhawk

History

P-40N-5-CU C/N 28748 USAAC tail No 42-104986 of the 49th Fighter Group, 8th Fighter Squadron. This P-40 was produced from a 1942 contract by Curtiss aircraft at Buffalo, New York in mid-1943 and upon delivery to the United States Army Air Corps it was disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled in Australia and flown north to New Guinea. At this time the aircraft was painted with a white tail section with a black checker-board pattern.

The aircraft led a fairly uneventful operational career in PNG until the February 14, 1944, when being flown by 1st Lt. Nelson D. Flack, Jr., (O-736172 of Hatboro, PA, USA) at Siniap, Ramu Valley, it was involved in a dogfight with a Ki-61 Tony, shooting the Japanese aircraft down. The P-40 was damaged in the dogfight and due to coolant loss, crash landed in a field about 60 miles from its base at Gusap. What followed was a great tale of survival as Flack made it back to base after considerable help from US and Australian Forces. A great description of the rescue can be found on the Pacific Wrecks website.

As for 42-104986, the P-40 wreckage lay where it crash-landed and suffered considerable damage from the landing and ensuing fire. In 2004, the wreck was recovered and shipped to Australia.

Precision Airmotive at Wangaratta, Vic, Australia completed the restoration of this P-40N-5 for its previous owner. It is to be noted the Aircraft has been configured with a rear seat and dual-controls and made its first post restoration flight on 3 March 2016.