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Post by JamesStokes on Apr 18, 2012 18:08:57 GMT 12
Not sure how many of you have heard/seen this story, but for those who haven't a P-40M that had recently been restored crash landed late last year in Ohio; not strongly related to "preserving NZ aviation history" but it was painted in a RNZAF scheme so thought it would be worth posting about. Once repaired and flying again, it'll be brilliant to see finally a representative New Zealand P-40 in the skies, even if it isn't here!!  here's the link to a report if anyone wants more info: www.kathrynsreport.com/2011/12/p-40-warhawk-overshoots-runway-knocks.htmlCheers for now, James |
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Post by Luther Moore on Apr 18, 2012 18:28:01 GMT 12
So whats the story with it being in the US but having NZ design?
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 18, 2012 18:34:49 GMT 12
It was mostly restored by John Chambers here in NZ and lived with the Subritzky collection for a while before heading home to the US. A very nice touch by Tri-State, keeping her in her NZ scheme (served with the RNZAF during WW2). I hope she flies again soon.
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Post by raymond on Apr 18, 2012 18:58:48 GMT 12
Ha blog on one site states it may be a spit and its in RAF markings!!!
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 18, 2012 20:10:57 GMT 12
NZ3119 BOC 21May1943
Sold to J. Larsen from Rukuhia on 02 March 1948, sold as scrap. To John Chambers of Auckland for restoration by D Subritzky, sold to Tri State museum, USA, 2007 and restored to airworthy
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Post by gunny on Apr 18, 2012 22:56:09 GMT 12
I thought i'd seen this posted here, must have been one of the many sites i visit.
$10 bucks says after the repairs she gets painted in U.S colors (yank spelt on purpose)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 18, 2012 23:08:55 GMT 12
It was posted here back in December when the accident happened. It's in the same thread as the news of its restoration and return to flight I believe.
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Post by kb on Apr 19, 2012 8:06:24 GMT 12
$10 bucks says after the repairs she gets painted in U.S colors (yank spelt on purpose) Don't think so Gunny. My understanding is that the owner wanted it in it's proper markings. Great! |
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Post by gunny on Apr 19, 2012 15:57:58 GMT 12
2 words then kb WOO-HOO  |
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Post by raymond on Apr 19, 2012 20:07:51 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 20, 2012 8:58:43 GMT 12
Prompted by this thread and my own curiosity I sent an email yesterday to Paul Redlich who was the pilot onboard the aircraft during the accident, and is the boss at the museum there. We had corresponded in the past over the history of this lovely P-40M so I hoped he wouldn't mind updating us on it. Here's his reply: Hi Dave, No worries, I’m happy to keep you and the fans of NZ3119 up to date. So far we have sourced a core -81 Allison engine which is currently undergoing overhaul. We also have found a replacement Curtiss Electric propeller and original P-40 spinner. All of the damaged landing gear components have been replaced or repaired. There was almost no damage to the fuselage, only minor heat damage to the lower cowling. The majority of significant damage is to the wings which are in the process of being repaired. As you may have heard the cause of the engine failure was a ruptured oil cooler. All of the engine oil was lost overboard (unknown to me as I flew happily along) and the engine exploded when a connecting rod and piston exited through the side of the case. They just don’t run that well with no oil… Perhaps you can help us in locating an original oil cooler and coolant radiator as those are the last two pieces missing from the puzzle. Cheers, Paul Paul M. Redlich Tri-State Warbird Museum 4021 Borman Drive Batavia, OH 45103 513.735.4500 513.735.4333 fax 513.582.5614 cell tristatewarbirdmuseum@fuse.net www.tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org |
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 20, 2012 16:11:15 GMT 12
That's so cool! Thank you Paul for keeping us posted.
I am indeed a fan of the only ex-RNZAF P-40 to fly* in RNZAF colours and had wondered what was happening with her recovery. Thanks for sharing, Dave.
*counting this, NZ3009/ZK-RMH of course and the late Col Pay's Aussie-based example. Amazing that it took a Northern Hemisphere operator to paint one "properly" and acknowledge its true service history. The Pay machine as that of Bobby Gibbes I can understand, but RMH still annoys me. And yes, I know that if it was MY P-40 I could paint it any way I want.
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Post by McFly on Apr 20, 2012 16:27:32 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 20, 2012 16:37:15 GMT 12
Zac, you have forgotten Alan Arthur's ex-RNZAF P-40 too!! In RAF colours in Australia.
Thanks for the links Marty, I'll pass them along to Paul.
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 20, 2012 17:00:53 GMT 12
ARGH! Thank you Dave, how can I forget? She is, after all, the one I have my eyes on to be Wairarapa Wildcat one day. (So, we can say that a quarter of them are in Kiwi marks)
Replicore was my first thought, too. I hope they reach a happy outcome soon :-)
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Post by kb on Apr 20, 2012 19:34:38 GMT 12
Sounds like the Kiwis have done a great job on our OZ Cussies in passing information to the museum. Perhaps the fact that our Bros were still flying them in combat long after we had Corsairs may have influenced the museums thinking that only early war counted but it its a bit sad for the RAAF coz they flew them in combat right into 1945. Poor so and so's.; Damn. I forgot about the League Test tonight. But, we might win! ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by noooby on Apr 15, 2013 1:47:09 GMT 12
Just resurrecting this thread as I've just been to the Tri-State Museum website. Has anybody told them that 3119 isn't Wairarapa Wildcat? On their website they say it was flown by Geoff Fisken. I know talking to John Chambers years ago he thought the 19 on the nose was short for NZ3119. Of course we now know that it was just the Maintenance Unit code. I'm pretty sure when I looked through Geoff's log book that instead of putting in NZ3072 for the aircraft, he just put the MU code (19). So the aircraft flown column only showed MU codes for the aircraft he was flying that day. If we knew what code NZ3119 had on it's nose, then possibly we could verify if Geoff actually flew this P-40 in WWII. Anybody have an original WWII photo of NZ3119 that shows the nose MU code??? Ok, a bit more digging around other websites and this one shows that they probably are aware that it is not Geoff's plane. Nice to see a P-40 in that colour scheme though! Might have to plan a visit to that museum one day Cheers Graham |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 15, 2013 8:00:04 GMT 12
NZ3119 never left New Zealand and was only based at an OTU, which Geoff never served at, as far as I am aware.
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