Hi to all. David, your comments regarding the use of a blue/grey over the dark earth reinforce my own thoughts exactly on the strange schemes on these 'K's.
As more food for thought, here are the batches of 'K's from Joe Baugers USAAF Serials site:
P-40K-10Before:
10099/10101 to Brazil
10102/10108 to USSR
10109/10111 to Britain
10112/10118 to USSR
10119 to Brazil
10120 surveyed Rice AAF, CA Mar 30, 1944
10121 surveyed Key AAF Mar 19, 1944
10122/10128 to USSR
10129 wrecked in landing accident at Orlando AAB Jan 9, 1943
10130 surveyed Sep 14, 1943 Salinas AAB
10131/10149 to USSR
10150 diverted from USSR to AAF Jan 11, 1944. To TP-40K Aug 2, 1944,
to RFC Ontario Mar 10, 1945
10151/10152 to USSR
RNZAF batch:10153 to New Zealand as NZ3045.
10154 to New Zealand as NZ3046.
10155 to New Zealand as NZ3047.
10156 to New Zealand as NZ3048.
10157 to New Zealand as NZ3049.
10158/10160 to USSR10162 to New Zealand as NZ3050.
10163 to New Zealand as NZ3051.
10164 to New Zealand as NZ3052.
10165 to New Zealand as NZ3053.
10166 to New Zealand as NZ3054.
P-40K-1510317 to New Zealand as NZ3055.
10318 to New Zealand as NZ3056.
10319 to New Zealand as NZ3057.
10320 to New Zealand as NZ3090. Was To have been shipped with the aircraft that became NZ3045/3065, but had to be sent with
a later shipment.
10321 to New Zealand as NZ3058.
10322 to New Zealand as NZ3059.
10323 to New Zealand as NZ3060.
10324 to New Zealand as NZ3061
10325 to New Zealand as NZ3062.
10326 to New Zealand as NZ3063
10327 to New Zealand as NZ3064
10328 to New Zealand as NZ3065
After these –
10329 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR472. SOC May 31, 1944
10330 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR473. SOC Mar 29, 1945
10331 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR474. SOC Mar 29, 1945
10332 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR475. SOC Mar 8, 1944
10333 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR476. SOC Feb 22, 1945
10334 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR477. Crashed after being abandoned off Hammamet Apr 23, 1943 when engine lost power.
10335 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR478. SOC Mar 8, 1944
10336 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR479. SOC Mar 29, 1945
10337 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR480. SOC Mar 8, 1944
10338 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR481. SOC Mar 8, 1944
10339 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR482. Crashed near Salerno Sep 10, 1943 after pilot bailed out after engine failed.
10340 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR483. SOC Feb 22, 1945
10341 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR484. SOC May 31, 1944
10342 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR485. Hit barrel while taxying at Berka Jun 28, 1943, presumably SOC.
Now we need to know what colour those sent to the USSR were!
The last batch obviously went to the Middle East and to Italy, and presumably would have been in the 'desert' scheme ....
Cheers,
Pete M.