Cowling Numbers RNZAF P-40-N25 '75'

[komata]

On 29 January 2017, I posted the following question in a thread relating to the art of Reg Mason.

It concerned a print of a P40N-25 made and sold by Mr Mason.

I believed it to be self-explanatory, yet surprisingly to date no-one has responded to the question, hence this repost. Hopefully someone has the information that I am seeking...

The original question appears below : 

'Can anyone please tell me the actual serial number of the P-40 in the print? Based on the 'cowling' number (-75) I would have thought that it was NZ3275, but have been told that the cowling number -75 (as in the picture) was actually carried by another aircraft that wasn't NZ3275. (This was apparently common practice in the S.U''s which serviced these aircraft).



Can anyone clarify this situation please and, if the aircraft in the print ISN'T NZ3275, exactly what serial number does the 'Print' machine carry?

And what 'cowling number' did NZ3275 carry when it was in the islands?

Thank you'.

[davidd]

Komata,
The P-40N in Pacific Islands (actually at Ondonga fighter strip, New Georgia, then from Torokina strip, Bougainville, from Jan 1944, although from early March 1944 it often staged through Green Island to the north on operations to Rabaul), with cowling code of "75" was NZ3184, actually a P-40N-5-CU, and definitely not a dash 25. It was first recorded with this code number on operations on 23rd December 1943, and retained it until May 1944 when it was transferred to 4 SU (also at Torokina) in a general reshuffle beween the two, as 2SU was re-equipped with F4U-1 (Corsair) aircraft at this time, and all the "best" remaining P-40s were concentrated with 4 SU, with all "lesser" machines being returned promptly to NZ. However 4 SU was also re-equipped with Corsairs in early June 1944, so all their P-40s were also returned to NZ. Unfortunately its code LETTER with 4 SU is unknown. In fact only a proportion of RNZAF code letters/numbers for P-40s (or any other aircraft for that matter) are unknown. These numbers were really only "tactical" numbers and are only of interest in their operating environment. I reckon the engineer officer of each SU had a list of all allocations of these numbers at any given time, and perhaps the equipment officer if he were interested, but the people in Wellington or Washington, or even the local American command, could not give a hoot. Like all military arms operating aircraft, these tactical numbers were ephemeral, and even the numbering systems used within units, operational or training, were never recorded at the central aircraft registry (or equivalent) of any military - only the unique serial number was of interest, as it never changed. This would apply in the RAF (and all Commonwealth air forces), and the Americans, Germans, Russians, etc, etc, you could safely say ALL air forces, Navys, etc. The same could be said for military vehicles and sometimes to warships, although ship (pennant or pendant) numbers are generally better known - however they were still tactical identifications, and did change from time to time depending on the local situation, just like military vehicles or aircraft.
As to NZ3275 itself, it never left NZ so was never allocated an SU-type code number. Interestingly, it was a P-40N-25-CU, and on entering service following assembly at Hobsonville was delivered to Ardmore, where its first users were the pilots of 15, 21, 18, 14 (which damaged this aircraft on 10/5/44, may have been out of the air for a few weeks), and 17 Sqdn in July 1944, after which Corsairs replaced all the P-40s here, which were then dispersed to the two Fighter OTUs at Ohakea, plus about 5 to the Fighter Gunnery School (FGS) at Gisborne, with 275 being one of these. When the FGS was re-equipped with Corsairs in February 1945, the superfluous P-40s were transferred to 4 OTU (Ohakea). It is highly likely that 3275 was marked with "75", or more likely "275" on its cowling during much of its life in NZ, but all aircraft flown by the two fighter OTUs as well as the FGS were also marked with large fuselage codes, so these aircraft had TWO independent sets of rapid UNIT identification, plus one permanent number (its serial), plus last two or three of latter repeated on its radiator cowlings, really just TOO MUCH identification! The point is that even if there was a different P-40 wearing the number "75" on its cowling at every base in NZ and Pacific, unless they ever met on the same station (which could happen, particularly in NZ where airfields were fairly close together), little confusion was likely. However fading images in old photographs where the background, distinctive buildings and identifiable flying clothing types cannot provide good clues as to location, confusion can result. Remember that when the Pacific P-40s all returned to New Zealand between December 1943 and June 1944, they sometimes were photographed in New Zealand on their return still in their full Pacific markings, although much of these distinctive markings would have been modified or obliterated with more typical "New Zealand" features within a few weeks.
David D

[komata]

davidd

Thank you for the very comprehensive answer, and for taking the time to do the research.

In summary therefore:

1. The P40N-25CU in Mr Mason's picture is not NZ3275, as although it is 'probable' that that specific aircraft may have carried '75' on its cowling, those numbers were not carried 'in isolation' but rather in combination with other code letters placed on its fuselage.

2. On the basis of that detail (the lack of fuselage code letters), Mr. Mason's aircraft should therefore be considered as a 'representative' P40N-25CU only, and not as an accurate image of NZ3275.

3. Given the above, the 'Mason' image should not be relied-upon when intending to create a scale model of NZ3275.

Thank you for the clarification, it is greatly appreciated. 

[davidd]

Komata,
Yep, that about sums it up! Using the photo you have, paint it up as 3184.
David D