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Post by harrysone on Jan 8, 2019 12:20:27 GMT 12
Some holiday modeling... I knocked up the Hasegawa P-40E (with Eduard P-40N PE cockpit upgrade) using the RNZAF 14 Sqn decal set for the P-40E 'Umslopogaas'. As an OTU aircraft, I thought she deserved a fair bit of weathering to get that 'used' look  The decal manufacturer (DK Decals) suggest that NZ3008 was Whenuapai based, however resources I can find on line suggest that it was Ohakea based.  Umslopogaas_1 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  Umslopogaas_2 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  Umslopogaas_3 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  Umslopogaas_4 by Harry Follas, on Flickr |
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Post by saratoga on Jan 8, 2019 19:51:35 GMT 12
Very nice, though who or what was Umslopogaas?.
I recall trying to find what this was pre internet days as it cropped up in an US TV show in the '80s.
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Post by planecrazy on Jan 8, 2019 19:57:23 GMT 12
Yeah I'm keen to hear about this as well, sounds like a character from HR Puff-n-stuff?
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Post by markrogers on Jan 8, 2019 20:15:54 GMT 12
Very well done Harry, the first photo could almost be a colour snapshot of it on the Ohakea apron!
Umslopogaas was the name of a Zulu warrior in a storybook written by an English writer H R Haggard.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2019 20:21:45 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2019 20:24:59 GMT 12
Harry, nice model.
NZ3008 was one of the original No. 14 (Fighter) Squadron aeroplanes. They formed at Ohakea and very soon afterwards were moved to Hood Aerodrome, Masterton. We do not know if NZ3008 was with the squadron at Ohakea or if it arrived after they moved, quite possibly the latter. Sadly their early records do not exist.
Then after around a year the squadron moved to Whenuapai and they took these aircraft with them, so yes it was based there for a time. Then when they re-equipped with P-40K's and M's. the P-40E's went south to Ohakea and joined No. 2 OTU, and would have been re-coded with FE- codes.
The yellow HQ codes are wrong. They would have been on a Fighter Gunnery School aircraft but later in the war, and with No. 14 (F) Squadron the codes were HQ but they were Sky.
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Post by harrysone on Jan 10, 2019 16:46:30 GMT 12
Thanks for the feedback Dave...flamin' decal manufacturers! I have to admit the yellow codes did ring some sub-conscious alarm bells!
I also have a Corgi P-40E in RNZAF and spurious camoflage (looks more Middle Eastern Desert theater), I may re-spray and re-decal with one of other RNZAF schemes with DK decal pack...possibly a Tongan P-40E in Foliage Green or perhaps another Ohakea based OTU aircraft in Pacific Blue/RAF Green camo
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Post by harrysone on Jan 10, 2019 17:02:41 GMT 12
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Post by alanw on Jan 10, 2019 17:10:54 GMT 12
Thanks for the feedback Dave...flamin' decal manufacturers! I have to admit the yellow codes did ring some sub-conscious alarm bells! I also have a Corgi P-40E in RNZAF and spurious camoflage (looks more Middle Easter Desert theatre), I may re-spray and re-decal with one of other RNZAF schemes with DK decal pack...possibly a Tongan P-40E in Foliage Green or perhaps another Ohakea based OTU aircraft in Pacific Blue/RAF Green camo Hi Harry, Just be aware the DK Decal sheet markings for the Tongan P40E-1's serving in the Operational area is wrong. The Foliage Green wasn't worn until after arrival back in New Zealand, and the aircraft should also have the Yellow HQ-* markings as Dave mentions above for the Gunnery School The Tongan P 40E-1's wore RAF type camo in the forward area as in this photo of one of the Tongan aircraft in RNZAF service  Regards Alan |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 10, 2019 20:07:54 GMT 12
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Post by davidd on Jan 11, 2019 11:05:15 GMT 12
The ex-Tongan P-40Es served in Fiji and Espiritu Santo, but were never committed to the "forward" area (usually meaning Guadalcanal at the time the photo of "5" was taken, in about July 1943, although this was at Pallikulo field, Espiritu Santo). However they did undertake operational flights from Santo, as the Japanese at this stage were still sending single aircraft or small groups down at night to annoy the local defences, and 16 Squadron was designated as a night and day interceptor squadron by the local American command. However most "bogeys" they were scrambled to intercept, day or night were American in origin, usually had forgotten to switch on their IFF. However one of our P-40Es at Santo was lost on a night interception of a genuine Japanese aircraft, although this was put down as an operational accident as it was known he never intercepted the enemy. Incidentally, in case somebody does not know, the pilot standing on the wing of "5" was F/L "Jack" Day of 16 Squadron, and this photo was used on the cover of a book called "Fighters" written by, I think, Leo White. Ever after, Day had to suffer being referred to by his fellow pilots as "Picture Day".
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 11, 2019 11:20:22 GMT 12
Yes it was Leo White that wrote the book and took the photo. Good book it is too, but I wish he'd been able to write more.
When they were operating at night from Santo and Henderson Field, did the runway get lit by goose-neck flares? How did it work? I'm sure the runways did not have permanent lighting. And it would seem impossible to land on a dark strip in fighter without lots of accidents.
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Post by davidd on Jan 11, 2019 11:33:31 GMT 12
I think the strips had minimal lighting, and one RNZAF pilot learned to his cost that you have to be CERTAIN that the lone light you are relying on for guidance in take off is the correct one! He took off after sighting what he presumed was the light at the end of the runway, and quickly found himself crashed in a large ditch alongside the runway after only a short run - turns out the light he was aiming at was on a parallel runway. The pilot was quite badly hurt, smashing his face into his own gunsight. Not certain why this pilot could not see the light on end of his own runway - perhaps he was on the incorrect runway? These things can happen quite easily during emergencies when pilots not very familiar with their airfield, and when there are no helpful aids to guide you in the dark. So certainly no goose-neck flares (more like watering cans with a wick coming out of spout) at the forward, American-operated fields, although I think goose-necks may have been used in Fiji and Tonga in the early days of 1940/41 when sudden operational emergencies arose (usually called "flaps" in those days), flying DH 89 Rapides, DH 86, and Vincents.
David D
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Post by alanw on Jan 11, 2019 11:52:42 GMT 12
The ex-Tongan P-40Es served in Fiji and Espiritu Santo, but were never committed to the "forward" area (usually meaning Guadalcanal at the time the photo of "5" was taken, in about July 1943, although this was at Pallikulo field, Espiritu Santo). However they did undertake operational flights from Santo, as the Japanese at this stage were still sending single aircraft or small groups down at night to annoy the local defences, and 16 Squadron was designated as a night and day interceptor squadron by the local American command. However most "bogeys" they were scrambled to intercept, day or night were American in origin, usually had forgotten to switch on their IFF. However one of our P-40Es at Santo was lost on a night interception of e genuine Japanese aircraft, although this was put down as an operational accident as it was known he never intercepted the enemy. Incidentally, in case somebody does not know, the pilot standing on the wing of "5" was F/L "Jack" Day of 16 Squadron, and this photo was used on the cover of a book called "Fighters" written by, I think, Leo White. Ever after, Day had to suffer being referred to by his fellow pilots as "Picture Day". Hi David, Awesome information as always - good to know about the "actual" operations by these P40's, and the day/night interceptors Do you have any more information on these "Interceptors" (ie serials)? Never knew about the Fiji Operations - I'm guessing "Garrison" type duties? By chance any more additional information about those in Fiji too please? Thanks Alan |
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Post by davidd on Jan 11, 2019 13:35:37 GMT 12
alanw;
Yes, garrison duties, and somebody had to do it, even if not really qualified to do so. American commander at Santo ordered the NZ P-40s to undertake night interceptions, because their pilots were nominally "night qualified", but the commander thought this meant "night interceptor qualified, which they certainly not. These episodes are briefly covered in R L (Spud) Spurdle's book "The Blue Arena". Apparently he was most unhappy when he found that the reason so few of the P-40Es were fully equipped for night flying was that the instrument mechanics were (allegedly) too busy making trinkets (with plexiglass, etc) for American servicemen, rather than working on their own aircraft - big rewards from the Americans apparently, anything with palm trees and dancing girls, plus girlfriend's name incorporated was a fast seller. However there were no interceptions in Fiji - reason 15 Squadron was here was for large scale exercises in conjunction with a US Navy Air Group based on a carrier (SARATOGA?) to bring the squadron up with the latest methods of escorting carrier bombers in strike tactics, etc. No. 15 Sqdn was the first in RNZAF to hear about 4 aircraft sections, Thatch weave and all that, as well as all general American strategies and doctrine. Apart from the odd nosey submarine, the Japanese never came anywhere near Fiji. Incidentally any of the NZ P-40Es at E/Santo could be used for interceptions (day and night) so long as they were fully equipped with operational equipment. By this time of course they had |NZ" numbers.
David D
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Post by alanw on Jan 11, 2019 14:32:39 GMT 12
Hi David, Thank you for that information awesome  Quick question, if I may, I recall on another thread you mentioning the "Tongan" P40E's wearing USAAF Stars for some months. Would the application of the RNZAF Roundel coincide with the RNZAF Serials at the same time, or were they two different periods? Thanks again Alan |
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Post by davidd on Jan 11, 2019 15:54:03 GMT 12
alanw,
Yes, the introduction of NZ serials would be about the same time as the application of NZ roundels, about April/May 1943, at Espiritu Santo. However I believe that they left the original USAAF code numbers on the radiator cowl sides, as well as both sides of tail fin. However the "one that ALMOST got away (code number 23, later NZ3271) was very late in acquiring its NZ identity, as has already been pointed out on this thread.
David D
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Post by exkiwiforces on Jan 11, 2019 17:09:05 GMT 12
Thanks for the feedback Dave...flamin' decal manufacturers! I have to admit the yellow codes did ring some sub-conscious alarm bells! I also have a Corgi P-40E in RNZAF and spurious camoflage (looks more Middle Eastern Desert theater), I may re-spray and re-decal with one of other RNZAF schemes with DK decal pack...possibly a Tongan P-40E in Foliage Green or perhaps another Ohakea based OTU aircraft in Pacific Blue/RAF Green camo You do mean this one on the right? As I’ve always wondered if this was the right camouflage scheme as Corgi went though a bad patch where it QC and QA was quite shocking to a point that Corgi almost went tits up and had to be brought out by Hornby which then move it’s production line back to the UK I believe. flic.kwr/p/2cKATn6flic.kr/p/2e9tqFzflic.kr/p/S1pEsy |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 11, 2019 18:32:14 GMT 12
This is the one Corgi really cocked up. Your one looks like they rectified the colour issue?  |
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