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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 15, 2011 23:29:04 GMT 12
Does anyone know if there are any RNZAF Curtiss P-36 Mohawk pilots still around today?
I know that several kiwis flew the type in the India-Burma area against the Japanese. There was even a New Zealand Mohawk Pilots Association back in the olden days, up till at least the early 1990's, apparently. In all my research and meeting of veterans I have only found one man who flew the type, Don McKenzie, but only at a maintenance unit as a ferry and test pilot, he never flew them in combat. I'd like to know if any combat Mohawk pilots are still around to tell the tale. Or if anyone knows of any who have recorded their memories already, that would be cool to read their memoirs, etc.
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Post by buffnut453 on Dec 16, 2011 2:15:24 GMT 12
Hi Dave,
I'm pretty sure Jim Cranstone flew them. IIRC, he was OC 5 Sqn for a period.
KR
Mark
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 16, 2011 10:32:52 GMT 12
Jim talked about flying Buffaloes, then Hurricanes and then Thunderbolts, but I don't recall him mentioning the Mohawks. A pity I cannot ask him now.
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Post by buffnut453 on Dec 16, 2011 14:29:38 GMT 12
Maybe he arrived on 5 Sqn after they'd given up the Mohawks for Hurricanes. Since only 2 squadrons flew the Mohawk for any duration, there were probably only a few Kiwis who flew them.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 16, 2011 14:40:22 GMT 12
I just checked 'By Such Deeds' and it says JimCranstone served:
No. 243 Sqn - Buffaloes - 22 sorties
No. 67 Sqn - Hurricanes - 3 sorties
No. 146 Sqn - Hurricanes - 74 sorties
No. 11 Sqn - Hurricanes - 58 sorties - 'A' Flight Comander
No. 5 Sqn - Hurricanes and Tunderbolts - 38 Sorties - Sqn Commander
Also two srties in L-5 Sentinels
His 197 sorties total was considered to be one tour of duty!
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Post by chinapilot on Dec 16, 2011 15:35:12 GMT 12
Fairly sure that a friend's father flew them...surname Boyens...
He's in the ME somewhere now but remember him mentioning that his brother had done a lot of research on his father's service.
Will try to get in contact with him.
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Post by curtiss on Dec 16, 2011 17:35:49 GMT 12
Ray Mc Lauchlan NZ 404391 ( from Chch ) flew Mohawks with 5 Sqn. Later moved on to Hurricanes. I met him about 18 months ago - he had some great stories to tell.
He has written a book " Moon over Burma" ISBN 0-908668-63-5 published by CPIT publishing unit.
The Book Curtiss Hawk 75 by Beauchamp and Cuny has some good information on Kiwis with the RAF in India/burma.
Flt Lt Dave McEwen ( RNZAF) scored the first aerial victory for 5 Sqn - Dave Floatplane near Akyab 06 April 1942.
There is also an interesting story with a strong NZ link about the "silver Mohawk trophy" from 155 Sqn .
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 16, 2011 17:46:18 GMT 12
Thanks for this info. I will look out for Moon Over Burma.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 16, 2011 18:27:38 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 16, 2011 22:21:25 GMT 12
I from this we now have the following list of kiwis known to have flown Mohawks in WWII:
Ray McLauchlan - RNZAF - No. 5 Squadron - still alive in Christchurch
Ian Baines - RNZAF - No. 5 Squadron
Lloyd T. "Babe" Hunter - RNZAF - No. 155 Squadron
It looks like Lloyd Hunter is no longer with us, an L.T. Hunter RNZAF 411901 is listed on the RSA site as died 23/08/00 in Nelson.
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Post by buffnut453 on Dec 17, 2011 1:08:12 GMT 12
I'll take a look through my copy of "Mohawks Over Burma" by Beauchamp in case that calls out any Kiwis.
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Post by errolmartyn on Dec 17, 2011 9:58:51 GMT 12
I from this we now have the following list of kiwis known to have flown Mohawks in WWII: Ray McLauchlan - RNZAF - No. 5 Squadron - still alive in Christchurch Ian Baines - RNZAF - No. 5 Squadron Lloyd T. "Babe" Hunter - RNZAF - No. 155 Squadron It looks like Lloyd Hunter is no longer with us, an L.T. Hunter RNZAF 411901 is listed on the RSA site as died 23/08/00 in Nelson. Lloyd Thomson Hunter was indeed NZ411901. I can identify the following from Vol Three of my For Your Tomorrow trilogy as being among those who flew Mohawks: Chancellor, Robert Nevin Jones, Robert Morris Kronk, Charles Thomas Potter, George Bellenger Wipiti, Bert Sam |
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Post by errolmartyn on Dec 17, 2011 10:04:18 GMT 12
And from Colin Hanson's By Such Deeds, the following flew with Mohawk-equipped units:
Buddle, Thomas James
Maling, James Richard
McLauchlan, Raymond Richard Andrew
Wareham, Charles Benedict
Wigg, Ronald George
Errol
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Post by Andy Wright on Dec 17, 2011 13:12:52 GMT 12
I was in the mood to flick through Ketchil by Neil Frances last night. Not with this thread in mind at all although I had seen it and earmarked it for a proper read. Vic Bargh certainly flew Mohawks on defensive patrols from Akyab. No. 5 Squadron was working up to operations and four Mohawks were borrowed from them by Bargh and three other Kiwis of 67 Sqn.
Bargh had arrived by Buffalo at Dum Dum on March 11, 1942 escaping the advancing Japanese. None of the Buffalos were operational (for combat). The CO told Geoff Sharp to grab three pilots to "go and get the Mohawks." Sharp chose Vic Bargh, Ken Rutherford and Ted Sadler and they flew the Mohawks to Akyab via Chittagong. It seemed to be a bit of knee-jerk reaction as they were back at Dum Dum on the 20th and their time at Akyab was without ground crew support. Japanese attacks on the island between March 23 and 27 forced the evacuation of the island.
Thanks for the heads-up on Moon Over Burma, curtiss.
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Post by buffnut453 on Dec 17, 2011 14:52:09 GMT 12
I never knew Charlie Wareham flew the Mohawk. I only knew of him because of his PR Buffalo missions out of Singapore. He was a pretty amazing bloke. Wish I'd got to speak to him or write to him before he died.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 17, 2011 18:10:35 GMT 12
Thanks everyone for this awesome info that is flowing in. It will be great to eventually see Mike's Curtiss Hawk 75 flying at Omaka. After seeing the amazing Tomahawk this year I have developed a real taste for the earlier Hawks.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 28, 2018 18:20:07 GMT 12
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Post by davidd on Apr 29, 2018 11:53:21 GMT 12
It's a bloody great photo all right Dave, winged horse and all. And look at those tricky little "knee-caps" at top of u/c legs which obviously fill a gap! Guess these were done away with very early on in the life of the early P-40s. And that just has to be a mighty Weight Cyclone engine under the bonnet (large diameter) and its matching Curtiss Electric prop. The light-coloured leading edge on far wing is a bit unusual, but no doubt a very logical explanation (now long lost!) Also a certain amount of clutter under nearmost wing - what is that, light series bomb carriers?
David D
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Post by saratoga on Apr 29, 2018 12:33:04 GMT 12
Definitely not a 'Light Series bomb carrier',though does look like set of 3 cradles for something.Maybe an original Curtiss fitting?
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Post by curtiss on Apr 29, 2018 21:19:34 GMT 12
Very nice photo. The clutter under the right wing are the bomb stays for the flush mounted bomb rack. There are five internal latches that the bomb shackles engage. Could carry up to 130lb under each wing - typically 5 x 25 lb bombs. Some models of the P40 had a similar flush mounted rack ( type Q2), but it only held 3 bombs per wing.
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