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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 30, 2019 10:52:56 GMT 12
Back in May 2018 I seem to have saved this photo of No. 4 Servicing Unit RNZAF P-40's from a somewhere online, but now I have no idea where it came from, and I'd like to try to find a better version if possible. Does anyone here recognise the photo or have a better copy please?  |
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Post by davidd on Dec 30, 2019 14:10:59 GMT 12
Nice one Dave, perhaps this is the original "B" aircraft with 4 SU - NZ3124 - although no way of confirming this. As you probably know, whilst in forward areas, this SU only operated P-40N aircraft. The closest aircraft in above image is almost certainly a P40N-1 (appears to have the early-type rear window framing) and also has an early-type fuselage roundel, with that strange effect seen on some P-40s that the yellow roundel outline appears to have a glossy finish. Also looks like a P-39 at rear on right; I never associate other USAAF fighters with RNZAF P-40s at Ondonga (there were certainly P-39s at Torokina whilst RNZAF P-40s were operating from there from January 1944 onwards), but you can never say that aircraft in the forward only ever operated religiously from their "home" airfield, they could drop in at other airfields at other times for any reason, and particularly after an operation that resulted in damage or shortage of fuel. However cannot offer any possible origin for your picture.
David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 30, 2019 15:18:35 GMT 12
It's a P-38 in the distance. And yes it's an N-1 so almost certainly NZ3124 in the foreground. This was supposedly taken at Munda in 1943 according to the file name on the photo.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 30, 2019 15:20:36 GMT 12
And of course No. 4SU P-40's while based at Torokina did operate from Munda, flying up there, refuelling and bombing up, and then flying to the target and then back home.
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Post by Brenton on Dec 30, 2019 22:30:56 GMT 12
The vegetation looks Mundaish. Perhaps these are RNZAF P40's ? 50 seconds in.
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Post by Brenton on Dec 30, 2019 22:53:30 GMT 12
And at the end of this ? ....
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Post by davidd on Dec 31, 2019 12:41:56 GMT 12
Brenton, you could identify P-40s there? Good eyesight, suppose they could be, but they looked pretty fuzzy to me.
Munda was little used by RNZAF P-40s (4 SU/15 Sqdn) as a regular (permanent) base, just 5 days inclusive, from 20th to 24th October 1943, then permanently at Ondonga from 25th October until 17th January 1944, then Torokina (Bougainville). However as pointed out by Dave, Torokina was used as an advanced refuelling base from about 17th December 1943 on a regular basis for attacks against Rabaul, and other handily-located strips were likewise previously used as advanced bases for mounting standing patrols, such as Segi and Barakoma, as well as Munda itself, although generally they returned to their permanent base in the late afternoon. Pilots were sometimes fed during day at advanced bases, by American messes.
David D
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Post by Brenton on Dec 31, 2019 14:26:55 GMT 12
Yes in the first video I believe there's 4 P40's with white tails 50 seconds in. BUT... I did include a question mark as well.
The last video showed some P40 like planes at the very end and at the bottom of screen. Again as you point out all very murky and unclear. It's just that a P40 would be my first guess as they appear have white tails.
I know Americans also flew P40's with white tails but not sure if they still were at that time. I think so.
Great video's to watch either way,I felt, as they showed quite clearly how the island had been devastated by the bombardment.
Brent.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 31, 2019 14:39:06 GMT 12
That second video is Torokina and yes it is RNZAF P-40's based there, 2SU and 4SU. I looked at both those videos two nights ago  |
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Post by Brenton on Dec 31, 2019 16:31:27 GMT 12
Ok, Torokina. I actually thought that myself at the time because it looked so familiar but for some reason had it in my mind they said it was Munda ? My bad. It looked real wet.
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