Curtiss P-40N NZ3147 - Photos and Logbook Entries Please

[Dave Homewood]

If you have watched the recent P-40 themed WONZ Virtual Forum Meet, either live or via YouTube, you'll have seen that it was revealed publicly for the first time that the P-40N project currently underway at Pioneer Aero Restorations, Ardmore, is owned by WONZ forum member Brett Nicholls.

I have been assisting Brett for some time to try to piece together the history of the aircraft, which was NZ3147 with the RNZAF. It was an interesting P-40, spending time at RNZAF Stations Fairhall, Ardmore, Guadalcanal and Ohakea.

One of the reasons I have been appealing for copies of flying logbooks has been to try to find entries for this aeroplane, and using logbooks and the existing Operations Record Books we have now got a reasonable history timeline together. But there will have been loads more pilots who flew this aeroplane, especially at Fairhall, Ardmore and Ohakea, where the ORB's do not exist. If you have any pilot's logbooks for P-40 pilots, whether they flew them on operational squadrons at home and in the Pacific, or just at the OTU's, I really would like to hear from you please.

Also whilst at Guadalcanal with No. 1 Servicing Unit, it is believed that NZ3147 wore the cowl code '2', and then at Ohakea with No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit it had the unit code FE-B1. So we would also like to hear from anyone who might have photos of this aircraft either in service or at Rukuhia (where it retained the FE-B1 codes). Even shots where it's in the background would be welcomed.

Thanks!

[camtech]

From the raw file:
2 Sep 44 2OTU 11 Sep 44; 14 Apr 45 2OTU; 6 Apr 45 2OTU 20 May 45;
I'll dig in and identify pilots later.

[camtech]

Jun 28, 2020 16:25:34 GMT 12 camtech said:

From the raw file:
2 Sep 44 2OTU 11 Sep 44; (P R C Clark) 14 Apr 45 2OTU; (M Scannell) 6 Apr 45 2OTU 20 May 45; (C F Thuell)
I'll dig in and identify pilots later (Done).

Sorry, but that's all I've got.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks, I had Phillip Clark's and Max Scannell's entries. But Claude Thuell was a new one. Much appreciated.

[ZacYates]

I expect I'm far too late but the AFMNZ photo site has a great Des White photo of NZ3147 at Rukuhia: link

[Dave Homewood]

Yes we've had that one for quite some time thanks Zac.

[TS]

Aug 16, 2020 13:58:45 GMT 12 ZacYates said:

I expect I'm far too late but the AFMNZ photo site has a great Des White photo of NZ3147 at Rukuhia: link

Why is it that every time I see a P 40 from Rukuhia it has a bullet hole through the front windscreen/shield...

[Dave Homewood]

I too have wondered that. I expect someone who worked or lived at the Larsen yard was trigger happy.

[ronl]

Jun 28, 2020 16:39:30 GMT 12 camtech said:

Jun 28, 2020 16:25:34 GMT 12 camtech said:

From the raw file:
2 Sep 44 2OTU 11 Sep 44; (P R C Clark) 14 Apr 45 2OTU; (M Scannell) 6 Apr 45 2OTU 20 May 45; (C F Thuell)
I'll dig in and identify pilots later (Done).

Sorry, but that's all I've got.

Claude Frederick Thuell was my uncle. I'm new to his list. Are you able to say what it is of his that you had?

Ron

[camtech]

Hi Ron - that information was extracted from your uncle's pilot's logbook, which is held by the Air force Museum. I have a very basic outline of his flying, but the logbook itself has more detail.