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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 22, 2021 17:42:10 GMT 12
Doug Hamilton's Precision Airomotive at Wangaratta, NSW, has been restoring a P-40N for Ross Pay for some time, but I see in the latest Classic Wings magazine that the identity has been revealed as that of former RNZAF P-40N NZ3184 (42-105875).
NZ3184 was a particularly interesting P-40N, it served in the Pacific with No. 2 Servicing Unit, RNZAF and saw a fair bit of combat. It wore the chin code '75' which can be seen often in photos, and even in coloured film. It also served at No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit, at Ohakea.
Great to see another Kiwi P-40 coming back from the dead.
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Post by McFly on Jan 22, 2021 19:06:46 GMT 12
Doug Hamilton's Precision Airomotive at Wangaratta, NSW, has been restoring a P-40N for Ross Pay for some time, but I see in the latest Classic Wings magazine that the identity has been revealed as that of former RNZAF P-40N NZ3184 (42-105875). NZ3184 was a particularly interesting P-40N, it served in the Pacific with No. 2 Servicing Unit, RNZAF and saw a fair bit of combat. It wore the chin code '75' which can be seen often in photos, and even in coloured film. It also served at No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit, at Ohakea. Great to see another Kiwi P-40 coming back from the dead.  Photo- Air Force Museum |
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Post by keroburner on Jan 24, 2021 21:46:52 GMT 12
There must be nearly more ex RNZAF P40 survivors now, than any other country that flew them which is pretty neat.
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Post by Mustang51 on Jan 25, 2021 9:49:48 GMT 12
Should be more of them ! Can never have too many P.40s
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Post by davidd on Jan 25, 2021 10:46:21 GMT 12
I seem to recall that many of the P-40s restored in the USA to flying standard came from North of the border, this in 1960s, a time when the P-40 was pretty well extinct in the USA in its flying form. I think the Curtiss fighter was still regarded (in American eyes) as a bit of a "failure" compared to the flashy P-38s, P-47s and P-51s. Of course things have changed considerably since then.
David D
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Post by ZacYates on Jan 25, 2021 15:39:34 GMT 12
There must be nearly more ex RNZAF P40 survivors now, than any other country that flew them which is pretty neat. I make it sixteen RNZAF survivors (not including crash wrecks), with three/four airworthy and perhaps six being restored to fly. Not bad considering maybe ten years ago I thought there were just six left! |
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Post by ZacYates on Aug 27, 2021 22:10:17 GMT 12
It also served at No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit, at Ohakea. I’m rereading the late Bryan Cox’s Cats Only Have Nine Lives! and see he flew this aircraft twice on 11/08/1944, also flying NZ3072 on the same day. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2023 15:53:18 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2023 20:46:55 GMT 12
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Post by ZacYates on Feb 22, 2023 10:15:51 GMT 12
Absolutely awesome to see! Well done to everyone involved! And how wonderful to see the 75 on the cowl as you mentioned earlier in this very thread, Dave.
For those who follow such things, this is VH-EPU.
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Post by planecrazy on Feb 23, 2023 15:27:26 GMT 12
Does anyone know what markings she is getting?
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Post by Mustang51 on Feb 23, 2023 18:48:35 GMT 12
I know what they were but that has changed
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 23, 2023 19:20:00 GMT 12
Hopefully not a ruddy shark's mouth! (although to be fair, I have mellowed slightly on my stance towards shark's mouths now that I know that a) an RNZAF P-40 called "Tokyo Bound" actually wore the famous markings, and that actually could well have been NZ3184 as we do not know the serial... and b) I now know that a kiwi pilot called Ray Whitehead did actually serve with Chennault and the American Volunteer Group, though only in a ground role by the time they became the AVG. He'd been a combat pilot earlier.) It's would be awesome of the owner wanted a shark's moth and compromised by painting is as Tokyo Bound, sticking with its RNZAF roundels and heritage.  |
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Post by davidd on Feb 23, 2023 21:34:16 GMT 12
I'm guessing you were thinking of a shark's mouth there Dave (above). Moth's wings shed their wing scales when disturbed, and they would probably stick in the throat.
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Post by Mustang51 on Feb 23, 2023 21:51:04 GMT 12
So sick of Shark's mouth. Its almost like '....oh well its a P-40 so must have a Shark Mouth" Im not the owner and thats the privilege but the proposed scheme was great and had historical significance. Hopefully the owner shall choose something equally significant.
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Post by Mustang51 on Feb 23, 2023 21:51:52 GMT 12
.....Now.....a "Shark Moth"......Hmmmmm.......
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Post by Antonio on Feb 23, 2023 22:03:33 GMT 12
 I alway assumed Tokyo Bound to be a P-40E - the photo suggests a short tail to me. Could be wrong................ |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 23, 2023 23:19:19 GMT 12
No, it is definitely a late model P-40N. Look at the canopy, it's the "glasshouse" type as seen on P-40N-5 and later models.
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Post by planecrazy on Feb 24, 2023 7:48:57 GMT 12
Obviously wait and see on the colour scheme next question is she staying in Australia or heading elsewhere?
Got me thinking about the most airworthy types of warbirds in NZ and OZ, NZ would probably be Harvards?
OZ maybe the Harvards as well, P40's must be getting up there now, this one makes five I think? Also five
Spitfires in Australia as well I believe?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 24, 2023 8:23:20 GMT 12
There are more Tiger Moths flying in New Zealand with wartime service in their histories than Harvards.
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