Curtiss P-40E Warhawk “Yellow 20”
343rd Fighter Group. Pilot unknown
Based in the Aleutian Chain, Alaska. Late Spring, 1943
The 343rd Fighter Group was activated 9/1942, and was a part of the
XI Fighter Command. Jack Chennault, the son of General Claire
Chennault, commanded the unit, which was nicknamed the “Aleutian
Tigers” in his father’s honor. Finished in very worn and matt Olive
Drab and Neutral Gray, due to sandblasting effect of the abrasive
volcanic dirt on the islands. Spinner is yellow. Prop blades black
with 4” yellow tips. Red outlined stars and bars in all 4 positions.
Name is a best guess only. Outer wheel hubs yellow.
Curtiss P-40E Warhawk “Tarheel” White 85
9th FS/49th FG. Flown by 2nd Lieutenant George Preddy
Based at Darwin, Australia. February, 1942
Preddy was a new pilot when he flew this P-40E. He was nearly killed
in White 85 during a training mission, when another Warhawk collided
with him. Both aircraft crashed in flames. Preddy managed to bail
out. He went on to fly P-51 Mustangs and became the highest scoring
Mustang Ace of WWII. Tarheel is finished in somewhat worn matt Olive
Drab and Neutral Gray, with a OD spinner, and NG or possibly white
outer wheel hubs. Props black with 4 inch yellow tips.
Curtiss P-40E Warhawk "White 29"
C.O. of 23rd Fighter Group. Flown by Colonel Robert L. Scott
Kunming, China, Early October 1942
On Sept 25, 1942, Col. Scott scored his 5th victory in this a/c,
shooting down a Japanese fighter over Gia Lam, Hanoi. Scott
nicknamed this aircraft “The Old Exterminator”, but the name was not
carried on the aircraft. White 7 was originally delivered to the
AVG. The serial number was painted out, and no record of what it was
seems to exist. This P-40E, finished in Olive Drab and Neutral Gray,
was quite clean, and seems to be polished. Some claim the upper part
of the sharkmouth was painted dark blue, but in-depth research
indicates that it was black. Wheel hubs Neutral Gray. Spinner OD,
but could be red, blue or yellow, as Scott changed it often to fool
the enemy into thinking there were more aircraft.
Curtiss P-40E Warhawk “Skeeter” White 81
9th FS, 49th FG. USAAF Flown by 2nd Lt. John Landers
Based at Darwin, Australia. February, 1942
Landers scored the first 4 of his 14.5 total victories in this
aircraft. Landers went on to fly P-51s in Europe; Big Beautiful Doll
being his most well known aircraft. Skeeter is finished in the
British Export colors of Dark Green/Dark Earth camo with light
blue-gray undersurfaces. Some state this aircraft was painted Olive
Drab and Neutral Gray. Photos are inconclusive. DE or OD wheel hubs,
depending on scheme. Props black with 4 inch yellow tips.
Curtiss P-40K-1 Warhawk “White 29”
7th FS/ 49th FG; Flown by 2nd Lieutenant Arland Stanton
Port Moresby, New Guinea. March 1943
Stanton was an ace with 5 victories. His first was on November 23,
1942 and his last was on February 6, 1944. This P-40K is finished in
weathered Dark Green and Dark Earth over Light Gray (DuPont
equivalents). Spinner is OD with a blue tip. Blades are black with
4” yellow tips. Wheel hubs are Neutral Gray. Note ring and bead
sight.