Fri Nov 21, 2014 1:22 pm
For some reason, I had the P-40Q on my mind...so I started doing a little research and found out that Jean "Skip" Zeigler purchased the only remaining P-40Q and entered it into the 1947 Thompson Races.
It didn't look like it fared to well.
I was wondering, what happened to the plane?
Wiki...which I really don't like to use...said Jean died as a Bell X-plane pilot in 1953(?)
Any leads to links with info will be greatly appreciated.
thanks
29erJ
Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:39 pm
I'm surprised that nobody answered this question.
Skip and the P-40Q were a sad anomaly at the 1947 Cleveland races. In an effort to 'try something different', the organizers had 'class racing'. the Kendall Trophy race was for P-51's. The Sohio Trophy race was for P-38's. The Tinnerman trophy race was for P-63's. Other than the "Free for all" Thompson Trophy, the P-40Q wasn't eligible for any other race. Skip qualified in 16th place at 358 mph...which was too slow for the Thompson (open to 12 aircraft).
Either through his own volition or because the organizers allowed it, Skip lined the airplane up as the 'first alternate' at the starting line for the Thompson. Ron Puckett had a hard time starting his F2G Corsair during the warm up period, so Skip started his plane up too...and even though Puckett was running by the time the flag dropped, Skip took off in the race anyhow (as an illegal starter). On the 14th lap, the Merlin engine quit. Skip jettisoned the canopy and bailed out of the P-40Q, which crashed into a railway marshalling yard at high speed and was completely destroyed. Skip broke his leg upon landing.
It was a very pretty airplane at Cleveland...polished metal fuselage with yellow wings.