Warbird Information Exchange

Ex-Soviet Curtiss P-40M-10-CU 43-5925, "White 23" flown by Pilot Lt. Vitalyi Andreyevitsh Revin of 191 IAP based at Kasimovo air base. Revin had to make a forced landing on a frozen lake on the Finnish side of the Karelian Isthmus after having gotten lost in a snowstorm on December 27, 1943. After capture by the Finns, "White 23" was repainted in Finnish colors and remarked as KH-51; it didn't become operative with the Ilmavoimat, but was utilized as a visual aid in the Finnish Air Force Le.Mek.K (Mechanic School).





























Rendering sources in link below.
http://massimotessitori.altervista.org/ ... 23kh51.htm




Curtiss P-40M-10 "white 23" in Finnish colors and remarked as KH-51; it didn't become operative with the Ilmavoimat, but was utilized as a visual aid in the Finnish Air Force

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“PMURT KCUF”

That's an excellent selection of photos!

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In this picture, what is the trigger mechanism box beneath the stick grip on the pilot's stick?

Great photos! Thanks for posting Mark!

The trigger on the control column is the switch for activating the electric motor driven hydraulic pump that services the undercarriage and flaps.

Ah, thank you! Was that standard on all the models of the P-40 or did some models have a different setup?

Great photos, nice to see them here. Although the aircraft was initially not officially operational with Finnish AF, it was delivered to Fighter Squadron 32 (HLeLv 32) on 07.02.44. No operational flights were carried out, but several pilots of the squadron checked themselves out on it. Pilots, who had flown the Curtiss Hawk 75A before, preferred that to the P-40. Maybe a matter of having gotten used to the older Curtiss? There was a plan to use the P-40 alongside a couple of captured LaGG-3 fighters for operations, but this never materialized. The last flight of this aircraft took place on 02.12.1945 when it was flown to AF depot in Tampere to be stored. It was sold for scrap on 01.02.1950.

Fantastic photos! One problem with the color profiles, though: the area behind the rear windows was the painted exterior color (olivve drab) rather than interior green. It's a common mistake on artwork, models, and even full-size restorations.

SN