Still Trying to ID a P-40 at the Reilly Facility

[mrhenniger]

Earlier this year my dad photographed a P-40E at the Flying Tigers Warbird Restoration Museum. You can find a picture of it here...

http://community.webshots.com/album/123261802lGxsiI

...it is the first one in this album.

I suspect it is one airframe on this list...

http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/p-40_serial_numbers.htm

...but I have no clue as to which one. Is there anyone here have some info that can be shared?

Mike

[TonyA]

Do you have the right captions for the first two pictures?

The first picture is the P-40N fuselage which had been under slow restoration for many years in the other part of the hangar - I think this is N2256N but have not seen any ID on the airframe.

The second one is a P-40E and, according to the note attached to its tail, is 41-5709 owned by Don Brooks.

[mrhenniger]

Do you have the right captions for the first two pictures?

Maybe not? It is possible the album wasn't updated by the time I posted here on WIX.

The first picture is the P-40N fuselage which had been under slow restoration for many years in the other part of the hangar - I think this is N2256N but have not seen any ID on the airframe.

Are you sure? I thought the P-40 in the storage jig and covered in plastic is the N model. I am basing that comment on the fuselage shape, but then I am not an expert. As for the the ID I have only just come across the s/n. The source is the page I noted before...

http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/p-40_serial_numbers.htm

Is this a case of assumed ID? Doesn't bother me, I would just like to know what is behind the ID.

The second one is a P-40E and, according to the note attached to its tail, is 41-5709 owned by Don Brooks.

Thank for the ID.

I thought the E model is the one with the wing panels (?) and boxes place along side the uncovered fuselage.... WAIT A MINUTE That does look like space for a second seat behind the pilot doesn't it This is characteristic of the N model isn't it?


Thanks.

Mike (wiping egg off his face)

P.S. I have corrected Webshots, but it may take a few minutes to update in the public album.

[TonyA]

FWIW The fuselage in the frame has the front of the tailplane in line with the front of the fin. Therefore a short-tailed model, i.e. earlier mark.

The full caption on the rear of the tail when I visited in April reads:

"This P-40, serial number 41-5709, is owned by Don Brooks of Douglas Georgia, founder and president of the 501c3 Liberty Foundation and the owner of the B-17 presently being restored by Tom Reilly and crew. Don Brooks, Jr and his C-47 were instrumental in the search and salvage of the now-famous P-38 Glacier Girl and was seen on the History Channel's special about the recovery and restoration of the famous Ice Princess.

This P-40 was inadvertently recovered while digging footers for a building project in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. The site was a burial ground for unwanted WWII airplanes left over from the war. Tom Reilly originally owned this P-40 years ago before Don Brooks acquired it and asked Tom Reilly to restore it. Presently, there are two wing assemblies and the fuselage in the Kissimmee museum's facilities being completely restored. These replacement wings are from a lend lease plan based in the USSR during the war complete with Russian markings. This is the second Russian lend lease P-40 to find its way to Tom Reilly's."

[Michel Lemieux]

This P40 USAAF s/n 41-5709 is a pretty nice display like that believe it or not.

I was able to stck my nose under the fuselage through the wooden holding structure.

I gives you a very special insight to the innards of a P40.

Now if I only had time to scan those pictures of mine...........