Sand Storm or Snow Storm?

[Sean Curtiss]

Aircraft Encyclopedia Americana, A.K.A. Jack Cook, must know the answer.

[b29flteng]

Sand storm. It's an F model which was used in North Africa. Note the RAF uniform, in particular the distinctive cap.

[n5151ts]

[Jack Cook]

I agree except the British didn't fly Fs

[b29flteng]

I have no clue if they did or not fly Fs. But it is sand, and it is an RAF type sitting there with the RAF style flying boots, Irvin jacket and RAF type cap. It appears to me the P-40 is painted OD and gray or is it Dark Earth and Green? That may be a fuzzy line of camoflage on the engine cowling, above the head of the person.

[Jack Cook]

I'm not disagreeing with you at all just saying 'the British didn't fly Fs'.

[b29flteng]

No harm taken. Do you agree that may be a camo line on the cowl?

[Jack Cook]

Could be there were OD, sand over painting the OD and the camo.
Do you have Carl Molesworth's P-40 Aces of the MTO. Great stuff!!!

[Dan Johnson II]

Could it be it's a P40L or Kittyhawk II? Came across this photo of 3 Squadron RAAF identified as Kittyhawk II's and it sure looks like there is no intake on top of that cowl, meaning Merlin.

[JDK]

Interesting pic, curious. Thanks for the Kitty II pic, Dan.

In the original shot, I'm reasonably sure there's a demarcation on the nose between two upper colours, implying a Commonwealth air force, along with the cap, and the RAF N Africa style drop tanks (is that a Curtiss item?) - RAAF, SAAF, maybe RNZAF, or maybe RAF, as touched on.

Anyone know what the holes knobs on the wing are outboard of the guns?

Funnily enough I've sheltered under a P-40 from torrential rain in a somewhat similar way!

Where's our P-40meister?

[Buz]

Hi Guys

The photo showing the P-40 and pilot in a small dust storm, is a P-40F. The RAF did have some, mostly being flown by 3 Sqdn RAAF and by 260Sqdn. Acording to the info I have this bird is likely from the latter unit.

Additionally the RAF units also managed to "borrow" a couple of P-40F aircraft from USAAF as well. Apporx 100 P-40F (all short tailed versions) were used by the RAF as well as approx 55 P-40L's.

Hope this little snippit of info is useful for some out there

Buz

[jmkendall]

Weren't the two former RAAF P-40s salvaged from Vanatu "F" models?

[Nathan]

I do note that in both pictures each aircraft has a different style of exhust stacks. Sadly I packed up a lot of my books. One being "The P-40 in Detail".


Could it be a South African AF P-40?

[JDK]

Weren't the two former RAAF P-40s salvaged from Vanatu "F" models?

They were Fs, but they were USAAF a/c.

[Canso42]

He might be hanging out with Allied friends.... It's sand. If it was snow, white stuff would be stuck all over everything. Sand pix just look a bit blurry.

Canso42