Who said a wartime P-40 never had "stripes" ...

[Mark Allen M]

... well maybe not "D-Day Invasion Stripes", these P-40's look to be stateside trainers but not sure. Anyone able to make out the tail numbers?

[mike furline]

It looks to be a short fuselage P-40E with Star, but no Bar. P-40E serial numbers start with either 40- or 41-.
Typically P-40's had three digits of the s/n on the vertical stab with the remainder on the rudder. The #4 appears to be one digit forward of the rudder hinge line. There may be a #1 touching the lead edge of the vertical stab, but that seems a bit too far forward. That would appear to allow four digits on the vertical stab.
Trying to use a #4 as one digit prior to the vertical stab/rudder hinge and P-40E known serial numbers narrows it down a bit.

40-358 P-40E-CU
40-382 / 40-681 P-40E-CU (Perhaps 0406, 0416, 0426, etc.)
41-5305 / 41-5744 P-40E-CU
41-13521 / 41-13599 P-40E-CU
41-24776 / 41-25195 P-40E-1-CU
41-35874 / 41-36953 P-40E-1-CU

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Last edited by mike furline on Sun Oct 29, 2023 9:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

[gemmer]

I was going to say it could be a P-40D, but the serial number doesn't seem to work.

[Buz]

@Mark Allen

Any further details on this one. Quick look at the image I make this a P-40E-1......, and by the look of things couple of others with similar markings in the rear of the image making this either Unit or exercise markings. Not a marking I've seen on any overseas Unit, so concur likely a Stateside unit.......

Will investigate further to see if I have anything (might have a sniff around 50thFG records first up)

Buz

[Buz]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but this one was on my list of things to keep my eyes open for, as I continue my P-40 research and I wanted to close the loop.

Finally have an answer and it seem that these aircraft were from the 10th Fighter Squadron, 50th Fighter Group as I found another Image showing 41-24973 wearing the same stripes and coded "P" at Zephyrhills AAB late April 1943. Seems the 50FG had both the 10th FS
(with the White stripes) and the 313FS (Yellow tails and noses) with colourful aircraft. Not found any info if the 81st FS had any colourful aircraft as well.

Best wishes to all for the New Year as well

Buz