Judy's P-40F Warhawk 3/2009

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:37 am

Got this nice shot from Judy yesterday.........

P-40F s/n 41-14112 x-44th FS now VH-HWK almost ready to fly again

Zachary · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:00 am

Hey Jack,

Did any P-40s fly in a bare metal scheme during the war? That naked cowling looks pretty cool.

Zack

Dan K · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:35 am

Zachary wrote:

Did any P-40s fly in a bare metal scheme during the war?

Zack

Bare metal you betcha': Ben Preston's P-40 with the orange nose and black trim. Pic from Squadron/Signal book (I think).

So Zack, did you survive Atlanta? That was quite a bit of estrogen all in one location!

retroaviation · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:38 am

If I recall, the CAF's P-40 was orignally natural metal when it served in Canada.

Gary

AirJimL2 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:40 am

retroaviation wrote:

If I recall, the CAF's P-40 was orignally natural metal when it served in Canada.

Gary

The CAF P-40 was probably delivered to the RCAF in camo, but I've never been able to confirm that with a photo...if anyone has one, let me know.

Later many of the RCAF P-40s were stripped of paint and used as "aggressors" with the Fighter Affiliation Flight to 5 OTU flying Libs and B-25s. Hence why most of the surviving photos of the CAF P-40 are in natural metal as it served with this Flight. The Maude P-40 was also stripped of paint, but I think that was only for display purposes late in the war.

Jim

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:45 am

Hey Gary,

As far as I know the P-40's used by the RCAF served in a camouflage scheme. I do know that some P-40's carried a polished aluminum scheme, but only as part of the War Bond Tours being done across Canada.

George Maude's P-40 still carries the the polished aluminum.

By the way, I took at look at Judy's P-40 when I was down there. Looks like a fantastic restoration. I can't wait to see the finished product. I am sure it will be a beauty.

Cheers,

David

retroaviation · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:03 pm

Thanks for clearing that up, y'all. :-)

Gary

Lightning · **Joined:** Fri Nov 05, 2004 7:06 pm **Posts:** 424

Howdy Jack

Fantastic !

That fellow on Judy's P-40F is Paul Howman, who is doing all the the Cowls and Wing Fillets etc
( http://www.hascustommetalworks.com.au )

I haven't heard yet if the new radiator worked !

Will Judy be painting the P-40F in its correct markings as PEE WEE # 106 ?
Do you know who was the Crew Chief of this ship ?

Cant wait to see her painted

Lightning

Get Em Flying

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:21 pm

I've been trading some emails with Judy so hopefully we can get the marking straightened out. I believe the crew chief was SSgt Jim Cooley.
The a/c is really something special :!:

Ethan · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:24 pm

Is there a picture of how this p-40 is going to be painted ?

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:27 pm

Cool restoration. I'm not a P-40 expert, what was the majot difference in the P-40F? How many F's are around?

Mark V · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:54 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

Cool restoration. I'm not a P-40 expert, what was the majot difference in the P-40F? How many F's are around?

Rolls Royce Merlin up front.

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:10 pm

The P-40 F and L had a RR Merlin, as Mark V said. There's AFAIK, one L (42-10857) on display in Italy, recovered from Anzio(?) beach, and Judy Pay's example was one of two recovered. The second of which is now with the RNZAF Museum being converted to static Allison power. There's also another F under rebuild for Stephen Grey at Wangaratta in northern Victoria - no serial for that one has been released yet. Aft of the firewall there's no difference to other late P-40s, I understand, apart from minor items like engine controls. However there seems to be very little info on the fit of the Merlin in the P-40 airframe, so it's been a remarkably challenging restoration when you consider it's a well known / proven airframe and engine.

F / L P-40s can be spotted by the lack of a carb air intake on the top of the cowling, and a deeper looking nose - updraft carb rather than downdraft.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:23 pm

That is awesome.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:09 pm

This is basically what the a/c should look like. This is the 2nd #106 and is on;y 6 digits away only the serial number. This was on Guadalcanal's fightewr 2 Airstrip in Jan/Feb 1943.

P-40F s/n 41-14106 "Pee Wee" Capt Sam L. Hitchcock.

Lt CB "Coty" Head who flew 41-14112 on it's last flight. He scored 12 kills before he was KIA on Jan 17, 1944 :cry:

BTW don't ask me I've got a few shot of these guys being weird :shock:

Head a little more serious by Lt Price's P-40F July 1943

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Judy's P-40F Warhawk 3/2009

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