1942 P-400 Belly Landing

Nathan · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:44 pm

Pogo wrote:

Overheard in the O-Club sometime in '44:

"I see you were in the South Pacific; what were you flying?"

"P-400's."

"Aw c'mon, there's no such thing as a P-400."

"The h*ll there ain't . . . It's a P-40 with a Zero on its tail, and that's all I flew the whole d*mn tour!"

I heard that statement before. It's not that fair if you ask me.

Remember during the early parts of the war for the U.S. in the Pacific many of our Army pursuit pilots were very green with few training hours. Naturally putting these pilots in P-40's against seasoned Japanese Army and Navy pilots was not wise. With time, training, and tactics the P-40 was a stirling fighter. Sure it wasnt the best fighter of the war but it was better then what most people and history give it credit for. Actually there is currently being research done and it is being said that the P-40 flown from all the allied nations during WWII shot down more enemy aircraft then any other allied fighter of WWII. Think about it...this thiory is not that far fetched. :wink:

Pogo · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:34 pm

Lighten up dood, it's a JOKE, okay? Good grief, I thought we were here to have fun...

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:49 pm

I love this place, where else can you post a picture about a seemingly obscure belly landing on a tiny island 60 + years ago and within hours someone has the full accident report on it including aircraft type, serial number, and pilot's name!!!! :drink3:

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:01 pm

and he had 'bully beef'' and powered eggs for evening chow :shock:

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:09 pm

Pogo wrote:

Lighten up dood, it's a JOKE, okay? Good grief, I thought we were here to have fun...

Good joke, no one needs to get all wrapped about it.

It was certainly current at the time, but to be fair, Nathan makes a good point. like most 'green' air forces, the early days of the Allies in the Pacific were fraught, and it was easier to blame inadequate equipment (jokes or otherwise) than admit they were out-trained, out-experienced as well as outnumbered. The real problem was green pilots, not poor aircraft, although that was a factor. They learned fast, though - them that survived.

The P-40 has a very undeserved reputation today because it was in the front like when things were really tough. However it was a 'good enough' fighter to stop the Axis in N Africa and the Far East, something no other type could have done at the time.

As for the P-39 and P-400, it needed an exceptional, skilled and battle-experienced pilot to match a Zero. We didn't have them then.

Good thread!

hang the expense · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:38 pm

I cant wait for that news to be official on the shoot downs.The P-39 in the pic looks to have had an Aeroproducts hollow steel bladed prop on it.Aluminum wont bend that sharp without breaking.Those props or lack there of along with nose cases will keep the number of flying P-39s very low.Hats off to those that are rebuilding them to fly.Beautiful airplane and almost as nice as a Kittyhawk.

lmritger · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:10 am

Pogo wrote:

Overheard in the O-Club sometime in '44:

"I see you were in the South Pacific; what were you flying?"

"P-400's."

"Aw c'mon, there's no such thing as a P-400."

"The h*ll there ain't . . . It's a P-40 with a Zero on its tail, and that's all I flew the whole d*mn tour!"

That's one of the funniest wartime jokes I've heard... I love it!

Thanks for a much-needed morning chuckle!

Lynn

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:13 am

hang the expense wrote:

I cant wait for that news to be official on the shoot downs.

The numbers don't (IMHO) matter. What matters is that the Axis didn't prevail in 1941-2, and that was in part, thanks to the P-40 (and P-39, and most critically the men involved...)

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:14 am

lmritger wrote:

Pogo wrote:

Overheard in the O-Club sometime in '44:

"I see you were in the South Pacific; what were you flying?"

"P-400's."

"Aw c'mon, there's no such thing as a P-400."

"The h*ll there ain't . . . It's a P-40 with a Zero on its tail, and that's all I flew the whole d*mn tour!"

That's one of the funniest wartime jokes I've heard... I love it!

Thanks for a much-needed morning chuckle!

Lynn

Yes thanks for the laugh and you're avatar is hilarious!!!

Django · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:33 am

Pogo wrote:

Overheard in the O-Club sometime in '44:

"I see you were in the South Pacific; what were you flying?"

"P-400's."

"Aw c'mon, there's no such thing as a P-400."

"The h*ll there ain't . . . It's a P-40 with a Zero on its tail, and that's all I flew the whole d*mn tour!"

That's pretty funny! :lol:

Nathan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:13 pm

Pogo wrote:

Lighten up dood, it's a JOKE, okay? Good grief, I thought we were here to have fun...

Hi pogo its ok.

My view wasn't towards you it was towards that comment that always comes up.

Cheers friend.

Nathan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:26 pm

For what its worth LT. Don "fibber" McGee is my favorite P-39 pilot from WWII. I think Jack Cook has a few pictures of him.

Calling Jack Cook. :wink:

As for the P-39K. It is a odd model that I havent seen too many times. The P-39K had a 20mm cannon and six stacks for the engine.

The P-400's are usually easy to pick out from P-39's as they are painted in a three tone color scheme with a Commonwealth serial number under the tail and sporting the Hispano 20mm cannon. Note: I have seen a few P-400's painted Olive drab though. I dont know if they were over painted in the feild or it was done at the factory. Anyone know?

Anyway I wished more P-39's/P-400's survived today.

mjanovec · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:01 pm

Nathan wrote:

Anyway I wished more P-39's/P-400's survived today.

Me too. I always thought the P-39 had some of the most beautiful lines of any WWII aircraft, even if it's performance was lacking (due in large part to lack of supercharger).

It appears there are four examples that are either in airworthy (or close to airworthy condition):

CAF example (airworthy and flying)
Fighter Collection example (airworthy and flying)
Kalamazoo example (near airworthy, but not flown)
Yanks example (supposedly airworthy, but not flown)

I've only seen the CAF example in the air, but would love to see the Fighter Collection example someday...as it has genuine combat experience.

If a one of those Australian restorations come to life, then maybe we'll see another in the skies in the not-too-distant future.

Nathan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:17 pm

mjanovec wrote:

Nathan wrote:

Anyway I wished more P-39's/P-400's survived today.

Me too. I always thought the P-39 had some of the most beautiful lines of any WWII aircraft, even if it's performance was lacking (due in large part to lack of supercharger).

It appears there are four examples that are either in airworthy (or close to airworthy condition):

CAF example (airworthy and flying)
Fighter Collection example (airworthy and flying)
Kalamazoo example (near airworthy, but not flown)
Yanks example (supposedly airworthy, but not flown)

I've only seen the CAF example in the air, but would love to see the Fighter Collection example someday...as it has genuine combat experience.

If a one of those Australian restorations come to life, then maybe we'll see another in the skies in the not-too-distant future.

Agreed. You are not the only one who thinks the P-39 had fine lines.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:10 pm

1Lt Don McGee 8th FG 1942

Warbird Information Exchange

1942 P-400 Belly Landing

Who is online