Another P-40 Ace bio for Scott

[Jack Cook]

Major Frank Leon Gaunt O-725144
Born April 11, 1918 North Platte, Nebraska
Flying School Class 42E Mather Field , CA May 21, 1942

72nd fighter Squadron 15th Fighter Group Hawaii August 1942
68th Fighter Squadron 347th Fighter Group SWP Feb. 1943 28 missions
44th Fighter Squadron 18th Fighter Group SWP March 1943 135 missions
318th Fighter Squadron 325th Fighter Group MTO Feb. 1945 23 missions

P-40M s/n 43-5673 #126 “The Twerp”
P-40M s/n 43-5677 #128 “The Twerp II”
P-38H-1 s/n 42-6691 #67 “Tojo Eat Sh*t”

Silver Star, DFC, Soldier’s Medal, 13 Air Medals

2 Val DB June 16, 1943 Guadalcanal P-40F
1 Zero July 12, 1943 New Georgia P-40M
1 Zero damaged July 12, 1943 New Georgia P-40M
3 Zeros July 15, 1943 Vella La Vella P-40M
1 Zero Aug. 15, 1943 Gizo P-40M
1 Zero probable Aug. 15, 1943 Gizo P-40M
1Zero Jan. 11, 1944 Rabaul P-38H


Capt Frank Gaunt Munda airstrip Aug. 14, 1943

Gaunt's P-40M #126

First fighters to land on the newly captured Munda airstrip on New Georgia Aug 14, 1943 (L-R) Lt Kappy Njus-WIA,
Lt Rex Byers-KIA, Lt Jim Reddington, Capt "Big Theo" Jennings, Lt Frank Crain, Capt Frank Gaunt & Lt John P. Cox-MIA/POW/executed
Kappy Njus shared with me that they were served lunch while their planes were refuled. It was stale graham crackers with black fly infested jam.

Last edited by Jack Cook on Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Mick Grinter]

The Middle photo is an M,the botom one i think is a K,.
And nice bullet hole.

[CWBuff]

The bottom photo shows a Merlin-powered P-40, probably a P-40F as I don't think the 44th FS had many, if any, P-40Ls. Jack would probably know better than I on that point.

The 'bullet hole' is a vent of some sort; I'm not too familiar with the Merlins and don't know exactly what kind of vent it is. Could be coolant... I really dunno. In some cases this opening had a small teardrop fairing fitted and some photos show it being plugged on the ground with a pull string attached. If anyone knows exactly what this opening is for I'd be interested in knowing...

Here's a shot of a Merlin Hawk undergoing maintenance which shows the line (just above the prop blade) that vents out at this opening in the cowl.




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[Jack Cook]

The Middle photo is an M,the botom one i think is a K,.
And nice bullet hole.

The M is s/n 43-5637 #126 while the other is a P-40F-5 s/n 41-19_ _ _
#114 "Gentleman Jim" flown by Lt Reddington who later down 3 zeros over Rabaul on 1-18-43.

Last edited by Jack Cook on Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mick Grinter]

I have to learn to look harder,we made the side cowls for Judy pays F.
Are there any other P-40 F's around.

[Scott Rose]

Thanks Jack, here's the completed profile.

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/gaunt.html

[eric]

that "bullet hole" is actually the outlet for the coolant header tank pressure relief valve

if anyone has any more period photos of merlin installations in p-40's i would very much love to see them

[eric]

BlackWolf3945?

[Jack Cook]

Thanks Jack, here's the completed profile.

I send the link the some guys that flew with Frank & Cy Gladen
who are on email. They thought you've done a great job and are now working on their bios!

[CWBuff]

that "bullet hole" is actually the outlet for the coolant header tank pressure relief valve

Thanks 2 much for the specific info. I would have been shocked if it wasn't related to the cooling system... LOL

if anyone has any more period photos of merlin installations in p-40's i would very much love to see them

This image isn't all that clear, but I s'pose it's better than nuthin'...


USAF Photo

Larger image


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[eric]

thanks!!, very nice.

any more?

ps. sorry about the late reply,

[Scott Rose]

thanks!!, very nice.

any more?

ps. sorry about the late reply,

check out http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/aces.html

[CWBuff]

thanks!!, very nice.

any more?

ps. sorry about the late reply,

Nothing different but I have this larger version of the first image...




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[Jack Cook]

Good detail shot. but, I still perfer cowlings on and looking for a fight!

Capt Ken Taylor leads Capt Sam Hitchcock on a CAP mission near the Russell Islands Feb 1943 44th Fighter Squadron 18th Fighter Group. Both had earlier served at Pearl and got into the air during the Japanese attack. Taylor downed 2 planes with the 47th PS while Hitchcock flew a afternoon sortie in a P-40B with the 6th Pursuit Squadron.