A few interesting P-40 photos ...

[Mark Allen M]

... from a few ebay sales with very little to no information associated with them.


Stateside training base somewhere unknown.




P-40 guns being tested at a Curtiss-Wright Plant


A very busy CBI theater airfield (unknown)

[JohnTerrell]

The last five are from the filming of "God is My Co-Pilot".

[Mark Allen M]

That makes much better sense. Explains a lot as far as markings etc.

[dirtysidedown430]

Thanks all great pics none the less, wonder who the little girl is with the hammer

[pjpahs]

2nd photo shows the bomb being supported by plywood boards to keep from swaying. Some kind of eyebolt thru
the wood secure to a bracket around the bomb hooks, probably all released at same time. Wood held by some tabs on wings. little girl making gravel from bigger rocks.

[Chris Brame]

In the fifth photo you can see at least three B-25s with T codes on their forward fuselages; trainers from Mather Field?

[Dan K]

In the fifth photo you can see at least three B-25s with T codes on their forward fuselages; trainers from Mather Field?

Mather Field indeed.

Film borrowed 12 Mitchells from 952nd Twin Engine Training Squadron.

[Lon Moer]

What color(s) is the P-40N on the right? What colors are the spinner?

[res6kgcr]

Hi all,

Here is another photo taken at the same time of the P-40N on the left in the top photo:


With the signature color intake lip it is from the 369th FG at either Deridder or Stuttgart.

Here is a color shot of 400th FS with the same color intake lip:


With the three color spinner and aft color stripes I think it’s probably the Group C.O. ship who is visiting Esler Field for the One Charlie George and Two Charlie Jig have the Third AF designators for Esler Field and 372nd FG.

Esler Field is also the H.Q. for the I Tactical Air Division with probably both these groups are assigned to and have the mission to be a demonstration air force for various Army Ground Forces command schools and maybe the reason for the C.O. to be there. These groups are unique in that they are what armies call strategic reserve units and were never disbanded for the Base Unit reorganization of the spring of 1944.

The P-40N with the bomb shackles has the margin note for AAF Proving Ground Command at Eglin Field probably to test the wing bomb shackles.

All the best

Tom

[Chris Brame]

Just watched God Is My Co-Pilot again for the jillionth time on TCM - look carefully at the last scene when the fighters and bombers are taxiing for takeoff; as two of the P-40Fs pass in the foreground, a lone P-40B/C taxies from right to left in the background. Must have been one of the last ones in service by then.

[CoastieJohn]

2nd photo shows the bomb being supported by plywood boards to keep from swaying. Some kind of eyebolt thru
the wood secure to a bracket around the bomb hooks, probably all released at same time. Wood held by some tabs on wings. little girl making gravel from bigger rocks.

I can't imagine that plywood would be left on in flight. I wonder if it is temporarily installed when firing the guns on the ground to direct the empty casings ejecting out of the bottom?

[Duggy009]

2nd photo shows the bomb being supported by plywood boards to keep from swaying. Some kind of eyebolt thru
the wood secure to a bracket around the bomb hooks, probably all released at same time. Wood held by some tabs on wings. little girl making gravel from bigger rocks.

I can't imagine that plywood would be left on in flight. I wonder if it is temporarily installed when firing the guns on the ground to direct the empty casings ejecting out of the bottom?

It was quite common to use wood to stabilize bombs & tanks " The Tokyo Club" used wood stabilizers on the long flights from Iwo to Japan.

[CoastieJohn]

2nd photo shows the bomb being supported by plywood boards to keep from swaying. Some kind of eyebolt thru
the wood secure to a bracket around the bomb hooks, probably all released at same time. Wood held by some tabs on wings. little girl making gravel from bigger rocks.

I can't imagine that plywood would be left on in flight. I wonder if it is temporarily installed when firing the guns on the ground to direct the empty casings ejecting out of the bottom?

It was quite common to use wood to stabilize bombs & tanks " The Tokyo Club" used wood stabilizers on the long flights from Iwo to Japan.

Thanks.....I never knew that. I would have speculated the aerodynamic forces would have made short work of the wood.

[Duggy009]

A couple more.

[JohnTerrell]

I think the only restored P-40N that has the original bomb shackles on the wings is Kermit Weeks' TP-40N, which for a time was also fitted with practice bombs with the wooden sway braces installed, as per the original wartime setup.




Wood sway braces still in use today on the Bagley P-63: