Kittyhawk and RAFM

Mark

I said allegedly, as I have not seen the letter. I would have hoped is 20+ years ago it would have still got in the press somewhere. RAFM were still building up their collection and would have thought this would have been of interest.

I don’t know the bases in relation to the ‘Spitfire’ loss though whatever the situation, the aircraft was seriously lost!

Most of the battles and movement were along the coast. If lost you head North till you reach the Med and then follow the roads etc. Why fly 120miles south?

I WANT TO SEE A SERIAL:eek::eek:

regards

Mark

RAF Kittyhawk IA

Ok,

I think we have established it is real.

Looks as though it is a Curtiss P40E Model 87A-4 (RAF export Kittyhawk IA).

Therefore one of these.

41-24776/25195 c/n 18795/19214 RAF ET100/ET519
41-35874/36953 c/n 19395/19474 RAF ET520/ET999, EV100/EV699

It was with 260Sqn RAF though whether lost with this unit is unknown. Probably lost between Feb 1942 and Dec 42. HS- codes visible. ID letter could be B, E, F or H going on faint vertical line with horizontal at mid point.

We have a lost of missing pilots with that unit. Need to look at CWGC.

F/Lt Blandinell, 14 12 41
P/O Cidman, 18 12 41
Sgt Saunders, 23 03 42
Sgt Tregear, 24 04 42
F/Sgt Viesey, 31 04 42
F/Lt Hindle, 31 May 42
Sgt Clark, 9 June 42
Sgt Wrigley, 12 06 42
Sgt Carlisle, 26 06 42
F/Sgt Copping, 28 06 42
F/Lt McKay, 14 07 42
Sgt Stebbings, 20 10 42
F/Sgt Ody, 26 10 42
Sgt Mockeridge, 31 10 42
Sgt Hartung, 5 11 42
P/O Mink, 18 11 42
F/Lt Davis, 20 11 42
F/Sgt McKee, 15 12 42
Sgt Takvor, 19 12 42
F/Sgt McLive, 20 12 42
Sgt Adams, 20 12 42
Sergeant Cundy, 26 02 43
Sgt Orr, 21 03 43

If it is the ‘Spitfire’ mooted on this site and in the Qattarah Depression is is a long way from anyway even today. I would guess the pilot would still be classed as missing.This also means the photos could well be from 20+ years ago or more.

Could possibly still be there. Long way to go to get scrap.

Allegedly RAFM museum contact and rejected? approach at that time (even with photos) but at that time they had the P40N? being restored for display. Even so, would be a logistical nightmare to recovery and probably expensive. With the National Lottery now, I would guess a submission would be made to ensure the cost was covered!

Restored or left as is. In this instance, I would leave as is (first time ever). Tribute to all who operated in North Africa.

As soon as a serial is forthcoming, I am sure everything would be known within a matter of a few days. (Why I love the internet). 20 years ago it would have taken months!

Roll on more photos and a serial.

Mark

P40E

Of course to the lay person, everything with a roundal is a Spitfire!

20 years ago, if the photos had said 1982 or 92 I would believe it more.

If one and the same and 20 years ago I would gues now long gone 🙁

Mark

P40E / Kittyhawk IA

Additiinal discussion points.

Looks like the airframe is from 260 SAAF. You can see the HS code to the left of the fuselage roundal. Codes were small which fits. Trying to ‘see’ if there is the remains of an individual letter on the right. There is a vertical bar but not sure this is just a filler line? Otherwise ID letter could be B, D, E, F, H, K, M, N etc – a few options.

260Sqn took over Kittyhawks in Feb 1942 and moved to Theatre.

Least it is one squadron to look at!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crashed_Kittyhawk_I_260_Sqn_in_NAfrica_1942.jpg

regards

Mark

P40

Perhaps photos from the 1970’s and long since scrapped.

model/diarama does not stack up – so many fine details have been pointed out.

If current, well RAFM/AHB dont seem to know anything unless they are keeping quiet until recovered?:)

Would love to think it is current and real. There are photos of an SM-79 that was discovered and was reduced to nothing in a very short time through scrap/salvage.

Lots of political changes have occurred over the last year in North Africa so you never know what might have appeared.

Just need a serial :confused:

regards

Mark

though painted just aft of the prop is odd as is the triangle. aft of the exhaust.

No visible upper camouflage demarkation?

All blue underside and no yellow edge seems to indicate 1939?

No aerial

MS

Yak 1

Robbo

There was but this has all been sorted now. Amazing what you find out when you look at the repair manual and read the section on belly landing and engine torque.

Construction number is confirmed as 1342 built October 1941.

All the guns and gun sight match the numbers on the construction card.

Engine was a replacement.

Colours now known.

Only a major unknowns – the loss report for December 1942, locating the pilot/family, tactical number and victor – JG51 or JG54?

regards

Mark