Yet again

😡

Can’t we just bring back hanging!

Always thought (in my liberal view) that lamp posts are under used in this country!

MS

P40

Terry,

Was not having a go. As with everything, we all put forward suggestions, ideas and possibilities but as this one has gone mainstream it all went a bit mad. I think if there was no photo showing a tyre/wheel 150m behind the wreck I think the suggestion might not have been there. The loss of the wheel/undercarriage was a big indicator upto the point ET574 was finally confirmed.

As for P40’s in general, I think we have all learnt a lot from Buz – know I have.

Mark

P40

Bruce

With help from Buz, we knew the location of all of the component tags knowing the main plate was probably missing. The fuselage tag in the scolloped area behind the perspex was the main area we were looking at but there was a number of others which could have been looked at once either someone from the survey team or British Embassy got to site.

Starboard side scolloped perspex was already broken when the team arrived and the tag could be seen.

Now that 1035 has been reported and with the link, it is safe to report that the P40E Kittyhawk in the desert is now confirmed as Curtiss P40E-1-CU Curtiss number 1035, construction number 19761, US serial 41-35928 and British serial ET574.

The Copping family were made aware of the confirmation early last week.

regards

Mark

P40

Peter,

Yep, it is the Curtiss construction number which ties in with the US serial number which ties in with the RAF serial.

All three of the above have now been known by the RAFM/AHB etc for over a week now. The 1035 was the last bit of evidence we required.

regards

Mark

P40

David

Until the press could get hold of pictures there was no story. Fortunately or unfortunately one of Jakub’s colleagues posted his company name and Jakub was contacted. Not the way he really wanted as he and his colleagues do have a job to do. Up until that point only two of us were in contact with him.

Whether breaking the news was good or bad I have yet to be convinced. RAFM were already aware as was the British Embassy even before the news broke in the press.

The only good to come out of it so far (and only if confirmed) is that the RAFM and AHB are now in contact with the Copping’s family. So if it is found to be Copping’s Kittyhawk, the family are already onboard.

regards

Mark

P40

I wonder if the MOD put an old aircraft in the middle of Dartmoor, would it still be untouched and pristine after a month, of course not. No matter where you are in the world, there will always be people that will want to break bits off, take a few bits for souvenirs,

Unfortunately, the people to this forum know the value of the airframe historically but there is nothing we can do about it.

As we have been told, the British Embassy are talking to the Egyptian Authorities about the plane and probable missing pilot.

Looking at the cockpit again, besides the clock being taken as you would expect, the middle dial is the tilt and turn indicator. Why broken, well it contains liquid!:( Reading the thread on the Blenheim’s that went missing, it was also noted fire extinguishers were opened and there tllt and turn/artificial horizon indicators also had broken glass.

I believe things are moving in a positive direction but can’t say anything yet until I have an OK to say so.

regards

Mark

P40

No news is good news?

Mark

P40

The family are aware it is not 100% confirmed but all of the circumstantial evidence supports it. The identity is the top priority following by finding out the possible whereabouts/outcome of the pilot. (Additionally the pilot photo in Daily Mail in the doorway is not of Copping, it is of Sgt Walter ? – of 260Sqn, a friend of Copping).

So Butch Edwards has been interviewed in Canada. I am sure Ron Cundy will be interviewed in Australia. Whether the BBC will interview Suraman – Lord of the rings (Sir Christopher Lee) I don’t know. He is frail I believe and interestingly was the Intelligence Officer with 260Sqn at the same time.

Interestingly in Hanbury’s book, Sir Christopher Lee does a forward and he recalls S/Ldr ‘Pedro’ Hanbury telling him, “one mistake and you are out; now lets go and get pi33ed”. Cundy states he insisted on strict discipline both in the air and on the ground but was eminently fair. Edwards says we respected and liked him and most of all would follow him anyway.

Final footnote, ~Hanbury claimed a Bf109 on 6th July in P40 Kittyhawk ET575.

regards

Mark