RAAF P-40's

[Lobbie]

G'day,

These P40 Kittyhawks are mixed, the airbourne P40e is of an OTU the others are all combat Squadrons.



This P 40e is piloted by Sqn. Ldr. K. Truscott, returning to Milne Bay of the New Guinea coastline.








Rob.

[Scott Craig]

Great photos, Rob. Gotta give the RAAF guys credit for maintaining their planes, they did a great job. Even on those rough and dirty fields there is no trace of mud, dirt, or grime visible on any of them. No quick-and-dirty patchwork, not even any exhaust or gun stains.

[Lobbie]

Thanks Scot,

Most of the RAAF's combat birds used in the Pacific were polished, only a couple of the pix show exhaust staining, these birds had been tuned to perform while in combat, hence the staining looks as a light burnt metal as for the blast and cordite stains, only the aircraft named Cleopatra III shows and muzzle flash.
The P40e taxiing on the PSP that is Milne Bay on the Eastern Peninsula of New Guinea, the Japanese Army where so close to this strip, these birds were firing lead before the wheels left the ground, we did not have the same system in the early years as the USSAC and their aircraft allocations, we had more Pilots than aircraft, so pilots rotated from flying to loading ammo and servicing.