It was the 20th of December 1942 when a flight of four USAAF Curtiss P-40F Warhawk fighters of the 44th fighter squadron departed their base on the island of Efate (located near Vanuatu, an area between the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia in the South Pacific) to participate in a routine navigation training exercise. While flying southwards the flight was confronted by fierce tropical storm, this together with a low fuel state meant the pilots had to conduct a forced landing on the small island of Erromango at the slopes of its highest peak, Mt. Santop. All pilots survived the emergency landing uninjured, unfortunately however, the planes were almost a complete write off.  U.S. Army Air Force salvage teams stripped the wrecks of some useable parts, however the rest remained more or less intact until November 1989 when a team led by Mr Robert Greinert recovered P-40F-1-CU "Bone Crusher" (Serial 41-14112) together with a second wreck (Serial 41-14205) and shipped both aircraft back to Australia . The later was restored for the RNZAF museum Wingram (in static condition only) and re-engined with an Allison engine to bring her up to P-40E standard (the RNZAF did not operate the Packard-Merlin powered P-40F).

The Curtiss model P-40 was widely used by the allies during the early years of WWII. This single-seat interceptor was manufactured to a US Army specification of 1937 and was based on its predecessor the P-36 while the export version was designated the Hawk 75. Instead of using the P-36´s original Wright radial engine, the P-40 (export designation of Hawk 81, later models were designated as Hawk 87) was powered by an Allison V-12 inline engine. Ironically, the performance of the P-40 was often described as mediocre or even substandard, for example the P-40 was inferior to most of its opponents at altitudes above 13,500 ft. One reason for this was the single stage charger, the other was the relatively large, fast turning propeller while climb rate also left a lot to be desired. Manoeuvrability was despite popular opinion considered as very good. Only the Imperial Japanese Navy`s Mitsubishi A-6M Zero could outmanoeuvre the P-40 (and almost any other Allied aircraft). The Warhawk was a very stable gun platform and a formidable aircraft at low and medium altitudes. No less than 13,738 aircraft of this type were built from 1939 to 1944 with the Soviet Union receiving about 2,600 of the type under the Lend Lease agreement.

Great Britain was one of the P-40`s export customers, however the RAF were not impressed with performance of the Allison engine, replacing the Allison power plant with the Packard Merlin V-1650-1 (licensed built Rolls Royce Merlin XX) rated at 1,300 HP (take-off power). The new variant was renamed the P -40F Warhawk (British designation of Kittyhawk Mk II). Altogether a little more than 1,300 P-40F fighters were built, nevertheless the Brits received only 150 aircraft of the type. 

Currently there are no flying P-40F Warhawk fighters in the world today, luckily however this is a situation that will change very shortly with the second aircraft recovered from Vanuatu currently in its final stages of restoration by the Old Aeroplane Company located at Tyabb, Victoria Australia (not to be confused with the Old Flying Machine Company of Duxford in the UK). This very special aircraft restoration and maintenance facility is owned by popular Australian aviatrix Judy E. Pay. who purchased the remains of this particular P-40 some 12 years ago. Judys restored Warhawk`s maiden flight is not too far away with only one part required for completion being the radiator. This fastidious restoration was carried out down to minute detail with even the original radio equipment installed (although not functional and display purposes only) even the ammunition boxes for the six .50 cal machine guns are present. The cockpit is also beautifully restored with just a few allowances such as modern radios, navigation aids etc. Nevertheless the show-piece is the beautiful 12 cylinder inline Packard Merlin engine! Apart from the P-40F Judy also owns an immaculate North American SN-J3 (US Navy version of the AT-6 Texan), a North American T-28 Trojan and a beautifully restored CAC-18 (Australian license built P-51D Mustang) complete with RAAF No 3 Sqn markings. Another project which will commence soon at Tyabb is the restoration of her Fieseler Fi-156 Storch, built in 1943.

Proudly and with pleasant anticipation Judy told us the wonderful story of her very special P-40F and when questioned about what is going to be next on her list, Judy said that a Bell AH-1 Huey Cobra would be very nice. If the helicopter project does not eventuate then she would also consider the restoration of a P-47 Thunderbolt to flying condition.  Let us wait and see what happens, however there is one thing for sure, that is a very special P-40 will soon be seen in the skies above Melbourne!

Robert Kysela / CHK 6

PS: in the meantime the P-40F had its maiden flight - we are already looking forward to see this outstanding plane on one of the forthcoming airshows in Australia - stay tuned!!!