A SURVIVOR’S TALE
The Fighter Collection’s P-40F
The Americans christened the P-40F the Warhawk (more fitting and aggressive than the British moniker of Kittyhawk II), and it saw action on many fronts, including the Pacific. It was here, on a quiet former battle ground of World War II, that one of Curtiss’ combat-hardened warriors was to survive through to the 1970s, as a forgotten wreck on the island of Espiritu Santo. Fate, however, was to deal P-40F-15 USAAF serial 41-19841, manufacturing serial no. 19503, a lucky hand. The aircraft was to be acquired by The Fighter Collection and selected for restoration by the Collection’s driving force, Stephen Grey.
In Grey’s owns words, “When found, the airframe was in a largely complete but distressed state, most of her systems having been stripped out. Economics and lack of parts contributed to a decision to store the airframe until a suitable time arrived to begin the restoration.”
But as the warbird movement knows, Stephen Grey is one very determined individual and over the last decade some of the major parts and systems were found and restored in the UK and the USA. By 2007, the project was ready for final completion and so was shipped to Precision Aerospace in Victoria, Australia. Four years later, this ultra-rare fighter debuted at the 2011 Flying Legends Air Show at Duxford: it is one of only two F models flying anywhere in the world.
Research into the history of the airframe commenced some time ago, with the aim of reuniting 41-19841 with its original paint scheme. Maxwell AFB AFHRA records show that the aircraft was shipped out direct from the Stockton Depot, CA on November 26, 1942 with the shipping code “Poppy,” the code revealing that this P-40F was destined for the Pacific. Delivered to the 13th Air Force, it is known the aircraft remained in the Southwest Pacific until June 1, 1943 but was condemned later that same year, on August 11. Stephen Grey says, “Despite several years of research, we have yet to come up with a picture of the F in service and so, temporarily and pending further research, I decided to paint it as an MTO aircraft.”
The “Lee’s Hope” paint scheme reveals a fascinating and important part of the P-40 service record.
Originally from Ohio, 1st Lt. Robert J. Duffield was enlisted