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P-40 over Philipines, Java and Australia & Gilbert Islands ;-)

Started by capt. R · 192 ≡ · ↻ 2 years ago

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capt. R said 3 years ago:

Just arrived! Fantastic set of decals for my future Project. For me Interesting markings are pilot 2 Lt. R Oestreicher's P-40 E (Two different markings both with Shark teeths). Also interesting is markings with Dragon. This plane was Lt J. Krutzel - i try to find some informations about him. Also i try to find some informations about 2 Lt. R McMahon - P-40 E with picture of Armed with Thomson Grasshopper and Lt. J Glover.
link to the pictures of planes:
http://www.dkdecals.cz/72053_P40.jpg
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Jay Mitchell said 3 years ago:

Those are some interesting Warhawks on that decal sheet, especially the one with the yellow nose.
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years ago:

Nice decal sheet, my friend @lis!
Looking forward to your future projects!
capt. R said 3 years ago:

I was finally able to find an account of the Darwin raid. Two names are repeated in the description from the decal set list. 2nd Lt. Oestreicher and 2nd Lt. McMahon:

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/research/Part4-P40.pdf

Another relation:

https://www.ozatwar.com/darwin02.htm

justification of the award for Lt. Oestreicher

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/32278

He scored one confirmed victory and one probably in 19.02.1942. After his plane was hit by Zero fighter, he crashed, but safetly landed. Plane of Lt. McMahon during attack on B5N Kate was hit by gunner's fire, and another zero fighter and he had to bail out, but landed safetly only with minor injures. On the photo Lt. Oestreicher was in right (photo taken in late war period).

@fiveten I think it will be one P-40 from Darwin raid 🙂
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
John vd Biggelaar said 3 years ago:

Looking forward to it, Lis @lis
Always nice to see a sharkmouthed P40.
At least the vitamins are on the table to get you going.
capt. R said 3 years ago:

I wonder when the aircraft versions 3 and 5 were in use. Both have teeth, but differ in size 😉
capt. R said 3 years ago:

https://modelingmadness.com/scott/allies/us/usaaf/fighter/sh40.htm
very interesting describe of model P-40 from Darwin.
capt. R said 3 years ago:

https://33rd-pursuit-squadron.webnode.com/jack-peres-crash-site-medals-and-grave/
Some informations about Lt. Jack Peres. He was flying on P-40E #36
Tom Cleaver said 3 years ago:

Joe Kruzel was in the 17th Pursuit Squadron in the Philippines, pre-war. He and Lt. Thomas J.J. Christian got off Luzon to Mindanao in one of the last P-35As, with one in the baggage compartment, then got to Java where they were part of the 17th (provisional) Squadron during the Japanese invasion. After getting down to Australia, Kruzel became the leader of "Green Dragon" flight of the 9th Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group at Darwin, where his wingman was George Preddy, his element leader was Sidney Woods, and the other wingman was John Landers.

Kruzel got back to the US, where he became Deputy Group Commander of the 361st Fighter Group, whose leader was Colonel Thomas J.J. Christian. After Christian was lost in a dive-bombing mission in August 1944, Kruzel became the group commander for the rest of the war.

The markings on your decal sheet have the "Green Dragon," so it's the airplane he had at Darwin as Green Dragon One.
capt. R said 3 years ago:

Thank you for your very interesting information @tcinla ! I like this plane with dragon!

The dragon plane that flew Lt. Joe Kruzel was then exchanged for another? And the emblem was repainted again (mabye first plane was damaged or lost)? In the materials that I found on this pdf, it looks like he later flew a plane in a two-color camouflage in shades of green and brown (ex RAF?):

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/research/Part15-P40.pdf

The author of this publication defines the period of June 1942.

I would be grateful for any information!

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/134490

Is this the dragon plane pilot? AS I read he scored one Japanise A6M2, and four German planes later.

Summing up, we probably know the following pilots and their machines from Decals sheet:

2 Lt. R Oestreicher: P-40E #43 (shark teeths). On thos plane he scored one or two D3A VAL in 19.02.1942.

2 Lt. R McMahon P-40E #22 damaged in 17.02.1942. He flew in 19.02.1942 probably in another machine. Shoot down by A6M2, he safetly bail out.

2nd Lt. John Glover in P-40E (#36) - Damaged, and crash landed, but survived.
Tom Cleaver said 3 years ago:

June 1942 sounds right for them to have had the time to paint the dragons. As far as I know, he only had the one painted that way; I could be wrong.

Here's a model of George Preddy's "Tarheel" with the dragon
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
capt. R said 3 years ago:

@tcinla Model looks great! It is 1:72 scale? Plane in Olive Drab camo are the same as on my Decal Sheet! But he didn't fight during the attack on Darwin, did he?
Tom Cleaver said 3 years ago:

@lis - George Preddy was Kruzel's wingman until mid-July when he was involved in an accident.
capt. R said 3 years ago:

@tcinla I understand now! All flight had dragon painted on nose 🙂 At first I thought only Lt. Krutzel got it. for this reason, also other planes could have a multi-colored camouflage with dragon painted on their nose 🙂
Tom Cleaver said 3 years ago:

@lis - it's why it was called "the Green Dragon flight." 🙂

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Pacific theater

P-40 over Philipines, Java and Australia & Gilbert Islands ;-)