Tomahawk IIB AK354

This was one of five 3 Sqn aircraft which initiated operations against the Vichy French in Syria on June 8th 1941.
Six Morane Saulnier fighters were destroyed on the ground, for no losses, during a dawn raid on Rayak airfield.

This photograph was taken before AK354 had been repainted for service in the desert.


From: 'The P-40 Kittyhawk in Service' by Geoffrey Pentland - Larger Image

Tomahawks at Rayak

Tomahawk IIBs of 3 Squadron RAAF at Rayak, Lebanon during the Summer of 1941.


Imperial War Museum - Larger Image

Imperial War Museum - Larger Image

Tomahawk IIBs of 3 Squadron RAAF in flight over Syria, Summer 1941.


Imperial War Museum - Larger Image

Imperial War Museum

Flying Officers Turnbull and Saunders with two of 3 Squadron's Tomahawk IIBs at Rosh Pinna, Palestine.


Imperial War Museum - Larger Image

A fine portrait of Peter Turnbull.

He was killed during a ground attack sortie on August 27th, 1942 while commanding
76 Squadron, RAAF in New Guinea. He was credited with a total of twelve victories.


Australian War Memorial - Larger Image

Tomahawk IIB AK382
'Tindian'

This ship was flown by F/O Thomas H. Trimble, who had two victories to his credit.
Trimble was shot down near El Martuba on December 13th, 1941 by famed Luftwaffe ace
Hans-Joachim Marseille, though I've found conflicting information as to which ship he was flying.
(Some sources say AK382, others AK384.) He was able to effect a successful forced-landing despite
having been virtually blinded, was rescued by some locals, and eventually returned to friendly lines.

You can see an interview HERE, in which Trimble describes the encounter at length.


From: 'The P-40 Kittyhawk in Service' by Geoffrey Pentland - Larger Image

Flying Officer Thomas Trimble with 'Tindian', late 1941.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Tomahawk IIB AN343

Sgt. Rex Wilson (in coveralls) seen after a fight on November 25th, 1941; he claimed three enemy destroyed
and two more damaged. Wilson was eventually credited with eight victories before being killed in action.


From: 'The P-40 Kittyhawk in Service' by Geoffrey Pentland - Larger Image

Hawks of Amariya

Kittyhawks IA of 3 Squadron RAAF at Landing Ground 91, Summer of 1942.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image


Imperial War Museum - Larger Image


Imperial War Museum - Larger Image

Squadron-Leader Robert 'Bobby'Gibbes, C.O. of 3 Squadron RAAF at LG 91,
Egypt shortly after receiving the DFC. His personal aircraft, Kittyhawk IA ET953,
coded CV-V, is shown third from the camera in each of the above three photos.


Imperial War Museum

Wing-Sitter

This 3 Squadron Kittyhawk carries the requisite wing-sitter whose job it was
to help navigate through the billowing dust clouds kicked up by the taxiing aircraft.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image

Rima

This Kittyhawk was the mount of Flt.Lt. Louis Thomas Spence, who named the ship 'Rima'
after his wife. Spence attained the rank of Wing Commander and was killed in action during
the Korean War while flying Mustangs as commanding officer of 77 Squadron RAAF.


RAAF - Larger Image

Kittyhawk IA AK903

Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Ill-Fated Hawk

I do not know when this photo was taken (quite probably before delivery,
while still in the USA), but it shows Kittyhawk IIA FL292 which was lost on
January 27th, 1943 near Zuwarah, Libya in a fight with Messerschmitt 109s of JG77.

The following was posted by Martyn A. Critchlow HERE on the RAF Commands forums:

On 27/1/43 at 1520 ten 3 Squadron Kittyhawks took off to attack 2 ships north of Ben Gardane.
Through heavy rain squalls six to eight enemy aircraft were seen 4 miles east of Zuara down on the
water. They made a wide climbing sweep and hid in the clouds. Flight Lieutenant Garth Clabburn
detached blue section to go down and investigate, when the leader gave the order to jettison bombs,
the bottom section also engaged the enemy aircraft. Garth Clabburn and Pilot Officer Andy Taylor
fired at the 109s, Flying Officer Bob Dent saw a 109 heading west with the left aileron damaged
and W/T aerial trailing. Ron Watt in Curtiss Kittyhawk IIA FL292 was shot down, probably
by Oberleutnant Siegftied Freytag of II/JG77 or Hauptmann Kurt Ubben of III/JG77.



Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Across the Med

F/Lt. Arthur Dawkins with his Kittyhawk II CV-B, serial FS449. Next in line is CV-<>, serial FS482.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image

Bombing-up Kittyhawk IIs of 3 Squadron in Sicily, July 1943.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image

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