Three Hawks

Three-ship of 14 Squadron P-40Es... from front to rear; HQ-B, NZ3008, named 'Umslopogaas',
HQ-Q, NZ3035, and HQ-A, NZ3007, named 'Magnolia Mufflewort'. The photo was taken by Leo White
in either 1942 or July of 1943, depending on who you believe. I'll sort it out eventually.


Whites Aviation Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library via National Library of New Zealand - Larger Image

A closer look...


Whites Aviation Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library via National Library of New Zealand - Larger Image

Another view of 'Umslopogaas'...


Bill Edhouse collection via The Wings Over New Zealand Podcast - Larger Image

The most well-known Kiwi Hawk pilot of them all: Geoff Fisken with his 'Wairarapa Wild Cat'.

From the New Zealand Bommber Command Association Facebook page:

Goeff Fisken (foreground), who was New Zealand's highest scoring ace in the war against
Japan, with P-40M NZ3072. This aircraft had a startled black cat as nose art, which was
actually applied by a USAAC repair unit at Tontouta, New Caledonia,after they mended the
fighter following a ground collision when it was en route to the font lines. The cat was
the US unit's emblem. When the aircraft reached No. 14 (Fighter) Squadron their commander
S/Ldr Stan Quill assigned it to Fisken as his personal aircraft. He then wrote to his
wife in Rotorua telling her he had a P-40 with a black cat on each side of the nose and
asking if she could suggest a nickname for him to add. She replied that since the squadron
had formed and spent a year in the Wairarapa (at RNZAF Station Masterton), and his Rigger
and Fitter both came from the Wairarapa, and as Geoff had spent time before the war
working as a farm labourer in the Wairarapa, then perhaps "Wairarapa Wild Cat." He liked
it and had it sign written on each side with the black cats. He also added his 11 confirmed
kill flags over time, six of which were from his service in Singapore flying Brewster
Buffalo fighters with No. 243 Squadron RAF. This famous P-40M has become forever associated
with Geoff Fisken, although the reality is during his tour at Guadalcanal he flew it only
a total of nine times, ever. He flew many other aircraft on the squadron during his tour,
and many other pilots flew NZ3072 and some scored kills in it too.


New Zealand Bommber Command Association Facebook page - Larger Image

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