33rd Fighter Squadron || 35th Fighter Squadron || 36th Fighter Squadron

Double-Deuce

P-40 #22 of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron. I'm not sure of the timeframe or location.
Most likely either Langley Field, late 1940, or Mitchel Field in late 1940 or early 1941.


From: Curtiss P-40 in Action (Book Source: Balogh/Menard) - Larger Image

Hawks on a Flattop

Shown here are fifteen of the twenty-four 8th PG P-40s that were taken aboard USS Wasp
(CV-7) in October of 1940 to test the feasibility of flying Army aircraft off of an aircraft
carrier. The two ships nearest the camera are from the 33rd Pursuit Squadron.


San Diego Air & Space Museum (Ray Wagner collection) - Larger Image

Broken Hawk

I currently have no information about this accident involving P-40 #33.

See more photos of this wreck HERE.


Museum of Flight (James C. Stewart Collection) - Larger Image

Line-up at Mitchel

An artsy shot of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron line at Mitchel Field, early 1941.


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

July, 1941 - Norfolk, Virginia
Can you say 'Deja-Vu'?

Here we go again; the 33rd Pursuit Squadron plays the Navy game once more.
Only this time it wasn't an experiment and the trip was one-way... to Iceland.

33rd PS P-40s are loaded onto USS Wasp at Pier 7, Norfolk, Virginia on July 24th, 1941.
The squadron was transported to within 100 miles of Iceland and then launched from Wasp
on August 6th, flying to their destination of Kaldadarnes Airfield near Reykjavik.


From: P-40 Hawks at War by Joe Christy and Jeff Ethell - Larger Image

Icelandic Hawks

Here's a couple'a views showing some of the 33rd's Hawks at Kaldadarnes Airfield in 1941.


San Diego Air & Space Museum (Charles M. Daniels collection) - Larger Image


San Diego Air & Space Museum (Charles M. Daniels collection) - Larger Image

Reinforcements

In this photo, dated October 17th, 1941, a P-40C is unloaded at a dock in Iceland, destined
for the 33rd Pursuit Squadron. This ship had previously been operated by the 57th Pursuit Group.


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

A closer look...


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

Thomas L. 'Bud' Truax

Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin was named for Thomas L. Truax, who had
once served with the 33rd Pursuit Squadron. Truax, a native of Madison, was killed
in a training accident on November 2nd, 1941, the day after his promotion to First
Lieutenant. He was with the 65th Pursuit Squadron, 57th Pursuit Group at the time.


From: Truax Field Class Book

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