These first half-dozen photos were probably taken in early to mid-1944, possibly in May. It was during this
time that Thomasville's resident 59th Fighter Group was redesignated as the Thomasville Replacement
Training Unit (339th AAFBU), and that the outfit's P-39s were being replaced by P-40s.

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In the foreground of this first photo is P-40N-25-CU 43-24564, marked 'Z-40'.

Second in line,'Z-3', is P-40N-25-CU 43-24402 which was involved in two accidents.
The first, on December 22nd, 1944, was a mid-air collision with a target tug. The
second, on March 5th, 1945, was a 'landing accident due to weather'.

Each ship has only a single gun installed in its port wing.


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

P-40N-25-CU 43-24306, 'Z-86', is shown in the next three photos. She was involved in a
landing accident at Thomasville on May 17th, 1944. Next to 'Z-86' is 'Z-88' which appears
to carry just one gun in its starboard wing. This ship's serial is unknown to me.


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

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

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

To the left of 'Z-88' are 'Z-89' and 'Z-87'... the former being P-40N-20-CU 42-34123. This
ship was involved in a 'landing accident due to weather' on January 26th, 1945. She also
appears to have only a single gun installed in her starboard wing.


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

Another view of 'Z-89'...


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

I'm fairly certain that this fella is Lt. Jack H. Folsom, the assigned pilot for P-40N 44-7060,
and that the photo was taken sometime in early 1945. This Hawk suffered a crash-landing due to
engine failure at Thomasville on May 21st, 1945... Lt. Johnny A. Scoleni was behind the stick.


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

The following five photos show graduating airmen at Thomasville from January to June, 1944.

This first shot shows a number of graduating pilots with a factory-built TP-40N.


San Diego Air & Space Museum - Larger Image


San Diego Air & Space Museum - Larger Image


San Diego Air & Space Museum - Larger Image


San Diego Air & Space Museum - Larger Image

This last shot shows the Skeet and Ground Gunnery Champs from April to June of 1944.


San Diego Air & Space Museum - Larger Image

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