This P-40 was built as a Kittyhawk I for the British. Having been purchased by the British Purchasing
Commission, she did not fall under any Lend-Lease agreement and therefore did not receive a US Army
serial number. She was given the RAF serial AK905 but was handed over to Canada and received the
RCAF serial 1052. This Hawk served with 111(F) Squadron in Alaska and with 133(F) Squadron,
flying air defense patrols along Canada's West coast. The aircraft was struck off charge
in August of 1946 and put up for sale, like so many other RCAF Kittyhawks.

AK905 (LZ-D) is seen here with AK940 (LZ-E) and AL194 (LZ-V) while on patrol in Alaska during 1942.


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

However, unlike so many other RCAF Kittyhawks, AK905 did not go to Fred Dyson of Seattle, Washington.
She was acquired by Bob Warden of Vulcan, Alberta and kept at a farm throughout the 1950s. Bob put her
back into the air and she was flown regularly at air shows by Bob's brother Cecil until 1968 when she
was sold to William Ross of Chicago, Illinois. In 1972 she once more went north of the border, going
to Don Plumb of Windsor, Ontario who kept her for about four years before sending her south again
in 1976, to Max Hoffman of Fort Collins, Colorado. Max held on to 'ole AK905 for only a brief time,
passing her on to her most well-known owner, Illinoian Rudy Frasca, later the same year. Rudy
flew AK905 in a pseudo-AVG paint scheme for many years prior to his death in May of 2020,
and the pair were a fixture and crowd favorite every year at Oshkosh.

Stripped nearly bare and bearing the civil registration CF-OGZ under the port wing, AK905
proved an irresistible subject for at least one shutterbug at Edmonton Airport on July 3rd, 1962.


Uploaded by 'Monsieurstyle' on Flickr - Larger Image

I dunno when, where, or by whom this photo was taken, but some black, white, red, and
yellow paint had been added since the previous shot. Also, I have been told by a fella
named John Warden that that is his father Cecil Warden behind the stick.

Update: Bruce Gardner, Cecil Warden's nephew, has informed me that
the photo was taken in the skies over Alberta, Canada.


Photographer Unknown

This photo shows AK905 looking something of a dinosaur among her younger cousins at a
1967 air show in Calgary, Alberta. Of interest are the Golden Centennaires CT-114 and
what looks to be one of two former Golden Hawks Canadair Sabres that were acquired
by a former RCAF pilot named Lynn Garrison after the Hawks disbanded in 1964.


Uploaded by 'Sherlock77' on Flickr - Larger Image

After AK905 was acquired by Rudy Frasca, he painted her in AVGish colors.


Photographer Unknown - Larger Image

A wonderful shot from a well-known series of photos that was heavily marketed back in the
1980s, primarily on posters and such. AK905 leads P-40Ns 44-7369 (#40) and 42-105867 (#26).


Budd Davisson photo - Larger Image

John Dibbs photo - Larger Image


John Dibbs photo - Larger Image

Rudy...


Image Source (Photographer Unknown) - Larger Image

A stunning shot of AK905 at dusk, Oshkosh, 2013...


Buck Wyndham photo (via Warbird Alley) - Larger Image

Frasca International - Larger Image

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