This P-40 was built as a Kittyhawk I for the RAF. 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 AK933 but was handed over to Canada and given the
RCAF serial 1057. I currently have no information concerning her wartime service.

After the war scores of RCAF aircraft were auctioned off, including a number of Kittyhawks. This
particular ship was apparently auctioned to a Canadian farmer, then changed hands a couple times
before its wings were given to George Maude for his former RCAF Kittyhawk I AK803.

After another change of hands and receiving replacement wings from a P-40F, supplied by George
Maude, AK933 finally came into the possession of John R. Paul of Alamo, CA in the mid 1960s.

Paul restored the Hawk to flying condition, with the first flight taking place in 1970. She was finished
in the same basic markings she wears today; RAF desert camo with a 112 Squadron-inspired sharkmouth,
code letters SU-E, (Mrs. Paul's name is Sue, I believe) and a stunning golden-tanned blonde pin-up on
both sides of the rudder, with the name 'Sneak Attack!'.

In 1984 AK933 was leased to the Old Flying Machine Co. in Duxford, England, being returned to Paul, who
had since relocated to Idaho, in 1989. In 2000, AK933 participated in the filming of the film 'Pearl Harbor',
receiving an 'OD over gray' paint job. Although she was repainted as 'SU-E' afterward, the pin-up and name
were not re-applied to the rudder. (Though I understand that the original art-adorned fabric survives.)

Photog Unknown - Larger Image

Neal Nurmi photo - Larger Image

Neal Nurmi photo - Larger Image

Neal Nurmi photo - Larger Image

This photo of Ray Hanna flying AK933 in 1984 was taken by Peter Arnold.
Check out the AirWar '74 page for more of Peter's photos...

Peter Arnold photo - Larger Image

Project 914 Archives (Press Association Photo) - Larger Image

Photog Unknown - Larger Image

Photog Unknown - Larger Image

Photog Unknown - Larger Image

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