After the war many RCAF aircraft were auctioned off, including a number of Kittyhawks. This particular ship
is one of many that went to Fred Dyson of Seattle, Washington, spending some time at Boeing Field before
she was purchased by Duane W. Myler of Fostoria, Ohio in 1947.

During the 1950s, 60s, and 70s AK979 was shuffled around among several owners, the most notable being Gil Macy
and Tom Camp. She appeared in the film 'Tora! Tora! Tora!', and was apparently damaged during the course of
filming in Hawaii, although I don't know the nature of the damage done. The custom canopy shown in many of the
photos below was still installed at this time and a dummy canopy setup was applied by the film folk.

Tom Camp owned AK979 throughout most of the 1970s before ownership again changed hands a few times in the early
1980s. AK979 ultimately wound up in the hands of Tiger International, Inc... better known as the Flying Tiger Line.
In 1989 Flying Tigers was bought by FedEx, and that shipping giant still owns AK979 to this day. However, she has
been on loan almost continuously to a couple museums since 1987; first the San Diego Aerospace Museum and the
rapidly growing Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum on Ford Island in Hawaii, where she is currently on display.

These first four photos show AK979 while operated as an executive transport by the
Continental Steel Buildings Company of Burbank, California during the early to mid 1950s.


M.Nankivil collection - Larger Image


M.Nankivil collection - Larger Image


From: The P-40 Kittyhawk by Ernest R. McDowell - Larger Image


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

I believe these next four photos were all taken during the late 1950s
and/or early 1960s when AK979 was owned by Shelby H. Curlee of St.Louis.


From: The P-40 Kittyhawk by Ernest R. McDowell - Larger Image


This shot may have been taken at the Lambert Field open house in 1963.


Project 914 Archives

Who doesn't appreciate a good-lookin', scantily-clad gal?

A couple'a fine color views of AK979, resplendent in bare-metal...


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image


Doug Fisher via Classic Wings Magazine - Larger Image

The next few photos show AK979 while she was owned by Gilbert Macy during the 1960s.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image


Project 914 Archives


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image

The temporary dummy canopy and rear quarter glass fitted for the film 'Tora! Tora! Tora!'
are clearly visible in this photo, taken during filming at Hickam Field in 1969. The four-
bladed prop was also replaced with what looks to be a Hamilton-Standard three-blader.


Bob O'Hara photo - Larger Image

In this photo, taken at Oshkosh in the early 1970s, AK979 still wears most of her
movie 'makeup'. Also visible is the attachment point for one of the mock nose guns that
were fitted to both P-40s used in the film; a weak attempt to make them resemble P-40Bs.


Steve Williams photo - Larger Image

Tom Camp owned AK979 for most of the 1970s and initially applied a rather attractive
RAF-ish paint scheme to her. Note the code letters, which were Camp's initials.


Peter Arnold photo

Sometime in the mid 1970s, '76 or '77 I believe, Tom Camp replaced the custom canopy
with a stock unit, and also repainted AK979 to represent Bob Scott's 'Old Exterminator'.
These next two photos show her in this scheme during 1978... first, at Chino...


Chris Kennedy photo - Larger Image

...and then at Oshkosh...


Richard Kamm photo via August Horvath - Larger Image

AK979 keeping company with a Jumbo Jet of the Flying Tiger Line during the 1980s.


Photog and source unknown - Larger Image

At the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 2006...


Malcolm Nason photo - Larger Image

This photo was taken shortly after the Hawk's arrival at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in 2010.
You can see more photos of AK979's arrival and re-assembly at PAM HERE...


Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum photo - Larger Image

Here's a look at AK979 during its exhibit dedication ceremony at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
You can see more photos of the ceremony HERE...


Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum photo - Larger Image

These next few photos were taken during the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum's
4th Anniversary celebration. (Formerly the Pacific Aviation Museum.)
You can see more photos of this event HERE...


Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum photo - Larger Image

Three of your webmaster's favorite kinda things, all in one photo... =P


Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum photo - Larger Image

Airplane? What airplane?


Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum photo - Larger Image

AK979 at Ford Island, beneath a sky on fire...


Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum photo - Larger Image

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