Pilot History
This aircraft was flown by Ernest A. Harris, who scored 7 (of his total of 10) victories in it:

7th January 1943 - 3 planes
3rd march 1943 - 1 plane
11th April 1943 - 3 planes
(Promoted from 1st Lt to Captain after his 7th victory)
14th May 1943 - 2 planes
21st September 1943 - 1 plane

Wartime History
Harris had ten victories. This P-40 was taken over by another unknown pilot who got two additional. Later, the plane crash landed at Finschhafen Airfield and was abandoned.

Wreckage
"Capt E. A. Harris" is still visible on the fuselage, plus the victory flags remained on the wreckage, as well as original olive drab paint.

Recovery
The cockpit section and pieces of the tail were recover from Finschafen airstrip in 1997 by Bob Jarrett / Classic Jets Museum.  Excivated from the ground with a bulldozer.

Display
Classic Jets Fighter Museum combined this fuselage with that from other planes to make a more complete looking display. Today, it is at Precision Aerospace / Pacific Fighters Museum.

Bob Jarrett, of Classic Jets adds:
"Murray Griffiths and I did a swap, Murray gets Carolina Belle in exchange for P39F 41-7215 which was statically restored by Ian Mullins in Queensland. The P-39 was disassembled to supply patterns for Murray's three flying Cobra projects. Capt. Ernest (Ernie) Harris was the highest scoring ace in the Pacific war in P-40 Kittyhawks and this will be Murray's new P-40."

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