USAAF
5th AF
49th FG
8th FS
via J Thorvaldson 1943
John Douglas 2004
Justin Taylan 2006
Pilot 1st
Lt Joel D. Thorvaldson, O-727586
Crashed September 13, 1943
Aircraft History
This P-40 was equipped with wing bomb mounts, used once on
a mission to bomb in the Ramu valley with two 265 pound bombs. The
right side of the plane was decorated by the crew chief, naming
it "Mr.
Five by Five". The left side was
named 'Punkins' in Old English font, after Joel Thorvaldson's wife's
nickname. The P-40 was assigned squadron number 55.
Wartime History
This P-40 had wing bomb racks. During an engagement with
Japanese fighters in the Tsili
Tsili area, this plane was hit, and the engine started
to malfunction. The plane later
caught on fire, and the pilot made a safe forced landing near
the Waffia and Markham rivers, outside of Lae. The
pilot torched his wreck and escaped down the river on a raft
back to safety.
Joel Thorvaldson adds:
"I'm interested in photographic evidence of enemy
bullet
holes in
my engine section. My left hand was wounded but I never got my
Purple Heart because I couldn't prove I was shot. The command
denied my Silver Star also, they acted like it was a mechanical problem.
I was shooting without a gun sight, and a damaged prop."
Wreckage
The
wreckage included the tail group, engine and some of the
wing section. There is proof of bullet holes and damage to the engine
and propeller of the wreck. The wreck site was undisturbed until 2005,
when it was recovered.
Recovery
Recovered in February 2005 by Robert
Greinert for export.
Display
Shipped to Australia to Precision
Aerospace. It was resold to North
Queensland Warbirds (Warbird Adventures) for use
in their replica P-40N restoration, that uses parts from the wreck (tail wheel assembly) and provides its historical identity.
References
Interviews with Joel Thorvaldson, 49th FG combat reports for September
13, 1943 mission.
P-40
Photo Archive
Thorvaldson
Pilot of Three Wars Honors Two Medals
