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  P-40E-1 Kittyhawk Serial Number A29-110 Code J
RAAF
No. 75 Squadron

Click For Enlargement
Andrew Wight 1995
Pilot  F/O William Allan Whetters, 3403 (survived)
Ditched  August 26, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40E Warhawk serial number 41-25143. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number ET467. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
During May 1942, delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Kittyhawk serial number A29-110. Assigned to No. 75 Squadron. Fuselage code "J". No known nickname or nose art. During August 1942 participated in the Battle of Milne Bay.

Mission History
On August 26, 1942 took off from No. 1 Strip (Gurney Field) near Milne Bay piloted by F/O William A. Whetters on a strafing mission against Japanese barges in Milne Bay. Bad weather prevented him from finding the barges and was unable to return to base. Low on fuel, Whetters spotted a jetty and successfully ditched off Sideia Island (Dawson Island off the eastern cape) near Milne Bay.

Fate of the Pilot
Whetters landed unhurt and was rescued by natives in a dinghy, and transported to the nearby Catholic Mission. With the help of missionaries, Whetters built a pontoon raft made of logs and attempted to float his plane back to base. As Japanese forces were close, Whetters decided to scuttle the plane, sinking it. He returned to base and returned to duty.

Wreckage
This P-40 Kittyhawk rests right side up in an underwater trench at SCUBA diving depth. During 1995, this plane was found and documented in the production of Winged Ghosts of the Pacific that includes footage of discovery and recovery of the control stick. Later that same year, the flight stick was presented to Mr. Whetters in Australia.

References
ADF Serials - Kittyhawk A29-110
75 Squadron diary: A29-110 is listed in the losses section for August 1942 as ditched by Whetters and written off.
Winged Ghosts of the Pacific (1995) includes footage of this Kittywak and interview with Whetters
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information

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Last Updated
June 21, 2023

Tech Info
P-40

SCUBA
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