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  P-40E-1 Kittyhawk Serial Number A29-76 Tail Code T
RAAF
No. 75 Squadron

Pilot  FSgt Robert William Crawford, O22647 (survived) Sydney, NSW
Ditched   April 24, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Curtis in Buffalo, New York. Model H87-B2 Constructors Number 13538. Delivered U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40E Warhawk serial number 40-663. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia as part of lend-lease and reassembled.

Wartime History
During April 1942 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Kittyhawk A29-76. On April 10, 1942 received at Archerfield Airfield and assigned to No. 75 Squadron with fuselage code T. No known nickname or nose art. This P-40 operated from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by F/Sgt Robert William Crawford.

Mission History
On April 24, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by F/Sgt Robert W. Crawford on a patrol of the area with P-40E piloted by F/L Leslie "Les" D. Jackson. Around noon, flying at 5,000' over 7 Mile Drome, a Japanese air raid commenced. Both P-40s dived to assist B-26 "Hell's Angel" 40-1428 underattack by A6M2 Zeros. Their attack forced away the Zeros, but one turned onto Crawford's tail and hit his fuel tank and the port side of his rudder. Damaged, this P-40 ditched into the sea, bouncing three times before it sank into roughly six feet of water off the coast of New Guinea.

Fate of the Pilot
Crawford was slightly wounded in the ditching including a severed throat mic, but was able to free himself from the aircraft. Later that day, a launch arrived and transported him back to Port Moresby.

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - Robert William Crawford
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40E 40-663
"663 condemned Jan 18, 1942. Repaired and taken on service by RAAF as A29-76. Shot down over Port Moresby, NB [sic, NG] Apr 24, 1942."
ADF Serials - P-40E A29-76

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Last Updated
March 18, 2023

Tech Info
P-40
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