Aircraft History
Built by Curtis in Buffalo, New York. Constructors Number 16738. Assigned U. S. Army serial number 41-13522. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia.

Wartime History
During March 1942, assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Kittyhawk serial number A29-53. Assigned to 77 Squadron, coded "E" with noseart of a pig showing its rear painted on the cowl. Flown by S/L Ian Kinross (later Prime Minister of Australia) Sir John Gorton and Dick Cresswell. This P-40 operated from Perth, also Darwin Airfield and Livingstone Airfield in defense of Darwin.

On January 13, 1943 it was sent to 4 RSU for an engine change, and returned to 77 Squadron on January 19, 1943. On March 13, 1943 transfered to 76 Squadron. On September 3, 1943 it was received by 5 AD, then to 2 AD on October 26, 1943. Next on June 23, 1944 received by 1 Engineering School.

Postwar
Offered for disposal on August 28, 1946 and sold to a farmer who used the wings as a dam wall on his farm in rural Victoria.

Restoration & Display
Aquired by Australian Military Aircraft Foundation (Briggs Industries) for display at Moorabbin Aircraft Museum. Moved to Precision Aerospace for one year for storage and assistance with restoration.

Circa 2001-2005, the aircraft was at RAAF Musuem at Point Cook with work on the lower section of fuselage underway. Afterwards, to the Moorabbin Aircraft Museum.

Stephen Edmonds reports:
"Their intentions are not to fly the aircraft as they believe that it is more significant to Australia than the P-40 in the Australian War Memorial hence far to valuable to risk flying."

References
Thanks to Briggs Industries for addtional restoration information.
ADF Serials - Kittyhawk A29-53
The Australian National Aviation Museum - Moorabbin Air Museum Kittyhawk A29-53
Painting "Desperate Times"

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Last Updated
May 22, 2017