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Curtiss P-40N-1 Kittyhawk -

A29-414 (HU Z)

"COME IN SUCKERS!"

This is our latest in house project to be undertaken. The fuselage arrived at the hanger in early April 2002 and work has already begun on removing the skins. The fuselage has been stripped and stations removed and restored. The right hand top longeron has been dismantled, cleaned up, painted and is now back on the fuse.

The aircraft was damaged on landing due to approximately ten inches of mud on the runway end. The aircraft flipped onto its back causing extensive damage to the top third of the fuselage. This particular aircraft has a production stamp number of 399, meaning it was the second to last P-40N-1 built before the production of the P-40N-5.

The pilot who flew this aircraft was James Denman Harvey of the Royal Australian Airforce, 78 Squadron and held the rank of Flight Sergeant during his time flying A29-414. The first flight he logged in A29-414 was on the 3rd August 1943 at Richmond, NSW and the first combat flight occurred on the 6th December 1943 from Kiriwina Strip, Kiriwina Island. A29-414 logged 35 flights before crashing at Tadji Strip, New Guinea on the 25th April 1944. James Harvey continued flying with 78 SQN and was discharged on the 22nd August 1945. Unfortunately James Harvey passed away a few years ago but with the restoration of this aircraft we hope to preserve the memory of this brave man and many more like him.

Check for progress in the news page.