Built by:	Michael Turner
Kit:	1/48 Hasegawa P-40E Warhawk, JT86
Kit Media:	Plastic
Modifications and Additions:	Built ‘Out Of Box’
Unit:	RAAF, 76 Sqn
Location:	Milne Bay, Territory of Papua, 1942
Pilot:	Sqn. Ldr. Keith “Bluey” Truscott

Area of Operations

History

Although the Japanese had suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Midway (4-7^th of June, 1942), losing four fleet aircraft carriers, they still held the initiative in the south Pacific.  With the US landing on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands the Japanese sought to secure their flank by completing their conquest of New Guinea.

As a first step toward a seaborne landing at Port Moresby the Japanese planned a landing at Milne Bay to secure the recently completed airfield.  The Japanese intelligence was unaware of the strength of the mainly Australian garrison and landed too small a force on the 25^th of August.  Nevertheless, the ground fighting was intense and the P-40s of 75 and 76 squadrons were in the thick of it, both in intercepting Japanese aircraft raids and supporting the ground troops.

The P-40 managed to destroy the landing craft of a Japanese flanking force and were bombing and strafing Japanese forces almost as soon as they had lifted off from the airfield.  They proved the difference and the Japanese withdrew their forces on the 7^th of September.  The battle was the first major land defeat of the war for the Japanese.

Sqn. Ldr. Keith “Bluey” Truscott had seen combat flying Spitfires in Britain before being recalled to Australia and was the most well-known pilot in the RAAF due to his having played Australian Rules Football with the Melbourne Demons pre-war.  He joined 76 squadron and deployed with them to Milne Bay ion July 1942.  Leadership of the squadron fell to Truscott when the commander, Peter Turnbull, was killed in action on the 27^th of August.

Turnbull had achieved 14 and one shared kills, all but one when serving in Britain, at the time of his death during a combat training flight on the 28^th of March, 1943.

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