| Built by: | Michael Turner |
| Kit: | 1/48 Hobby Craft P-40F/L Allied (HC1417) |
| Kit Media: | Plastic |
| Modifications and Additions: | Built ‘Out Of Box’ |
| Unit: | RAAF, 3 Sqn |
| Location: | Cutella, Italy, 1944 |
| Pilot: | Sqn Ldr Brian Eaton |
Area of Operations
History
3 Squadron RAAF has the distinction of being the first to blood the P-40 Tomahawk in combat when they engaged the Vichy French Air Force in Syria and Lebanon in June to July 1941, claiming 24 aircraft destroyed and 8 damaged in the air and 25 destroyed and 43 damaged on the ground to give a total of 49 destroyed and 51 damaged.
The squadron then returned to Egypt and participated in the see-sawing battles that eventually led to the Axis being expelled from Africa. 3 Sqn then participated in action over Italy up to the end of the war. They also have the distinction of operating every major version of the P-40 when they handed their Tomahawks in for P-40E Kittyhawk IAs. Next, they operated the P-40F (Kittyhawk IIA), a few P-40Ks (Kittyhawk III) to make up for unserviceable P-40Fs, then P-40Ls (Kittyhawk IIB) and, finally, P-40Ns (Kittyhawk IV). They finished the war flying P-50 Mustangs.
Like the P-40F, the P-40L was powered by the Packard built Merlin engine. In order to try and get as much performance out of the airframe as possible, the L underwent a weight reduction program. Initial versions were armed with only four machineguns in the wings, for example. However, they were often restored to six guns in squadron service. Fuel volume was also reduced, having the obvious impact on range. All the efforts only produced a modest 4 mph speed increase over the P-40F.
Towards the end of production, the Merlin started to be prioritised for other aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang and an unknown number of P-40Ls were converted back to the Allison engine as the P-40R. These were used for pilot training in the US.
Sqn. Ldr. Brian Eaton was the commander of 3 Sqn from August 1943 to February 1944 and flew this P-40F when the squadron was based at Cutella Airfield, Italy. The base was shared with other RAF squadrons. At this time the squadron was mainly flying ground support missions, armed with either a pair of 250 lb or one 500 lb bomb.
On the 29th of April 1944, the squadron came under attack from an unexpected quarter. Four US 325th Group P-47 Thunderbolts mistook the airfield for a German one and strafed bombed up 3 Sqn Kittyhawks in their dispersal. One Kittyhawk was set alight and the quick thinking of two armourers, Cpl Slim Moore and LAC Kev Harris saved greater damaged when they unshackled the bomb it was loaded with and towed it clear of the burning aircraft. They then started-up and taxied two other aircraft away from the fire. One of the aircraft saved was that of Brian Eaton. The commanding officer of the US 325th Group later visited the squadron to apologise for the incident.
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