Aircraft History
Built by Curtiss. A batch of 18 Lend-Lease P-40Es were shipped from the United States aboard USS Bantam earmarked for the Dutch East Indies Air Force (ML-KNIL). These aircraft were not part of the original order placed by the ML-KNIL. It is unknown if any ML-KNIL serials were ever assigned or applied.

Wartime History
On arrival at Australia during April 1942, this P-40s were diverted to the USAAF and assigned to the 49th Fighter Group, 8th Fighter Squadron. It flew in defense of Darwin assigned to Lt. Lowell C. Lutton between October 1942 and July 1943, until he was transferred to the 475th Fighter Group and died piloting P-38H 42-66821.

Next assigned to Randall B. Keator, who also painted his name under the windscreen and carried squadron number 68. Nicknamed "The Spoddessape" (Spotted assed ape) on the left side, in reference to pilot Randall Keator's description of how fast he left the Philippines, 'like a spotted ass ape'. The right side of the aircraft had a pelican with a frog bombardier and crayfish firing a shotgun under the bird's wing and carrying a bomb in its feet.

Mission History
Took off from 3-Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Brownell on a patrol over the Kokoda area. During the patrol, the engine stopped. Brownell attempted to make a dead stick landing, but crashed near Kokoda, killing the pilot, the 49th Fighter Group's first fatality in New Guinea.

Memorials
Brownell remains were recovered, identified, and temporarily buried in the Kokoda War Cemetery on November 7, 1942 and buried at Bomana Cemetery. Later, his remains were exhumed and repatriated and permanently buried in a private cemetery in New York.

Wreckage
Crashed behind Saga village near Kokoda. The wreckage remained in situ until 2003.

Recovery
During November 2003, Robert Greinert / HARS and Jason Cockayne salvaged the wreckage and planned to use it as the basis for a restoration or for parts.

References
Protect & Avenge page 87
Rust In Peace page 80, includes a story of a local villager who witnessed the crash. Present were tail broken off and wings in a crater.
Other sources spell the pilot's name as 2nd Lt. Nelson B. Brownnell
Thanks to Ken Peters, Amanda Keator, Edward Rogers and John Douglas for additional information.

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Last Updated
July 26, 2011