RAAF
78 Squadron

1944

April 25, 1944

Pioneer Aero 2002

Former Pilot  F/Sgt James Denman Harvey, 418408 (survived)
Force Landed  April 25, 1944

Pilot History
Former pilot James Harey, died on August 1, 1998.

Aircraft History
Built in Buffalo, NY in the middle of 1943. This aircraft carries the Curtiss series build stamp 399 in the L/H lower longeron. This makes it the 399th (and second to last) P-40N-1 built. Assigned the USAAF Serial Number 42-104827. (some sources state its serial was 42-104826, but this is an error). Delivered July 1943.

Shipped to Australia as part of a shipment of 400 P-40N-1s to Commonwealth Air Forces under lend lease. Assigned to the RAAF with Serial A29-414 with 2 AD.

Aassigned to 78 Squadron on March 8, 1943. Assigned tail number HU-Z and nicknamed "Come In Suckers" on the lower cowling, with a woman nose art during January or February 1944. On April 11, 1944 it returned to squadron service after an engine change from 11 RSU.

Wartime History
On April 25, 1944 this aircraft was piloted by W/O James Harvey, and experienced a port undercarriage collapse while landing at Tadji Airfield The aircraft stood on its nose, flipped over and burst into flames, but Harvey was uninjured. The accident was witnessed by Arch Simpson, as he was in the pattern waiting his turn to land. Afterwards, the aircraft was pushed off the side of the strip and abandoned. On June 26, 1944 it was officially converted to components.

Wreckage
Remained at the airfield, overgrown in situ until rediscovered in the 1970s.

Recovery & Restoration
In 2001, it was recovered by Robert Greinert and exported to Australia. Sold to Garth Hogan / Pioneer Aero where restoration was begun with nearly all of the major components present in the wreck. This project was offered for sale in 2002.

Pioneer Aero / Paul McSweeny adds:
"Until 2005, Pioneer still has the fuselage and a pair of damaged wings which originated from PNG. These were purchased on the open market in 2006. Details of the transaction are subject to commercial confidentiality."

In late 2006, Pioneer Aero sold this project to the Potter collection in Canada. It will be restored in Canadian colors and be finished in about one year. All the work will be done at Pioneer Aero.

References
ADF Serials and Pioneer Aero for aircraft history
Flypast "A Visit With The World's Premier P-40 Specialits"

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