RAAF
78 Squadron
Former Units:
75 Squadron
Via Charles Darby
D McDonald 2001
Former Pilot Squadron Leader Tolhurst
Aircraft History
Assigned USAAF Serial Number 42-104730. Also had the Serial
Number A29-1050 painted on the opposite side of
the tail. This
aircraft served with 75 Squadron, and was flown by a variety of pilots,
including:
Dick
Sasse
(assembly
and test
flights), Geoff Williams
in combat at Milne Bay, and other pilots, Charles
Bowly,
John
Bailey, Ben Weston.
Mission History
Written off after
a rough landing by Tolhurst, due to electrical failure at Tadji and was abandoned there.
Recovery & Storage
Recovered by Charles Darby in
1974, during the aircraft recovery by Yesterday's
Air Force. The airframe was stored in Auckland till the mid 1990's,
awaiting restoration.
Restoration
Restoration began with Pacific Aircraft Ltd then completed by Pioneer
Aero Restorations. Co-owned by Charles Darby and Garth
Hogan, and based in New Zealand.
Flying Status
This aircraft made a debut flight at 'Warbirds over Wanaka'
in 2000.
References
The
Whole Nine Yards tells the history and restoration of this aircraft
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 44 (lower right)
P-40
