Pacific Wrecks

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

P-40K-10 Kittyhawk Serial Number A29-183 Code AH-M

RAAF
No. 77 Squadron

Robert Greinert 1999

via Classic Fighters

Pilot F/Sgt Philip Alfred Webb, 420105 (survived) Junee, NSW
Force Landed February 10, 1944

Aircraft History
Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Assigned U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40K-10-CU Warhawk serial number 42-10178. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia.

Wartime History
During January 1943, delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Kittyhawk serial number A29-183. Reassembled by 2 Air Depot (2 AD). On February 22, 1943 assigned to No. 77 Squadron with code AM-H. Engine change with 26 RSU returned on September 22, 1943 and another engine change on November 15, 1943.

Mission History
On February 10, 1944 took off from Vivigani Airfield on Goodenough Island and the pilot was blinded by oil and crash landed wheels up from 100' and was uninjured. Afterwards, on March 9, 1944 this aircraft was written off and abandoned.

Wreckage
Until 1999, this Kittyhawk remained in situ at Vivigani Airfield. The wreckage included the center section.

Salvage
During 1999, this aircraft was salvaged by Robert Greinert / HARS plus other aircraft parts were loaded into a shipping container and exported to Australia. Also salvaged was P-40N serial number unknown.

Restoration
During 2000, this aircraft was acquired by trade, swap or sold to Graham Orphan, Blenheim NZ, editor of Classic Wings Magazine who plans to restore the aircraft to airworthy condition.

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - Philip Alfred Webb
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40K-10-CU Warhawk 42-10178
"10178 to RAAF as A29-183 Jan 1943. Force landed near Vivigani, Goodenough Island, Papua New Guinea Feb 1944. Abandoned in place. Recovered ans stored NSW C1990. To restoration project with Graham Orphan, Blenheim, NZ 200-2002."
ADF Serials - Kittyhawk A29-183
Classic Fighters - P-40K-10 Kittyhawk A29-183 (via Wayback Machine as of May 25, 2006)
"This aircraft is ex-RAAF A29-183, and like many before it, was recovered from an island in the Pacific region (date unknown). One of only two known K-10 survivors (the other is in the USA, recovered from Russia), not a lot is known about this aircraft, other than the fact that it flew for 77Sqd RAAF as AM-H. It is known that the aircraft was stored in New South Wales (Australia) for some time, before being brought to New Zealand. The owner [Graham Orphan] plans to restore this aircraft to an airworthy state."

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Last Updated
November 14, 2022

P-40

Interviews & Oral Histories