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| RAAF No. 78 Squadron Former Assignments No. 75 Squadron  Charles Darby 2000     Dave McDonald 2001 |
Pilot F/O Geoffrey O'Halloran Giles, 417830 (survived) Adelaide, SA Force Landed May 4, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructors Number 28492. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40N-1 Warhawk serial number 42-104730. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History During August 1943, assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Kiittyhawk serial number A29-448. Also, serial number A29-1050 was painted on the opposite side of the tail. On September 17, 1943 assigned to No. 75 Squadron and coded GA-C. Flown by many pilots including: Dick Sasse who assembled it and flew it on its test flights. Also, Geoff Williams who piloted it combat at Milne Bay. Other pilots including Charles Bowly, John Bailey, Ben Weston. On March 13, 1944 piloted by F/L Frank Arthur Coker, 402226 landed at Nadzab Airfield, swung off the runway into an unmarked drainage ditch and transferred to 11 RSU for repairs. Next, on April 8, 1944 suffered another landing accident at Cape Gloucester Airfield and afterwards repaired. On May 1, 1944 assigned to No. 78 Squadron based at Tadji Airfield. Mission History On May 4, 1944 took off from Tadji Airfield piloted by F/O Geoffrey O'Halloran Giles on a mission. During the flight, this P-40 suffered a hydraulic and electrical failure and belly landed wheels up at Tadji Airfield. Afterwards, this P-40 was sent to 22 RSU for repair. On October 25, 1944 approved for conversion to components and abandoned at Tadji Airfield. Wreckage Until 1974, this P-40 remained in situ where it was abandoned at Tadji Airfield. Recovery During 1974, recovered by Charles Darby during a recovery funded by David Tallichet / Yesterday's Air Force. Shipped aboard a barge to Lae and shipped to New Zealand. Restoration Until the middle 1990s, this P-40 was placed into storage in Auckland awaiting restoration. Pacific Aircraft Ltd began restoring this aircraft with the remainder completed by Pioneer Aero Restorations. Co-owned by Charles Darby and Garth Hogan, and based in New Zealand. Painted in RAAF 75 Squadron markings of P-40N "Currawong" code GA-C. Restored to flying status in 2000, this P-40 made its debut flight during the Warbirds over Wanaka air show. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40N-1-CU Warhawk 42-104730 "104730 (MSN 28492) to RAAF as A29-448 8/43. Crashlanded at Tadji Strip, PNG May 1944. Fuselage used in field rebuild of A29-1050. Crash-landed at Tadji 5/44 and abandoned. Recovered from PNG in 1974 and taken to New Zealand where it is restored to flying condition as ZK-CAG, and flown as RAAF A29-448." WW2 Nominal Roll - Geoffrey O'Halloran Giles 417830 The Whole Nine Yards (2002) by John King tells the history and restoration of this aircraft Pacific Aircraft Wrecks (1979) by Charles Darby page 44 (lower right), 68 (upper) ADF Serials - Kittyhawk A29-448 Thanks to Charles Darby and Garth Hogan for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 25, 2024 |
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