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| RAAF No. 75 Squadron Former Assignments No. 76 Squadron 3 AD
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Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructors Number 19140. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40E-1 Warhawk serial number 41-25121. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number ET445. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia as part of defense aid and reassembled. Wartime History During April 1942 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as P-40E Kittyhawk serial number A29-88. On April 26, 1942 took off from Laverton Field piloted by F/L Brian A Grace, 402053 and forced to land at Shepparton, VIC. On May 4, 1942 assigned to No. 76 Squadron. On May 9, 1942 while taking off from Aitkenvale Weir Airfield piloted by Sgt Thomas Lawrence Gullifer, 408650 collided with P-40E Kittyhawk A29-84. On July 22, 1942 one of seven Kittyhawks that took off from 30 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by F/Lt Vernon F. W. Sullivan armed with a 500 pound bomb on a mission led by Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull against Napapo near Buna on New Guinea. The formation was escorted by eight Airacobras from the 40th Fighter Squadron, but became separated approximately sixty miles before reaching the target. Over the target, the Kittyhawks observed a burning vessel [Ayatosan Maru] roughly a mile off shore. At 3:30pm they spotting a "V" formation of six A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai. The Kittyhawks immediately jettison their bombs into the sea then intercepted. The Japanese incorrectly identified the Kittyhawk formation as "P-39 Airacobras" and the Australians incorrectly identified their attackers as "Foekewolfe" [Focke Wulf] fighters. The Japanese claimed one shot down, but none were lost. Sullivan was not involved in the air combat and flew back to Port Moresby. Low on fuel, Sullivan successfully force landed in a dry creek bed near 30 Mile Drome west of Port Moresby. Other sources list the landing as five miles from Port Moresby. Afterwards, Sullivan hiked back to base. Later, this P-40 was refueled by hand and Sullivan flew the Kittyhawk back to 7 Mile Drome. Afterwards, assigned to 3 Air Depot (3 AD). On April 22, 1943 returned to No. 75 Squadron. On June 14, 1943 at Turnbull Airfield this Kittyhawk slid down a slope into a drainage ditch damaging the fuselage and tail wheel. On November 22, 1943 approval for conversion to components. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40E-1 41-25121 "41-25121 (MSN 19140, ET445) to RAAF as A29-88 Apr 1942. Damaged at Turnbull strip 6/1943 and converted to components. Also listed as being A29-101." ADF Serials - P-40E Kittyhawk A29-88 Combat (Fighter Report) - S/Ldr P. B. Turnbull July 22, 1942 WW2 Nominal Roll - Vernon Francis Wilfred Sullivan Eagles of the Southern Sky pages 209-210 Did Zero pilot Saburo Sakai Force His Foe to Parachute? by Henry Sakaida Thanks to Henry Sakaida and Edward Rogers for research and analysis Contribute
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