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| RNZAF 4 OTU Former Assignments 1 AD No. 14 Squadron No. 16 Squadron
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Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructors Number 21793. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40M-5-CU Warhawk serial number 43-5505. Disassembled and shipped overseas to New Zealand as part of defense aid. Wartime History On March 13, 1943 assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as P-40M Kittyhawk serial number NZ3072 and reassembled by No. 1 Aircraft Depot (1 AD) at Hobsonville Airfield. Assigned to No. 14 Squadron. During April 1943 flown to Espiritu Santo. Next, assigned to No. 16 Squadron with fuselage code 19. Nicknamed "Wairarapa Wildcat" in white in a cursive font. Wairarapa is a town on the south island of New Zealand to the northeast of Wellington with the nose art of a black cat hissing with the tail raised on the left side of the nose. Behind was a scoreboard with Japanese rising sun flags indicating aerial victory claims. On August 31, 1943 took off piloted by Sergeant M. Willis and while landing at Segi Airfield on New Georgia collided with a water tanker damaging the aircraft the Willis suffered minor injuries. By the middle of 1944, assigned to No. 4 Operational Training Unit (No. 4 OTU) at Ardmore Airfield. On June 5, 1944 took off from Ardmore Airfield piloted by Sergeant H. Walker on a training flight and was flying in formation at low level over Papakura near Auckland when it suffered an aerial collision with P-40M Kittyhawk NZ3112 but was able to land safely back at Ardmore Airfield. Wreckage This aircraft survived the Pacific War and was stricken off charge and listed for disposal. On March 2, 1948 sold to J. Larsen of Rukuhia. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40M-5-CU Warhawk 43-5505 ADF Serials - Kittyhawk NZ3072 Contribute
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