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| USAAF 24th PG 21st PS |
Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Manufacture number unknown. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) as P-40E Warhawk serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped to the Philippines and reassembled. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Wartime History Assigned to the Far East Air Force (FEAF), 24th Pursuit Group (24th PG), 21st Pursuit Squadron (21st PS). Tail Number 17. Assigned to pilot Major William "Ed" E. Dyess. Nicknamed "Kibosh". During early 1942, this P-40 was one of last remaining P-40s defending the Bataan Peninsula as part of the so called "Bataan Detachment". Ground crews made a makeshift bomb rack was made to allow the plane to carry a 500 pound bomb. On March 2, 1942 at 1:00pm took off from Bataan Field armed with a 500 pound bomb on a mission to bomb Japanese shipping in Subic Bay. Arriving over the target at 10,000' he spotted a big concentration of warships and transports and decided to bomb a transport entering Subic Bay between Grande Island and the western edge of Subic Bay and dove down releasing his bomb at 2,000' and pulled away but missed with the bomb landing 40'-50' away. Finding little anti-aircraft fire, he turned and and made a shallow dive to make three passes to strafe the same transport aiming at the bridge firing stern to bow then bow to stern and finally stern to bow. He also strafed small warehouses ashore and saw Japanese scattering then strafed a wooden boat between Grande Island and the western shore of Bataan until he was out of ammunition then returned to land at 2:15pm and was refueled and rearmed and a single bullet hole was found in the wing. At 5:00pm took off again on a second sortie from Bataan Field on the same mission armed with a 500 pound bomb. Arriving at 10,000' he spotted a pair of transports unloading at Grande Island and bombed from 2,000' but again missed by 40-50' and exploded among barges and lighters, then turned to strafed the dock area and warehouses and two small 100 ton motor vessels until out of ammunition then returned to land at 5:45pm. On the ground, several new holes were found from anti-aircraft fire including one large hole behind the cockpit that were all patched, refueled and rearmed again. At 6:40pm took off again on a third sortie from Bataan Field on the same mission armed with a 500 pound bomb. Over the target at 10,000' he saw the two transports he targeted before had left and instead dived on supply dumps at the north end of Grande Island, releasing his bomb from 1,800 and scored a direct hit causing large fires then strafed the dock area causing more fires and were targeted by anti-aircraft fire from all directions. Returning, ordered to attack a ship leaving Subic Bay with another ship and found the ship towing barges and strafed amidship to stern then targeted the bow and bridge with P-40B piloted by Burns and caused it to explode and blacked out while pulling up to avoid debris then spotted the second ship and made an attack against intense anti-aircraft fire and caused fires until out of ammunition then returned to land. By the end of the day, this was the last flyable P-40 left on the Bataan Peninsula and had a total of 82 bullet holes that were patched by ground crews with denim and khaki and looked like a patchwork quilt. Later, th nose art of a skull in a pilot's helmet and scarf with two playing cards alongside, the ace and jack of spade was painted by Sgt. Frank Mayhue. On March 29, 1942 at Bataan Field on alert from 2:00am until morning with pilot Wilson Glover waiting with the plane and remained on alert day and night due to a report about a possible Japanese landing on the east coast of Bataan and if they this P-40 was instructed to fly to Mariveles Field. On April 5, 1942 in the late afternoon took off from Bataan Field piloted by Johnny McCown with P-40B piloted by Gus Williams on a reconassiance mission over Clark Field and Nichols Field and climbed to 10,000' then split up but shortly after take off, McCown experienced mechanical issues and aborts the mission and returns to Bataan Field. On April 7, 1942 took off from Bataan Field piloted by Johnny McCown on a reconassiance mission but aborted and returns. On April 8, 1942 at 4:45am took off from Bataan Field piloted by Sam Grashio on a reconassiance mission, the last mission flown from Bataan Field and flew south observing Japanese ships and noted their location until half the fuel was used and returned bound for Cabcaben Field and while approaching at 7:00am was told the area was under attack and was to instead circle Corregidor but due to low fuel decided to land at Mariveles Field but instead was told he could land at Cabcaben Field. After landing, immediately towed into a revetment and hidden as Japanese bombers flew overhead. Later, took off and flown back to Bataan Field arriving by early evening. Later that day, took off from Bataan Field piloted by Lt. I. B. "Jack" Donalson armed with bombs on a mission against approaching Japanese forces. After take off he rocked his wings indicating the Japanese were approaching down the road, dropped six bombs and strafed the road then overflew Bataan Field for the last time then flew south bound for Panay. While attempting to land between 9:00pm to 10:00pm the landing gear failed to lower because of damage from anti-aircraft fire that caused a hydraulic leak and instead landed wheels up at Mandurriao Field with minimal damage and without injury to pilot Donalson. Although the plane had only sustained minimal damage, there were no replacement parts to attempt repairs. Later, some parts were removed to repair Putnam's plane to flying condition. A few days later, the plane was set fire and burned to prevent it from being captured when the Japanese occupied Panay. Memorials A replica P-40 is displayed at Dyess AFB as a gate guard in the Dyess AFB Memorial Museum and Linear Air Park. The plane has "Kibosh" on the nose and tail number 17. References The Dyess Story: The Eye-Witness Account of the Death March from Bataan and the Narrative of Experiences in Japanese Prison Camps and of Eventual Escape (1944) by William E. Dyess Doomed At The Start (1995) by William H. Bartsch pages 328, 328–333 (March 2, 1942 missions), 337 (last surviving P-40), 342 (noseart added by Mayhue), 353 (March 29, 1942 standby), 358 (April 5, 1942), 360-364 (April 7-8, 1942), 369 (force landing Mandurriao), 391 (parts recovered), 463 (notes: chapter 24, footnote 6), 464 (notes: chapter 24, footnotes 9 & 10), 494 (index Kibosh) Dyess Air Force Bace "Dyess’ Warhawk makes final flight" April 26, 2006 "Dyess [AFB] commissioned the replica to be built for display just outside the main gate." Contribute
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