Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

P-40

The Aleutian Tigers, part of the 343rd Fighter Group, was composed of Curtiss P-40E Warhawk aircraft. This unit was activated on September 11th, 1942 and operated in Alaska until the fall of 1943. The Aleutian Tigers were commanded by Lt. Col. John "Jack" Chennault, son of famed General Claire Chennault who commanded the"Flying Tigers" in China. The distinctive nose art is based on the "Flying Tigers" design.

This P-40E, 40-598, was assigned to the lath Air Force, 343rd Fighter Group, 11th Fighter Squadron. When the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor on June 3, 1942, a squadron of P-40s was launched to intercept the Japanese bombers, including this one piloted by Lt. Winfield E. McIntyre. During combat, McIntyre's P-40 was damaged by an attacking A6M2 Zero, and he was forced to land on Umnak Island. McIntyre survived the crash and was rescued, but the plane was damaged beyond repair and salvaged for useable parts. The rest remained until being recovered by the Alaska Aviation Museum in 1998.

Ted Spencer, Alaska Aviation Museum founder began the effort to recover the P-40 for the Museum in 1996. In 1998, a team led by the U.S. Coast Guard rigged and transported the P-40 to Fort Glenn Air Field on Umnak Island, then was eventually flown to its current home at the Alaska Aviation Museum. Current restoration efforts are led by volunteer Dwight Jones, with major sponsors George Dorman and Mike Hunt. Please contact the Museum if you would like to contribute to the P-40 restoration project.

This Curtiss P-40E (#40-598) was assigned to the 11th Fighter Squadron. It is the only American aircraft in history shot down within the US territory, recovered and under restoration.

This aircraft was shot down by a Japanese Zero during an air raid on Unalaska/ Dutch Harbor in June of 1942. The pilot, Captain Winfield E. McIntyre, survived. He was later shot down by German aircraft in Europe while flying a P-47D with the 487th Fighter Squadron. He was taken prisoner and sent to Stalag Luft 1. Surviving the war, he later returned to his home state of New York. He passed away in 1980.

The plane was recovered in 1999 west of Dutch Harbor with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. It was used by the air forces of 28 nations, including those of most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in front line service until the end of the war. It was the third most produced American fighter ever, after the P-51 and P-47; by November 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built.

(Wikipedia) - Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

p40warhawk.com

airspacemag.com - Panoramas - Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

P-40 Aleutian Tiger

AF Serial#:	40-598
Model:	P-40E
Made by:	Curtis Division
Funds:	F-1
Order#	W535AC-1244
Cost:	$80,400
Date Received:	9-13-41
Locations:
	Patterson AFB	9-13-41
	Elmendorf AFB	10-11-41
	SAD	10-11-41
	4th Air Force Combat Command	1-4-42
	Elmendorf AFB	2-19-42
	Umnak Island	5-24-42
	Shot down by the Japanese	6-3-42
	CONAFMSC 11th Air Force	7-3-42

The museum's recovery effort.