P-40E Warhawks - Part 1 - 1/32

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk “Yellow 49”343rd Fighter Group. Pilot unknownBased in the Aleutian Chain, Alaska. Spring, 1943The 343rd Fighter Group was activated in September of 1942, and was a part of the XI Fighter Command. Jack Chennault, the son of General Claire Chennault, commanded the unit, which was nicknamed the “Aleutian Tigers” in his father’s honor. Finished in very worn and matt Olive Drab and Neutral Gray, due to sandblasting effect of the abrasive volcanic dirt on the islands. Spinner is yellow. Prop blades black with 4” yellow tips. Outer wheel hubs yellow. Curtiss P-40E Warhawk “Tarheel” White 859th FS/49th FG. Flown by 2nd Lieutenant George PreddyBased at Darwin, Australia. February, 1942Preddy was a new pilot when he flew this P-40E. He was nearly killed in White 85 during a training mission, when another Warhawk collided with him. Both aircraft crashed in flames. Preddy managed to bail out. He went on to fly P-51 Mustangs and became the highest scoring Mustang Ace of WWII.