Osprey Aircam Aviation Series 06 - Curtis Kittyhawk MKI-IV in RAF-SAAF-RAAF-RNZAF-RCAF-NEIAF Service

AIRCAM AVIATION SERIES

N! 6

CURTISS KITTYHAWK MR. I-IV N I RAFmSAAFmRAAF=RNZAFmRCAFmNEIAF SERVICE

----I

Mk. I..

N*. 16

Sauadron, RNZAF.

a8

abmva but with whlta rpinen, nett roundat dtmonrionr.

. . Mk. Ill. No. 2 OTU. Mildura. New South Wales, RAAF. Crasn I brown upper rurfacc~, pslo blue undar #uttacer. A29-310.

. en the wlng po~nl~ng the vvav a K~ftyhawkMB. tll 01 Mu. f t P '$mrk' Squelron tawlW cur Itom the dagerd area a t LG 91. Amtlyha, GA-F prubabty FRSOP

Wath a d m t wwnw

CURTISS KJTWHAWKMK.1- IV. B 1 y in 1940 Curbs Aviariou gosgtrr ta h p ~ m eihe perfonname bf the srieces& Hawk BlA, the P-40 T-wk, &ieh h d anjoyed s u b s ~ r i a lorders from 6btb the U.S. dad Fr& pvemmmrs, by h e hsd14ri'bn ol a mori powerful Alfi9on V-17LQ-34 engine and aa ine&d ar-t d f o u ~w k - m m t e d % h. machibe guns. fiwm rPd.e?ipn of the WIW of dlia new h r a f t r the Hawk ETA, slightly a&& the aE -, and the mrm v&s rn Kittyhawk, Xn May the %ti#*- , p h d an order f o r 568 ah& as & eI$h&wk h h k 1, and uphen h 6 l ' S t w p k W a S was a h mdetsd fvr Lm on 23 May; 19q4 the USAM. It was $& 8 result of .m Apt&requirewnt far ht$w$ wamw Wt the ,=craft wais fimd wir& &x .5tlm. wmg gum, and rbis m d i % w i ~m:s n 8t price Wtid by the Btjtish, 540 of rht hitiaI oader be** sup lkd bi irichls Coitfiipa&n $k fhP Mark IA. Early ih IM! submtial b r l m n &ctw wwa ~ I W fw rfie ed t , inciudi W k I& for the R M , m h e d d e r L e a & L d funds. In the event? 15 af h s e mcra€t were d&vered 'by surface masto K& ReAF, W~tbersweresentto t i a e F a r & ~ f f w u s e ~ b p W md RmAF, fdowhg &e JIartaplrti m Allied

~

lm

in Dccemkr W1. A ,numbs were dm M by fhe RdlF far dkii~erpto Ru&. $art from &ly fen M e & the mawtg of the M s mxy~~wks were &linere$ r l i r e ~ tto the Miwe &?.As% c , d t o f the ~ ~ o r ~ e &arts wme made to w s t d a RalIs *c aimafh a d the next version to produced, d e ~ fur d the t Y W as the P4F, was fitted with n Rckwbuilt Merlio V-1650-1. Mort were used by ihe fLnrchc@s, princi y Sn h e Mid& but 2513 wm @ u c ~ I fur p" am-Lerld, I00 ming ,to R w i a the r&r kh$ ret&edr?dby ftu: U.S, or ~tpplrtd to the kxn& C$$e Iater pelbliqmoa on the P 4 WbhawU Rmwn in the IPAF a +c Xictyhawk. 11, it bae sated that t ~ n eof rbe aimah went rnra servica wth his fom, bur in f b e ~a few M#k 11s did fiDd tbcir wa imo idd die Enat uadrms summer ot 1 9 d t&m?iqs

r

EdtXiZ

P ~ u r r i o n~l

pa-s

ant-,

U.

P40K hiw the next pmdnrdm wmm, and a rrtmrber d thtse w m supplied m the RC# late in lM2 for use in qk Alu~tWisarm* Where the type w a h emplayed by the USAAP. Tve~tywewere shipped to Ehr W as thc Kiityhawk In, bttf tMw were s'oOD X o M b~

5A P d M s , ,a150 h w n as Maxk Ills. This W* was bYilr solely fm bswLcrrd, dl bw five k k ~&d initiauy to romc s v n ig in d 1 e h r , rhough the m a ~ o rwere ~ ~ phr ged to thc Fw East and m Runic. ~ h a u ahilr sole& f a l e ~ r c - l t n da ILW fomd heir ~i hm the WSAAF. The f d produ* *.don .hc P 4 N , as a &il &&n (d the a d t . It w w bfnit m k g p t m b w &MI qny @f the earlier m;odels, Pmd 586 of the main mdu& W1 with a revised 4f canqpy,.were suppie+ m the M P as ik M& lV3 semmg 111 Italy,and WLrh &e Am-, 2-era andDut&intheF~%Larl5eW~& qplied to Rhssia, this nation IEeieg a total of 28%' P 4 during ttre talthwh a small p a r t e m s af d m e were &e earher Tbmabvbl.

+

*a

Kiwyhawk tn se?Viwe with the S.A,F.

First unir in the Mid& Fsy w w h e R t t ~ b w k s Tw&awtr's for %we was 3 RAAF Squdmn,

airc&

suri=g mrnbe-

bepirming-a

fmm Msus on 27& of that month; 112 Sqm&on wl~drew to similarly re-equip kfore the Turn sl the yearEmployed d w h g tbe fist part d 15142 as the W s main air suptrioritp fighter, the h r combsrs w ~ e fought by the A u s d i a m on New Pear's my,whcn they chimed Qwr Ju 81s and a Bf 109 d-yed, oae qf a& prbhbiy ~ c ddesmyed e daod four ~ dam& for rbt 10sof their commanding of lit^. The tables were m d Bight L ~ s later, when HZ S q ~ johd h 3 R W at the front. On one mission the Augnalians were bounced by Bf lW, losing r w of their w h e r , and l a w in Ihe d8y an airmft Df 112 S Lwdrgn was atso 5 h l down; no claims were made by w ~ r r w e s ~ gilom t h A[ , b c end of the ntanth a new sgudfon j~inedaperations for the first +a, +5 %ng 45Q (AusrsaIintn3 Sqmdron, a h flying

9te

KIVY+W~.

During the early mn&s d 1942 the KItryhW tlcw fighter sweeps, bomber exom and htereeprion ~@ssiw#, ftequmrly taking heavy d l of Axis dive-b&br~ and

r t s l m ~fihtera, ~ ~ O W W W , n i ~ and d -UWabie, the aircmfr was out-performed by tbei: *ling Messerdimitt Bf BFMFs, w M used h i r hew &w& ptrformm~to sir a* the British -, imaking diving atrada and &mbing away, avoding dog-fiphn whmqer p q blt. ~ Thtougbout the mmpafgn thtse farmid-

:.

Ah*

B C m Mk. l in~llnaarid m m mmmfIqa

pilootedby a 9 of ' gyertgrmkycd piiaqroo*an t~,the~fitcyL%!on

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h

a o ~ m & % % r n ~ w dsim. 0-&S WWC thogc 0n 14 aad 1s T$P& ~f F&ruw.i 1942 On the fww day, d&t Kinybwh Bf 3 Wk4F S~uacbnmd 10 af 112 S ~ d w n AIir m ,EL^- m *-M a i * ~ t wry pilot t n p plz forward a CMm, !he hsqlliw M M 200s and a Ma& a& ibf w ZWa a d a 3f IW.S&waJ dm& far p & b h d damaged wure dm madee Wem day I12 Swadmn W rn airoreft w Itx. Em&Xw&h MmeUc d E/JG 27 h the m m b & a .st&?

~

~

b 2 6

mP&"& L

and in the 1mnmn 12

&Qw

from This wladmq

-94 Sqwtl&wt&bff~'s?m& ~ l a n d i o sound. g 94 ~ q n d r a b h d-w pdr S~ha*,~ hnhg qrcs wry huw L u N r r m die txzmpa1gn whea flm U i c m ~ e axrd , this was dl& &sf &oa, led by nmt vmwandiag *, $qnrLdE. E M. 'h t h i Miism,. W ~ U had . bcra t o p ~ W f r b& t o B t~ he&tLlbymh mr wk.one IOD? +Wn bg m,Ow s s n m 27~ m , gt ~ t b e ~ t o t l ~ ~ tiwnrm&butthrs cp rWdownaadWMla~n &d thm N.QO. pilots of 94 Ssuadroa, aad badly kdhydgh

.

P

lhme was Kt* opm+KY fw a$ *'r"g a n d m k t d y , a f E W ~ e ~ - t o b e w~ i a 3 a-it~g hte d y ~ ~ T h t h s r ~ f ~ o n ? A p r arb F2 Eqhawlts of 112 s u r p d 12 Fw %%taking h off fanm Rien 4 sbot down three-for tbe l m of twa. 500 Ib. bombs, dw support of a vwy high w;fs afhded M the armies ad-g ug thz l w n b d , w$ though 112, m nrnd 3 R A M heit m h w k Iv., .nd 5 gave -dm heir,#nghawk Ifis for the more d m

&,,Qerield

i

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n

With the R.A.A.F. Wi+ the rapid faraw? ad-. d r ha 2942, Australrarxl homeiaod &me la muym danger Bf lbvaM& and ie FebnmV 1942,25 m b w B XAr, rcI+ fmm the RArs +inirfal iamw~& the bmnp Eormpd during Evlatcb ipfo 75 SquadEan around a splall nuckur of m e n d p i i o ~wkbhm born the On 21 h h the q u a h dem m Port -by to provide &r ir to this potr &c gouth

---

~oastofNw~,~~vin8;tbedd~ofD

t l r e ~ W e ~ x e m T ~ m ~ l ~ a n P

""me9P

g of the was In the air Imtcf*-, am@ ctpting araid aaddahhg their,vi~tory,aady

~ ~ h e y ~ t h t m ~ ~ r h e e m m p , ===%Ihe &Id on Nor& side of the W. T k 'whawh wixe int-rsd by the Mitabishi h 6 M

--

~ , ~ r w o a f r h e u n u m b e f , b u t ~ g Ze~osshotdm.Bytheendof&efiattbreedaysse~ea of the 17 E f q b w k s hud bem h t to or moxber. Dutin~April the sqmlmn -ed USA-24 Damova Lat, bdng be5ngdved ia stvml a ti&tswitI1~with~sanOnbsths~.Oa28Ap the ~ a w at g-, &m-LdrLdrJ. paffkwled tbs last five savkeable &mdt r maW l 'tts eseortEd bomhrs, but bBth he and mtht &t w m shot dow a n d k i 3 l e i l , w ~ e a W a ~ w a s lam. rwa squadrons .of P-39s of U.S. 8rb EigttW Goup arrived to re* the A ,but ~ Q T~d mme&ysw&aimaftasdlkgwiaPo.thtaiE acco1tl~*gtonmi85ioLISd0~9Maydyow aimaft was fit ro fly back ro fhc minIand, la U ~grwoaaySlater.fn#&ysOf~ttbt ma had sfiot down 18 md destrqyed 17 on t k g r a d , ciabning four more probably demyed and 47 b w g c d Em a bs d 22 Erryhawh of 3l reetiwd, ni~M in~at,fourmissing,~aathc~mdaix d b n t g ; 12 &3 w e ar d&b& Sqw-Ldr, G Jdaon*wha had &en m ~ & c his brother's d a had shot dowa four a i m & d F.a Piper Y. M-h& two mom aqudmns bad k n formed, thcat bmg Mas. 76 and 77. .On 25 July, 75 and 76 Swadmm flew m Milne Bay, New Gslinea, an rn m danger of ia.vwh T h e h -&at wumd QII 4 A u w t when

med

e m a h M af 76 d m n i n wbute on d a mid, Fl.-fir. A& Wthg d e w n=bmkr, lld 22 K i m

hawks born both sqhmvqhd 12 Z e w 2 hii ~ ~ h 8 w l l s f Q r r r c l a t m d f o u ~

-

and hadiap g a d e s d st contiworts swadmQs stt8iiq a d aen tht Japsmesr.mops a d u ~ & &asbnal air attacks were mcr, atrd on 27th fwr dive-bbers and m m s were shor d m but cia fbis day commadcr of 76 Squad-

down. On 24tb

an 'hvasbn b -a

-2zr

ran, Sqn.-I&, P. +Tu&uX1, a * t a n of the erashcd wad \qaa lulled W h h s-g. un 6 *mk, W y d u e t o l w v y t o s g e s i u i k d h y a u amathe rapeaese wirhdrew* ncva to remn, n ~ x r,&y tbc &uyhnwks es&& the first oEensivd m i s h 0am b b m b Beauforts md BcaThe whn of rht #rnyh*wk@irmg the bmsiwt was summed up by fbs a

d

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-

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$

7Fy-&,E

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was fql& at the farmcrpasa, uaw-mC ammmd & a - y , &ace,'of t k Fat

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ww1gs

i r~wr

mthpb " whket~nhp h s th! 1 1 . ~ 7 - @ ih. Y.$. 13th m k 5th.Air Farce ~qqm v m g opalred ody in a 9 ,is+ i&meaiate -r, ta .rat irurw i d in m a m ~ @ P~M sg, -MY mithem -s&rbg cm&kmbk 1 @ffpr rire

wZ%& ~~~

m-

%kyja&ed dt&n this period, b t rrtrrnpu were made fa M ~ e r c eninht ~ %ombunrrtiminetix~6n 23 Nwanbw

m 1942, they providing the &is bf 14 S ~ W ~ ~ a du&& Ilt p ~ f k~ f 4.8W l ~S q w W MO had hst && i p k Im %h& r e m t h m d3c ,&st lwm lEttj%awW 'were m t c d to h e RNZkF, and b Jvae +4 of these k i d mi~ed,15 & 16 Sq?&thaas being f~med,fdlml@ So OErabtr b 19 %lm~dr&~ %I this rnMIdz &st @bW pilots were Rat ows&wl 95 sqwdm~ptaking wm 23 mpw P a in paor a i h n fmm ~fieUS, && P I @ !lqwbm ~ m 'hts, for air d d u w &tie% Xa April 194%14 Squedmn fItw ,th& d m e[rn$amb to 3aeror and t&csc wet# Ih%taken qtx ~ b 15 Scmdron. w k e . m m b h daubed wuh w M t -ition ~ICIB; the sqkbmn &i.a Q$&V U3, P-3h d F-40~us@ a@ and T$iFsl WXIS and EMa On 3 Jmc, IMs, m u r e $B a

WI*

we%

--

B"r),

Bd-C taxying our to the fidd ~

t b~llow~ng h cJaudsof dusr b e l n ~whipped up by the airscrew, ly&i$ (PhotosIWM)

operarrng cmd~uanson Daserrtand~naGrounds. LG 91.Amr1yhe. Egvpt. 194Z

I

squadraE*i Of wegm lgit chmwid were equippea with these &c&, the 6.w e r a Wug dwpatched at sne to assist the U.S- f m io Alaska a d the & u h s , w h m for seeeral mnrbs parding d -8 EI&SbRS flQWLon 25 sw-, 1% Mencb

11 K i t q h w b & ~4 and 111 Squab -ed sirt U.5. P a pi 11 P-3+ *to d t Fe rrymse Mse on KEska. &is -on two RU& fiDtpW

-

p wae dqm, on by Gqn.-+ K A. Boamsr 111 Squadmn, bein t k anty vmnrg of the shot

t h P 3

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by l.llJ2.P. hm&.d umu. Q l u b Kittyhawks remained h the area until the la se wirbdrew from in Auslgr W , &?reto qmd~ With She Netherlands Ea8t In-

Air Force

P ~ O EQfS t k N~+$sn;ds East Indies thir Forcc who esraped to A u s m b m 3942 formed s w d squmhm, opersthg imder BA.A,F. mynmd, a?+ ant-of chtsc, 124 Sqyadfop, was farmed dmmg 1943 wtb IbwhawIca T h e umt ankhtHy strvcd om homt defence d u b in the Ma&-Westem Territories, bur in mid 1845 twk pan i opemuons o v a the East X & k in company &th AWrahawk unitsg flying s p f m g aad bornmissunr. $tr the aw, rt. squadma was bared on Java, flying alm&de Dutch Mwtapg liaira, and t d pm in sePeral actions aphn lndon&n naWEsr g u d h , the last ham cg~tianalmlrrioqr 80by Qrtiss a i r e d . In 1949 c sqrltldron was lust Ixaglnalag m reequip with M u m when the Dut& mowd out d indmesia, and all d n h g were handed m the new Rtpubli~.The subscqueat fate of the temahhg &raft i uncertain

With the Ausslrma S O ~ E2 3 W KStt~tiawksaf V-s models SUP plied to the %kt Won, bur little L known d & e u use by this mmw. W d g , W e tbe British d M~,T?JeR~~Sia3~~preftrtbRBlrotheB P-24 a m b r a , -sidering rhat theg d5d not a b s d battle -e ds wdl as ttbe larter, have h stme

or

pnrpeh with rwrd to mmlaxn-t. It #a M k d t h £ maW were far &mad mhhs but swne were supplied ro the *kt Eaavy and Born on rhe North Russian f m t . T h e 8 a f m unit, WE&h d pfflawn I-16s, h3iG 3s s d Hunhmp, opera& &mairEFafr for same *the, BRd-s~vkdp e t s &a% a n u of starcesscs wrb rbe Krwh~wks, mdu&ng: S m i m Lt Nibhi P a r d & Rtpznetsov, who d e d the war Rrith 36 vktorks. At Itmt w e R , m K i ~ h w kwas caph m by P i fo=* and rhis, a d e d KB-51, was issued to Finnish f&m squadron EEL& 32, to operare dongside the , e f s Cuds Hayk %As,. and thtlee captured 3% the latter m rbe h& speed, low h e 1 mmnalssmw

&.

Bomb rack de~alla250 lb with extendad fuse.

were supplied to rhe +CAR by mwe Iatu, and isjx home

une-up pf

Mq. 11 2 Sqquadmn Mk. la's at Sidl I-lgnaish. 14th APdl lM2. {R. A. B ' i I

.*,*: p*AbaueKrttvhrtwksof arkher Mo. 775 01 76 Sqdn. at Mrtna Bay. Mew Gurnee, July 1942- Greenlbrown umeq. pale blue undem. R~dfwhitetbjut toundsls and fh M h . (IWrwJ

Rghr Mk. la. A29-96 01 No. 75 Sqdn R M F at M ~ l wBay 7942. IU was 7Ks COde at thrs d m wbsequently changed lo Ek 'U-Buie' on cowl. greenlbrdwn ~ W W S , pal% Mue undera AZ9-45 Peter* Revenge' in drsiance. ( A W N

Ahom 'Sharkmouthcd' Mk. la. A29-83 a1 Mu 1 OTU, Ean Sale. Vlc~or~a. see colour ~llus!ra~~on.

Iwe Frank F,

SmrthJ

Rwhr Mk. Ir. 428-310 o l Na 2 OTU. M~lduta. Nw Sauth Walaa. ( v t 8 Frank F. $n;nrlt)r)

RrgAr 'Mk. Ilt. Na. 2 OTU, Mllduta. 1BsYr.'Bre metal and OD w-. fum Fmnk h SmitPr)

1

MF~. 1. N*. 2550 ' Sudan ' Sqmdmn, No, 239 Wln& RAF. Dwerl Air Form. 1942. Flqwn hy Sqdn.-Ldt. )9, T. Judd, , OC. AK4IJI.

Squadton

4

b

2 Mk. I, No. 250 ' Sudan1 S uadran, No. 239-~ing, RAF, Dertrr Alr Force, lstp sutnrner 1W2. F I w ~ by P/O, I. L. ~ k d l v .AAK846,

m

3

-

RAF, Dew,

Nm.210 .Ldnml iswv,4 ", N;, Mt, by FI.-Lt. 0. H. C l a r k B Hiah* Command~r.

*it

Fume,

flbcu. hnhl., March 19Mm Flown FR3 t 3.

I

~ k Ill, . NI. 160 Wsdmr, Ha 23s Wing. RAT.

i Mk. 111.

No.

210 Squadton, No. 233 Wing, W.

[-;@-,(- ;;-:

MI.--

-

I

Desert

All Force. FRl ZZ.

\

It.

RAF, Dsrkrt d

A

L k , Ill, No. 112

ha*' SqEdron,

PI.. 239 Wag. KAF.

D&rt

Air

n by at.-Lt.

M. N. Marthias

Pachinp/Agnosa, Sicily. JuIy 1943.

m

I

5

Mk. ill, no. I in *shark ~ ~ ~ d fhw* ~ ~ ,by, Sgdn.-'-dr. , P* F. 3

Padms/Agm~ne, Sicily. l u l ~Aug. f 1943.

I I

lilingw

S q u a h n OC, FR864.

Mlc. la. Nu. Z 'Ftying Chetah ' Sqlpdmn, SAAP, No. 263 Wing, RAF. Des F l m by Maj. D. 6. HauptfJefssh, AFC. Sqwdton OC. Serial unknpwa.

2 Mk. HI, #a. Z ' Ftyjng Chwtrh * squadm, S ~ A P , TIMm Desert Air Farw, 10QZ. unknown.

h k , I V , probably No, 2 OTU Watarkleef, Snuth AF

.C

Maj. 0. 8 . HauMftaineh, AFC, Sqmdron BC.

A

D 1 Mk, Is. No. 3 Sq~rdmn.RAAF. No. Z39 Wing, WF, Desert Air Fore+. ET9gj.

kt. la, No.

450 Squadron, RAAF, No. 239 Wing, RAF. Desert Alr Farce. Serlal unkmrwn.

"

:3, a , ,w*. q p & p p d ~ * . & *kL* r*. mr*d, .,

Ha-

--

6

Mt. la.

Me, 1 OTU, RAAF, East Sale. Victorin. Aueralia. A29-83.

1 Mk. Ill, No. 76 Squadron, RAAF. Swial u n k n w r

LAAF. A19-113& Labvan. I.. B e r m ,

lw.

1

3

.

Mk. I l l . No. 77 Squadmn, RAAF. Serial unknwn.

' torpertop

4

Mk. IV, NQ.78 Squadme, R M f . Wmfow, Dutch Nsw 4urnea. kZs874. ' Hot S u l f l '.

5 Mk, 1Y. No. 80 Squedwn, W F . MorotaI, 1944. AZ&552.

I 6 Mk. IV, No. 82 Squadron. RAAF. M u e n I,, Bovneo, 1944. A29-844,

1

1 Mk. lm. No. 14 Squadron, RNZAF. 3skial unknown.

L

Mk. 111, No. 15 Squadron, RHZAF. Solomons, 1943. Serial unknown.

I

Gk. IV. mrobably No. 18 Squadron, RNZAF. NX3255.

1

Mk, IV, probably No. 19 Squadron, RNZAF.

S

Mk. IV, NQ. 19 Xquadmn. RNZAF. Guadnlcanal. 1944 ' f ,ma Lee NZ3287.

'.

t 1 ~ k IV, . No. 110 Squadron. Netherlands East Snafu

November 1944.

'.

1

Mk, IV. No. 120 Squadron. N e t M a n d s E d Indie* Air F s m . Msrauke. Dutch (NW Guinea, November 1944.

Mk. IV, No. IZQSquadmn. NElAF. ~robsblyat. Bilk, 1944, ' t s q the Injum:

1

1

Mk. 1, No. 11 1

Squrbn, R C A F . Patikla B q , Litish Cdombia. Wmtem Air Caminand, 1941. AKZO6.

1

Mk. In, No. 1 t8 Squadrpn, RCAF, Spa Island. Brltth Colombra, 1941-43.

$nit vnknown. 719.

' Vnncmuvor IX

A

'. RCAF.

m

Mk. 111, + t a n by Sanlor M. Nokehl Ku=netwv, Sovht Naval A3t S~rvler.

,

Line+upof Mk: IVsd Me. 75 Squadm. farrrkm ,lsl$nd, name ~n m a t s~rwaft rs 'Dororhy E'. serial unknowri. OD and Qrm $elkme with white tail UniE NotG gaute Jf

lam

mr a wqw w-rb4 ~ QW a o m (tiy 76 Sqo&lm~~. Bat and

&@ Gedff, f.tlrm.

srorartro8rd haw. m ~ gm . u6rt staa PMM an aeM abowa pum. f~ fimt~-&tbj

I)

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Rdow Llne-u 01 M k Ill'$# No. 78 Squadron A ~ A F . hrtwlna ~ i t l p , Kiriwina Island. Solomon Sm. July 1943, Nofs grewnlbrown uppels pale blue under~,(A W M )

#e!owAZ9-361 .SV-Y of No 76 Squad. ran. a Mk. 111 rn areenlkmwn and pale blue scheme. (AEMI

Mk 111, ~29-367QT NO. 78 q w d f R#$ tanding on UivIgsfil Strfp. GeodmWR! ktmd in fha S~lemonSeB 1941

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B B metal ~ M& IV of No. 78 Squatlmn. h t s i w siruafi.t.ta land oil lsemiri Mp. M d o r . tAWMl

#&wt

Above & right Neatfomtation by NO. 80 Squadron. BU-& In dark grsenl gtey scheme, other sireraft in OD1 gtey scheme. BU-B with red tlp ta bpjnner, 'Cleopaua I1I' In red out-

Hnsd whtk {Allphola~RMF VMB.P 8 l t i m )

'Below Mk. IV's of No. 84 Squadron.

oode LB-, Note variation In s~zeand 'wsitions OF muntlala, all slrcmft virth darX gren ppetches afong teading and ttaiIIng edge af wings plane and on fin and ruddr on etandard US&F OD/ qrm schema LB-K probably A29c 6lB. (AWMI

find tail

Top No. 82 Squadron drspersal area on Csbuan slffleld. No ,orneo. Nu18 redlwh~techecks on f ~ , .,, .,,der F&R In distance. Alsp note large and sm3ll rtlundels on nearesl: arrcraft, lAWMl Cmrre Rare metal Mk,IV. No 82 S ~ ~ a d r o AP9-626, n. code and ser~atIn black. Labuan. (vre 8 E . C Oarby)

Below Bare metal Mk. IV. A29-1193.00 mtr-alate uanel Unrt unknown. /v/a F. Smith)

and bare metal Mk IVcodsd

+:.

.,

.. I

I!

.

.:. . _

.

pxt!

'a-

I,

: ,I

Ahma & I&

Mk. IVs on a New b a -

Above Wlth a Hudson actlng as navigator Mk. IV's head out over the see for the rstsnds. OD end grey scheme. red/whltelblue roundsla on fuselage. ('Wm)

Below Mk. ill'^ of No. 16 Squadron. RNZAF. Solmom. 1863 Graen/brown uppars, pale blua undarr, (IWM)

n

1

Left Poor pho:ograph. bul apan

from The combat damage. bnteresrlng as ~ts h m s the tmv IEC cenrrelrr the loundel, rd% C Darbyj

Below Vic of Mk. IV's 01 an unknown squadron taking off. Redlwh~telblueroundcls. (vra d E . C Darbd

MZ 3118, Mk. It1 i n OD and grey finish, note bluelwhtt%,'blua under wtng roundel. (vie R. C. Jones)

t

I

Above Mr. la'@of No. I1 1 SQua&an* R W , Wtwfttrh #C Gommnd, $qua&# and kncharage, BjE - c ~ d euaw 1 1-41 to r 2 4 3 . fWM>

operated !tam h a tslmd. Patrida Bay. 8$.,

adow (a ~ u m s Hk, ) Ha of No. 118 Squadron, RCAF.WhwI disc m RE-C L l u e w f e w tllneil red.

{Ph~tosP C p j

Abnve M#,la in aandarrt grebnlhr when sqdn. codes were discontln

uppe~s,paleblua u o d e f ~ NO& . tna{wnite{btue roundels on wings, rnom promoly mpen arrer uct.

'or aetunty reasons

.

.--

.-

-.

A h v e Mk. la, serfat unknbwn. talihg &fmm P a t r i ~ a&y.

Mare Una-@ 01 Mk, le*.

&rlg

relue~Hadat Pauide

Bay. 20.11,U.

A ~ r m f tneaten camera AK 905.

IUW

LsH Mk la 'Vanowlvar IX' C 729. %E co1ou Iltusnation for pwt rlde detailk RCAF. f&kT

R i ' f Mk i.a.1009. Black F-ah of roundel port~lnd srbd. RCAF. (vra P. W. Mmurd)

Below lefr Mk. la. 1073 In RAF Wart scheme. (Pew M. 6 0 ~ 8 ) E e / p w ~ Mk. ~ h la, ~ serilrl,unknown wlth *blacKPN, on wwl, fhia particular Klttyhawk surrtkad t h a w a ~ and is prawnfly b ~ n grirstor6d by G. A. M a w ,

FG. Al

Rqht Mk, IV, 867. m bar6 I !lmh. O D ant glare panel and fin, See cover ~llustrenon, Unrt unknown. (Parer M. B O ~ B I S J

h / o w Mk. ta

In

bare map1 flnlsh. 1078 In black.

WadJ

M. Bmwsj

Wava and blew

Staneard RAF em md even d 6 e n aohamm. 'agpfiorbl~toell dasnrr namauflaeed airnett wlth mlnoF panam ve2iatlvnt:

under surface ~aundel a3 iram 184%

Medurn add pala blue M far coda.

Eb RAAF. unpar surfs? derutlk m d a r sudwtea ldan%lcel.

9aqorr Pink schema.

wttom, inridsfronr

~ 1 . 2 .uppnr ~ s ~ r r a dslaii% t~ under f l l r f a m identicnl. NO. Im Sqdn. N E I ~ F .

mver.

uppar surlacs dmlallt. dark w r e n on OD. MX. IV. l o . BP Soda RAAF.

a

I\

under aurfacsa identlaal. No. 120 Sqdn. NEIaF.

Par#nnal Inslgnla and

All rtrlper a n thlnlv ourliral wllh dark red. Blaeh 1 9 pork and stbd Feunh down. Inslde lroer couar. uppm awrmce dofatlb. undar surhcm rouedn m uww. Mk. In. No. 1%Sqdn. RNZAF

a6 ML. 1V. NEIAf

porn wmr. O8anoa centre to roundel. undmr r u r l r u r IdantIomL

ne ~

~ 6 rrn61.h 1 . AF. Uppar rurlace daalls, b d o w unPer rudmua drtall ahowlnu vnllnw autnr wIng.

ruaatsss wlth yallow outer rle Undar uurlburn Idantlwl.

Mica shot of four Mk 1Ws of No. 120 Squadron. N~IherlsndsEast Ifidlag Alf ICE See colour illusIration. h t w s on fm (virr d H, K m ~ h u i s )

-

an Memuke aifield. Dutch NEWGuinea. Wore aerial *5#,

hAulle [V'hr#Jq wr i$&p-$+.alpt& fG.'H K B I ? @ M ~

..C_i.

.BX t&&aukA t h I W ~ t h l s ' @ n t a w e sEaken -

.

semi sryle. repealed sn dmp tank.

- -

-

had ordy rmentbbaenpintal an fin m d r u in~white.

-

I

--

F:: "'

A,..

.;

>-, "

'

5

?

,n ,

.

Mk. tY of Ma 120 Squadmrt. 1IIElAF. Note W e r hv ,Wrlpainmd whit= thla rnar*krl( f o r stmn~imd"5~lly. a & w e the WM~ b&ds MUH wd w g s . fwa Fmmk E 8.mi1Irf

w~

,,,

Mk W of ko. 1224 Q u a d m h n g Py)me and w~ngbands and whip rudder. our ~ I W a l i e hfwl G, M KmW'ldsI

'Itry the Injun' after forced landrng at Merauka, Dutch New Gu~nee.MIL lyls were flown by bath Dutch and Amer~can pilots which accwnls Qr the very Amer~can nemes of same of !he R~ltyhawkr (vre LF. H.Kamphuis)

Bare matat Mk. IV, pan war, see 1llus1ration. fvr# G,HL UumDhu~sj

h C3-526 m of No. I 2 0 Wuadton. NEIAF, note new rudder and prck-up truck. (via 6 H. Xentpnuis)

~

No. 6

AIRCAM AVIATION SERIES

Mk. IV. A 2 9 4 2 9 'Cleopatre lli' tlown by wtng Commander G. C. Athercon, OC No. 80 Squadron. WAF.

ACKNOWLEOGMEMTS

illustrated &

by

Richard Ward Text by

Christopher F. Shores

Without the help of many friends this mctorial sunrev of the Kimhawk. the first real lighter-bomber o f the first ~ l l i P dTactical 6ir Force. the Desert Air Force. could not have been published. My thanks ro all who helped whose names are listed below in alphabetical order: A Blake, Peter M. Bowers. R. A. Brown, d'E. C. Darby. J. F. Golding. Imperial War Museum. R. C. Jones, IPMS. G. H. Kamphuis. S. Kostenuk, W. 6. Klepacki. D. W. Menard. 0. Pattison, Eino Ritaranta, Frank F. Smith. R. Tester. Australian War Memorial, Roval Canadian Air Force. Roval New Zealand Air Force. south African Air Force. united States Navy.

Mk, IV. Royal Austrelren Air Fares, ~28-1193in bare metal finl~h.black spinner, narrow OD anti glare panel

PubIiahed by :Osprey Publications Lim'ted, England EaYtoriaI Of6w: P.O. Bax 6. Cw ntcrbury.

& England a#,

Sc~hr&riorr8i Busifless O f h : P.0. Box 35.707 Oxford Fwd. Reading, Berkhite. England