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-   -   Kittyhawk Found in Sahara (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=29445)

Leo Etgen 23rd April 2012 03:06

Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
Hi guys

In case any of you have not seen these they appear to show a Kittyhawk fighter of 260 Sqn, RAF that has recently been found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFe8CsOdoG8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9LsK74J_W0

Hopefully this aircraft can be recovered in time before it is picked apart by souvenir hunters.

Horrido!

Leo

John Beaman 23rd April 2012 05:04

Re: Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
Unfortunately, Leo, it would seem to have been picked apart the same day the video was made. :(

Andy Saunders 25th April 2012 10:40

Re: Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
Some astonishing images here...

https://picasaweb.google.com/1146825...eat=directlink

Pilot 25th April 2012 13:08

Re: Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
Interesting news :)

VtwinVince 27th April 2012 02:14

Re: Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
Incredible, appears to be the mount of my old friend 'Stocky' Edwards of 260 RAF.

Doug Norrie 27th April 2012 03:38

Re: Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
Fascinating pictures of a Kitty

Re the Picasaweb pictures:
Photos 16 and 19 show faint signs of HS in front of roundel. This would make
it a 260 Sqd RAF aircraft.
Photo 10 shows it as H-87A3 - a P-40E model or Kittyhawk I (RAF
equivalent). RAF Serials (AK591 to AK999) and (AL100 to AL230) a 3 wing gun model. RAF Cam Scheme only. Users: RAF (Desert).

Doug

Leo Etgen 27th April 2012 21:30

Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
Hi guys

There is some speculation online that this might be Kittyhawk Ia (ET574) flown by F/Sgt Dennis Copping of 260 Sqn, RAF who went missing on 28 June 1942 during a ferry flight possibly due to a navigational error. I suppose that time will tell if this is correct or not.

Horrido!

Leo

Alex Smart 28th April 2012 00:21

Re: Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
Hello Doug & Leo,

Doug, I was wondering why you did not include the ET/EV serial range, wasit due to delivery dates ?

Leo, ET574 would have been 41-35928. Ref Ab's "The BAC & Lend-Lease" page 234.
So maybe the US number would be on the a/c somewhere ?

Alex

Doug Norrie 29th April 2012 07:39

Re: Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
In photo 10 of the picasaweb series of pictures it clearly shows the ref. H-87A-3 stamped in the wing and a part no. starting with 87....which would in indicate it was one of 540 Kittyhawks produced with the a/c serials in my previous thread. According to 'Curtiss Fighter Aircraft 1917-1948' by Francis Dean and Dan Hagedorn, page 294, the 540 aircraft were bought by the British government in Contract A-1835 commencing with AK591, before Lend Lease took effect.

The pipe type exhausts indicate an early model Kittyhawk, Mk I or IA.

Looking through my Air Britain serials book (through the 540 a/c), assuming it is a 260 Sqd a/c, I could see only two possibles that could be considered:
AL134 lost on 7.9.1942
AK693 lost on 16.5.1942

If someone could check the 260 Sqd RAF ORB there may be some clues from the above dates.

I look forward to seeing if anyone can add any further info to what I have put forward.

Doug

Larry 1st May 2012 01:23

Re: Kittyhawk Found in Sahara
 
I look forward to the Libyan's transporting it to the Uk as a gift (to say thanks to the modern RAF for helping in their fight for freedom) and seeing it being resored to flying condition at Duxford.:D


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