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Old 5th July 2006, 00:49
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BlackWolf3945 BlackWolf3945 is offline
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BlackWolf3945
Re: Pls help identify P-40 Warhawk pics

Hiya Lagarto,

The third photo you posted shows P-40Fs and Ls of the 325th FG launching from Ranger on January 19th, 1943. Ranger was a full size carrier and there was enough room for the P-40s to take off under their own power.

The 33rd FG's P-40s were launched from Chenango, which was an escort carrier and which had little room on deck, as can be seen in this photo:

USS Chenango


Thus the 33rd's aircraft were launched by catapult after suitable modifications. In this photo you can see a 33rd FG P-40F hooked up to the catapult. Notice the cable attached to the main gear up front and the linkage attached to the tailwheel strut. This linkage helped keep the aircraft straight.

P-40F Hooked Up


The first photo you posted shows 33rd FG Hawks flying off the USS Chenango on either the 10th or 11th of November. Here is another photo taken earlier in the same sequence:

33rd FG Launching

You can see the detached catapult cable clearly in this shot.


The second photo you posted is probably also a 33rd FG Hawk, as it is hooked up to a catapult and has a serial number that is consistent with other serials on 33rd FG P-40s at the time.


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