P-40 C service history of one a/c

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
For some time now I have wondered about the service history of a P-40C that I understand never went overseas.

41-13456, c/n 16232.
Was modified in 1942 and condemned on 27th February 1943.
Where did it serve and with which Group(s) and/or Squadron(s).

Following the modifications is it known if others were so modified or was this a singleton ?

Thanks
Alex

[Revi16]

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_3.html
13456 modified in 1942 to become a mock-up of an undesignated twin-engined fighter. W/o 18 Feb 1943 at Craig Field, AL; Condemned Feb 27, 1943.

http://wpalette.com/en/pictures/56559

[H-87A-2CU]

Alex

Aircraft known to have served with 8 Pursuit Group, 57th Pursuit Group and 92nd Single Engine Flying training School. Spent most of it time around Mitchell Field early in its service before heading to Middleton Air Depot then to Selma.

Buz

[Alex Smart]

Hi, yes nothing of Group or Squadron use before conversion which I would like .
I have had the picture for some time and always wanted to know its previous service use.
Thank you
Alex

[Buckeye30]

With the 33rd Pursuit (red spinners) in Iceland probably with Iceland Base Command, previously assigned 8th PG; the insignia on the RAF Hudsons date it post-May 1942.
Nick

[Buckeye30]

The 33PS loading on USS WASP at Norfolk Yard 23 July 1941, 30 P-40Cs and 3 PT17s. Flown off 6 August; at the time they still had red centre stars and 2-digit black tail numbers, serials were ordered marked on from 28 Oct. 1941.
The P-38F in the above photo is probably 42-12596 ( 50PS c/o).
Photos USAF and National Archives.


Nick

[Revi16]

Somewhat of a rough life. I don't believe it ever left the USA.

https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/...ly/Jul1941.htm
410721 P-40C 41-13456 33PI 8PI Mitchel Field, NY TOA 3 Steeves, J. I. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY

https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/...ly/Aug1941.htm
410801 P-40C 41-13456 64PS 57PG Mitchel Field, NY LAC 3 Miller, Wynn D. USA MI Mitchel Field, NY

https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/...y/Feb1943S.htm
430218 P-40C 41-13456 92 SEFTS Craig Field, AL LACGL 4 Marston, Arthur A USA AL Craig Field, AL

[Stig Jarlevik]

Personally I think the so called twin P-40 is a hoax

Probably some Curtiss staff - personal built, what ever it was, just for fun. They then added a former P-40 serial to the fin, just to make it look more "real"

Looking at it, it really looks crappy to me and I doubt anyone would have wanted to fly a contraption like that.

Unfortunately Aviation Archeology is down again, so I cannot check their present details, but the real P-40C 41-13456 had a accident on 18 Feb 1943 at Craig Field. I don't know exactly what LACGL stands for, but some kind of landing accident no doubt.
Checking if anything else happened at Craig Field that day, I notice that an AT-6B 41-17179 had exactly the same kind of accident (LACGL) that day on that same field. Hardly a co-incident!
No way that the USAAF had the real P-40C bailed back to Curtiss to have "fun" with and later convert it back to a standard P-40C again. If you want me to believe that, I certainly need more data than any site gives.

Cheers
Stig

[Revi16]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Personally I think the so called twin P-40 is a hoax

Probably some Curtiss staff - personal built, what ever it was, just for fun. They then added a former P-40 serial to the fin, just to make it look more "real"

Looking at it, it really looks crappy to me and I doubt anyone would have wanted to fly a contraption like that.

Unfortunately Aviation Archeology is down again, so I cannot check their present details, but the real P-40C 41-13456 had a accident on 18 Feb 1943 at Craig Field. I don't know exactly what LACGL stands for, but some kind of landing accident no doubt.
Checking if anything else happened at Craig Field that day, I notice that an AT-6B 41-17179 had exactly the same kind of accident (LACGL) that day on that same field. Hardly a co-incident!
No way that the USAAF had the real P-40C bailed back to Curtiss to have "fun" with and later convert it back to a standard P-40C again. If you want me to believe that, I certainly need more data than any site gives.

Cheers
Stig

Landing Accident Ground Loop
https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/help.htm#ACTION


More than one accident at an airfield in one day during training wasn't uncommon. These two aircraft may or may not have been involved in the same accident.

[Ted51abcdk]

Steig:
LACGL stands for Landing Accident Ground Loop. The number that follows was for the severity of the damage to the airframe. That number was 1-5, with 1 being the least damage, ie a slight dent, to a 5 which was for salvage. That numbering system changed in November of 1944 to 1-4, the #5 being dropped. those number 1 incidents were then applied to the Form 14a Minor Accident Reports. Hope that this helps a bit. Ted51