[ARC5] P-40 Found in Desert

[Robert Eleazer]

Looking on some of the enthusiast websites, it seems that based on squadron codes barely viewable on the side, the airplane belonged to 260 Squadron, an RAF outfit.  It needed some repair to the landing gear so a pilot, apparently Flt Sgt Dennis Copping, was directed to fly it with the wheels down to a repair center.  It had long been assumed that he got lost and ran out of fuel, ending up MIA.

But it does not look like the wheels were down when it landed, or else it would likely have flipped on its back.  The pilot may have got the wheels up before making belly landing, which would be a wise thing to do.

I wonder if perhaps since they were sending it to a repair center they yanked the regular radio and put in that battery pack radio.  A view of the cockpit shows what looks like a cable with an antenna connector on it sticking up from somewhere.

As for Aussie P-40's in the Middle East, there is a book on the subject entitled "Desert Warriors: Australian P-40 Pilots at War in the Middle East" which is available on half.com for only $252.25.   Y'all better hurry because David is no doubt gonna jump right on that!

I fully expect that airplane to be restored to flyable condition.  I have seen far worse wrecks returned to the air recently.

And by the Lend Lease rules under which that airplane was provided the U.K. could either pay us for it or hand it back when they were done. 

Wayne
WB5WSV