New identification of P-40 "White 93"

[Saivila]

This aircraft is indentified as P-40M on photo caption on "Red Stars". On the other hand there is a profile in this same book where this aicraft is drawn with new style rear deck of the cockpit behind the pilot and written as model N. Two numbers from the serial is weakly on show. "29". Tactical 93 is on US style font, and the whole plane, including red stars, is possibly painted in USA. No overpaintings visible.



AML has released decal sheet (P-40N)with "29" but nothing on the other side. Authentic Decals has released for this as model M and left side one can find numbers 354. The missing piece....? But if this aircraft is not model M either?



After closer examination this could be identified as P-40K-15. For example, the cooling grill plate between spinner and exhausts is missing.



Looking at the tail with some contrast added, there may be third digit after 28 (or 29?), possibly 2. What if the right side is 282?



Let's look if we can get any closer to find the digits on the left side. If the last stripped number is not 2, there are few more quesses. In all these cases, the serial visible on the left side should be 210.

Other possible P-40K-15-CU's, from Joe Baugher's list:

42-10281 to USSR
42-10282 to USSR
42-10283 to USSR (reported elsewhere as 23FG P-40N, take off accident in China 43/11/04)
42-10284 to USSR
42-10285 to USSR

42-10291 to USSR
42-10292 to USSR
42-10293 to USSR
42-10294 to USSR
42-10295 to USSR
42-10296 to USSR
42-10297 to USSR
42-10298 to USSR
42-10299 to USSR

Cheers, Saivila & PioTer

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
I had a look to the images of Red Stars 4 to see how many digits should be on the tail. No photos of Soviet P-40 shows numbers on the tail, but profiles of P-39, P-63 and P-47 show 6 digits. This seems in favour of the last '2' on the fin.
Regards
Massimo

[Saivila]

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/231/jre2.jpg



Regards Saivila

[Massimo Tessitori]

Interesting painting, this one. Six digits again.
Regards
Massimo

[Troy Smith]

Given the disruptive camo scheme I'd guess this was diverted from an RAF contract, looking at Joe Baugher's lists, a lot of the 42-45*** and 42-46*** [ *= any digit] production were for the RAF, so this would explain the disruptive camouflage.

I've seen a fair few other VVS P-40's in RAF type camouflage.



also discussed here - http://sovietwarplanes.com/board/index.php?topic=1140.0

Very interesting research Saivila

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
I would ask for some opinions about this plane.
First, is the sharkmouth of US origin, or was it panted by Soviets?
Is it likely that more than one planes had identical sharkmouths?
About the unit markings of plane 93: they are expected to be white or silver. But, while the rudder looks white, the spinner doesn't look white nor silver. Could it be light blue? Could it still be an US mark color, and what? Grey? Note that the paint on its front part is glossy, and it is lightened from the front by a low sun.
Regards
Massimo

[AC26]

About the unit markings of plane 93: they are expected to be white or silver. But, while the rudder looks white, the spinner doesn't look white nor silver. Could it be light blue? Could it still be an US mark color, and what? Grey? Note that the paint on its front part is glossy, and it is lightened from the front by a low sun.

Hi all,

Looking the star below the wing in good sunshine likely has not white surroundings. Could the stars have silver edges as well as the fuselage number and even the rudder reflecting from strong sunshine? Just like Hyryl? Airacobra or the Finnish booty-P-40M #23?

Cheers,

AaCee

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi AaCee,
my visual impression is of a white rudder, usually silver has a strong directionality in reflection and puts in evidence the details.
The main doubt is about the spinner. It's clearly not white nor silver. Looks too light to be red, and I would discard a yellow spinner in 1943. I am in doubt between some grey, residual of a previous US painting, and light blue that looks likely for a Russian plane but is unexpected for this unit.
Regards
Massimo

[66misos]

Hi,
I found at http://www.airforce.ru/history/cold_war/zabelin/chapter2_en.htm
this photo of P-40 from 11th ZAP:

Bright color on the spinner is inetersting. No sharp reflections (e.g. no silver?), at least for me seems not to be bright enough for white. Compare to propeller blade tip. Yellow? No clue about dark color on the spinner.
regards,
    66misos