New Zealand P-40 re-assembled
There is some good news to report on New Zealand Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3220 'Gloria Lyons', formerly part of the aircraft collection of John Smith, Mapua, Nelson, NZ. Scramble reported on the barnfind of this collection on 25 August last year. ( https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/new-zealand-barn-find )
Since its transport to The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (Omaka Air Field, New Zealand) the legendary Kittyhawk has been completely assembled. The fighter is in an amazing condition, given its age and lengthy storage in Smith’s barn: a real time capsule.
The P-40 was initially said to be prepared for static display in the OAHC museum, but photos released on 1 April suggested it might have flown already. The fighter however has not been registered in the New Zealand civil register yet, which makes a first flight very unlikely….(only for April fools?)
But what is so special about this Curtiss P-40N-20CU 43-22962 (30901), ex-RNZAF Kittyhawk IV NZ3220, “G" "Gloria Lyons"? The name refers to a lady with the same name, a pen-friend of two armourers of No. 4 Servicing Unit at Ondonga, on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands during WW II.
The name was carried by three consecutive Kittyhawks, two of which were only flown for a short period. NZ314 was lost in a crashlanding, while NZ3167 crashed into the sea only two weeks later. A third P-40 (an N-20), NZ3220, was selected as the next candidate, and was duly marked.
The cumulative scores and missions of the three 'Gloria Lyons' P-40s were painted on the cowl of NZ3220. When it returned to New Zealand in late 1944, it was repainted but the markings were retained. These were 55 Yellow bomb symbols representing strike missions, and two and a half Japanese flags representing victories over enemy aircraft.
The fighter was then used as a display aircraft during a tour to encourage the population of New Zealand to buy war bonds (illustrated by the B/W photo). After that period, NZ3220 was destined for scrapping, but fortunately it was rescued by aircraft collector John Smith and was stored in Mapua (near Nelson) along with other warbirds, such as a Mustang, another P-40 and a Mosquito.
Photos: John Saunders