Kittyhawk 450th squadron raaf OK-J

[Daniele1958]

I'm looking for news about this P40, is the plane of Lt. Hugh Gater shot down on august 13 1944 in Italy?

 

[le_steph40]

Try here...
ADF-Serials Image Gallery :: RAAF 450 Squadron from ADF-Serials Image Gallery :: 450 Squadron Kittyhawks from Welcome to ADF Serials

May be this one ???
42-105213 to RAF as Kittyhawk IV FX536. Missing from attack on enemy artillery positions Aug 13, 1944
from: USAF Serial Number Search Results or 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-91974 to 42-110188)

HTH
Steph

 

[Daniele1958]

thank you but i can't find what im looking for...

 

[fubar57]

Got a pic of a Kittyhawk Mk.III, OK•J: no info in the caption

 

[Daniele1958]

thank you but i can't find what im looking for...

Got a pic of a Kittyhawk Mk.III, OK•J: no info in the caption

i have this one, do you have the same?

 

[fubar57]

Sadly yes but yours is much sharper. Unfortunately my photo editor isn't good enough to make out the serial number or what's left of it clearly

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...here are the choices...

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EDIT: it looks like the "J" has been added afterwards over another painted out code which obscured the last digit of the s/n

 

[fubar57]

It could read FR85?. Here are the FR85..... serial numbers

 

[Daniele1958]

It could read FR85?. Here are the FR85..... serial numbers

View attachment 377781​

The plane in the photo was at Malta during 1943 (Australian war archive). Some year ago i got an amazing document about Gater that was lost...

 

[Wurger]

I would say it's FR851...

 

[fubar57]

Very nice Wojtek. Do you think there is a slight possibility that it could be 580, the 0 being the squared off type sometimes seen in serial numbers. Just throwing this out but I'm pretty sure it's a 1

 

[Wurger]

It is quite possible the serial could be FR850. As you may notice the part of the fuselge where the J letter was applied seems to be overpainted freshly. And the code letter was added or replaced with another one later.. However , in the case the area where the last digit of the number is applied , would be omitted by the "painter" rather in order to keep the serial seen fully.

 

[le_steph40]

Hello,
For me, one possibility
- 42-45841 (P-40K-1-CU) to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR251 Jul 1942. Missing from attack on enemy motor transport near Mount Etna Aug 3, 1943.

These two others are P-40M-10-CU
- 43-5744 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR850. Belly landed at Foggia Oct 6, 1943 following flak hit.
- 43-5745 to RAF as Kittyhawk III FR851. Wrecked when collided with Albemarle P1381 while landing in dust at Grottaglie Sep 26, 1943.

Here is FR252 OKo

 

[Wurger]

Humm.. having a closer look at the enlarged shot I would say it could be the FR251 though. The first digit of the serial seems to be the "2" indeed.

 

[Wildcat]

According to the 450 sqn ORB, South African Lt Gater was flying Kittyhawk IV FX536 when he was posted missing following his dive bombing run on enemy gun pits.

 

[Daniele1958]

According to the 450 sqn ORB, South African Lt Gater was flying Kittyhawk IV FX536 when he was posted missing following his dive bombing run on enemy gun pits.

I tahnk you everyone for your findings, just now i knew that the plane shot down in Fano on august 13 1944 is FX536. I didn't remember who said me that Gater's plane was OK-J, anyway it seems that my photo about p40 OK-J on Malta in 1943 cannot be the plane of Gater (pardon my english). I'm glad to share with you the log book of Col Morton (he passed away one month ago) about that day, please Wildcat may you have a document where you found the new about Hugh?

 

[Daniele1958]

Hi everyone, i have a little question about Lt Gater, what is position S 164727, what kind of map is it?