Need help finding P-40 FX567, 450 Sqn OK*_ code please.

[N4521U]

I am looking for a Kittyhawk of 450 Sqn, No. Africa. 1944.
Below is some information I have found about a little opp to Monte Casino by a group of P-40's in particular is the aircraft of DM Davidson, FX567. I am trying to find the code for that plane. The sqn codes were "OK*_" I want to make GB24 another of my Davidson A/C builds. I've got loads of photos, and documents regarding D.M.D. and just need that code for his aircraft. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have found this on the web at this site....
450 Squadron RAAF | RAAF Casualty Database

On This Day – 16 February 1944
At 1350 hours, 12 Kittyhawk IV fighter bombers, led by the Commanding Officer, Aus X S/Ldr K R Sands, DFC, were airborne to bomb Cassino Monastery, Italy. The formation encountered heavy 9/10 cloud in the forward area, with very poor visibility, and was forced to return to base with bombs.
Pilots from 450 Squadron were as follows:

Kittyhawk FT948 – SQNLDR Kenneth Royce Sands, DFC, RAAF
Kittyhawk FT946 – WOFF Alastair Douglas Mylne, RAAF
Kittyhawk FX549 – FLGOFF Colin Edwin Johnston, RAAF
Kittyhawk FX567 – FLGOFF Douglas MacKenzie Davidson, RAAF 402321
Kittyhawk FX547 – LT B O Pigott, SAAF
Kittyhawk FX532 – WOFF W G McConnochie, RNZAF
Kittyhawk FX556 – FLGOFF Reginald Alfred Hast, RAAF
Kittyhawk FT943 – FLGOFF Raymond Gershon Goldberg, RAAF
Kittyhawk FX550 – FLGOFF John Frederick Alexander Ellis, RAAF
Kittyhawk FX542 – FSGT Thomas Henry Anthony Mallick, RAAF
Kittyhawk FX557 – FLTLT Colin Watson Robertson, RAAF
Kittyhawk FX545 – FSGT A J C Rogers, RNZAF

Cheers,
Bill

 

[Wildcat]

Bill I had a look around various sources last night mate, but no luck sorry.

 

[Lucky13]

No luck here either Bill....just these two..

 

[Wurger]

These two first P-40s in the first pic are FR135 and the FR252 , Libya ,1942

The FX567 was a P-40N-5-CU.

 

[Lucky13]

Found a photo of the gentleman though....

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Hey Bill, I've posted your question over at TOCH and will see if we get any nibbles.

 

[Wildcat]

Maybe???

 

[Wurger]

This OK-K was FX515 as memo serves. According to my jottings OK-N was FX540. So if the OK-K was FX515 it means that the code letters were given to 450th Squadron kites ascendingly. I mean the higer serial the later letter of the alphabet. Because the FX 567 serial was following the FX 540 , the FX 567 could be of a letter from M-Z.

 

[Wildcat]

Yeah, I reckon your right mate. I thought it was a 6 after the 5 but that would make the space between the two too big. 515 looks more likely.

 

[Wurger]

I have edited my post above. It can be noticed that the serial doesn't end with digit 7.

 

[Lucky13]

OK-M, Serial: FR???

OK-R, Serial: FT943

OK-T, Serial: FR345

OK-Z, Serial: FG303

OK-Y, Serial: FX745

(From; ADF Serials Image Gallery...)

 

[Wurger]

A nice selection of pictures Jan. But the main problem with them is that these images show different version of Kittyhawks and were taken at a different time.

Here another OK-M of the squadron... A?164

and the next... AK634

 

[Crimea_River]

With Wojtek. A lot of those are Kittyhawk III's. No nibbles at TOCH yet.

I came across this pic of a Kittyhawk IV (Note sloped panel behind the pilot's seat) but no ID of the code. I wish I had this pic when I was doing Cleopatra as it shows the unusual wing bomb mount details. I had not noticed the x-braces before.

 

[Wurger]

Agreed... Here is another one of the kite.

Also here a nice pic of the nose art .. on the Kittyhawk of the 450th Squadron.

 

[Crimea_River]

I believe that's a III as well.

I also found a pic of FX749 OK-Y in "P-40s of the Mediterranean" but this was taken much later in April 1945 so no help. 450 Squadron got their MkIV's in October 1943 and stayed with that type to the end of the war.

 

[Wurger]

According to my notes the OK-Y was FX745. Also found it was P-40N-20-CU. But it may be a mistake in the same way OK-D FX835 or 853.

Also the OK-Z FG303 serial , posted by Jan above, is wrong methinks. Looking at an enlarged pic I would say it was FR303.

 

[N4521U]

thanks for getting onto this guys.

I do have most of the photos posted on this thread, but is always good to have others. Jan, I think you posted that second photo just to get a set of boobs on the forum, very sneeky!

The codes were used on successve aircraft as they came in as replacements or new version aircraft. Thus why one code can be had on several aircraft serials. It's my understandong as well, not many codes were used in log books for A/C flown on missions.

Thanks for posting elsewhere Andy, I think it's gonna be a very long shot to find the appropriate code for the year. I even have a list of A/C assigned to 450 Sqn, and this FX567 is Not listed. Could be some numbers got transposed.?! Dvdsn had been assigned another P-40 Sqn before taking on 450, I doubt he would have brung his own place and assigned a code to it.

I do like this kind of detective work.
In the end I could always slap on a "D" onner.

 

[fubar57]

Still 3 days away from my books Bill but as soon as I get in, I'll start looking. I have 3 that are RAAF specific and quite a few P-40 books.

Geo

 

[N4521U]

Still 3 days away from my books Bill but as soon as I get in, I'll start looking. I have 3 that are RAAF specific and quite a few P-40 books.

Geo

Rightyoh Geo. Plenty of time. GB24 doesn't start till Nov. 1.