P-40K-5-CU 343rd Fighter Group 18th Fighter Squadron

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

B

Bigmerle

Airman
49
6
Dec 17, 2018
I'm searching for photos of a P-40K-5-CU that flew in the Aleutian Islands with the 343rd Fighter Group 18th Fighter Squadron. Research for a paint color of the belly tank. The only photo found so far is a grainy B & W and owner wants to replicate colors used as close as possible. The paint scheme is the British sand and spinach but the tank appears to be much darker even black. Any thoughts?
 
Which grainy photo are you referring too?
Most likely dirt & oil all over it and wouldn't a drop tank used from the "K" fit the "E" as well? Drop tanks were added/used as needed. Doubt they stayed with one aircraft.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMC7Fwlc1SQ

National Archives NextGen Catalog

The online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records.
catalog.archives.gov

National Archives NextGen Catalog

The online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records.
catalog.archives.gov

National Archives NextGen Catalog

The online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records.
catalog.archives.gov

National Archives NextGen Catalog

The online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records.
catalog.archives.gov



 
Last edited:
Mjfur, Photo above shows something over the link/casing ejection chutes. What ever it is appears shiny. What would have been used, tape, something else? Any ideas?
 
I took a screenshot of the YouTube video and used a free, online image converter to go from black and white to color. Here is what it came up with if it helps at all. I agree that since it is in shadow it's looking darker than usual. The tank on the plane in the back looks more sand color. My memory is that most tanks I've seen were not even painted. Why carry the extra few pounds of weight and they were dropped anyway.

 
Bigmerle said:
Mjfur, Photo above shows something over the link/casing ejection chutes. What ever it is appears shiny. What would have been used, tape, something else? Any ideas?
Click to expand...


Do you mean this ? If you do ... undoubtedly the case ejection chutes are still protected with a kind of a thin paper/foil. However I would like to pay your attention to the fact that the plane just could be in the arming process after being delivered. Or disarming for transportation. Anyway it seems to not to be a state that can be found on the operational ready kites, IMHO.

 
Bigmerle said:
The paint scheme is the British sand and spinach but the tank appears to be much darker even black. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
The very dark appearance of the belly tanks in some photos is not only because of the shadow but also due to excessive oil spills (as mjfur already mentioned).



The original colour for the earlier drop tanks (incl. those in the Aleutians) should be NG (or "sky grey"). Below a photo of the same a/c as seen above (post #2), right side:

Cheers!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Similar threads

P
Liberator III LV340 X/120 Squadron
Replies
11
Views
1K
Peter C
P
Looking for pictures of aircraft and pilots in Air Group 12 on board the Randolph and Franklin from December 1944-March 1945
Replies
3
Views
557
TBeissel
XP-51F/G or P-51H and/or F-82 side-on tech illustrations
Replies
0
Views
869
BarnOwlLover
Y
P-47D-25 Thunderbolt 42-26668 Skipper LH-H, summer 1944
Replies
2
Views
806
fubar57
P-51 and P-82 mock ups/wind tunnel models
Replies
8
Views
1K
BarnOwlLover
Menu
Log in
Register