P-40K Flare Gun Patch Paint

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Bigmerle

Airman
53
10
Dec 17, 2018
The P-40K has a flare gun mounted in the fuselage behind the cockpit to fire nearly straight up. The opening in the fuselage was covered by a fabric patch to be replaced after each use. Has anyone seen photos of the patch to show if it would have been painted or left unpainted?
Any help appreciated.
Curt
 


I have had a quick look at a couple of the net sources and I found that the fabric patch was in useage in Burma, China and Aleutian islands mostly. The protection of the slot was unpainted very often. But it seems that its colour depened on the fabric one rather than the painting by the maintenace crews. In the Kagero book for the P-40 vol.2 there is an image of a P-40K of the 16th FS, the 23rd FG in China with the unpainted, light ( white? ) fabric protection of the slot noticed nicely. Below what I found ...





But using of the patch wasn't a rule ...


Contrary to that the P-40s in the Africa and possible the Europe didn't have it covered at all ...



the pic source: the net.
 
Great photo evidence as always Werger. The K model in question was an Aleutian Island P-40 built for the British. We are trying to decide what are the most accurate paint details to apply. Much appreciated.
Curt
 
Actually the most of the Warhawk pics were taken from the port side while the slot for the signal gun was on the starboard. So no wonder it can't be found mostly.
However as I mantiond it above it seems than not all P-40 had it installed or it is quite difficult to notice it even if a pic shows the starboard.





I have to admit that most of the slots can be found in the images of the P-40K type.




But it doesn't mean the other variants didn't have it ... especially the RAF Kittyhawks ... but not only ...










the pic source: P-40 In Service
 
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