Hi floks
I see this thread has been quiet for a while, I hope there are some subscribers around
I am rebuilding a 1700mm P40N to replicate the P40 that W/O Leonard Waters flew with the RAAF with 78 Sqn, which was named "Black Magic" by the previous pilot.
Leonard flew something like 95 sorties with this bird.
The info I am trying to have clarified is...
~ did Black Magic have the aircraft serial number painted on each side of the fuselage, under the horizontal stabilizer?
I have seen photos and movie footage where there is no serial number evident on Black Magic as well as other 78 Sqn aircraft, so I don't know if it had been weathered away or had never been applied.
~ was the artwork "Black Magic" only on the left side of the cowl?
again, I have seen photos and movies where Black Magic was both clearly visible also where the letters had all but worn off the left side, yet the right side leads me to the next question...
~ was there a number on the right side of the cowl?
I have seen images of other 78 Squadron P40's with no artwork on the right side cowl, but only a clear number.
The movie footages I have viewed of Black Magic (protected by copyright) does not appear to have artwork nor this number, yet Leonard Waters' daughter Kim recently told me she recalled the number of her Father's P40 was "23"
~were there any pilot's names painted beside the cockpit?
I have confirmed the Sqn code was "HU-L / L-HU" and Black Magic aircraft serial number was A29-575
If anyone out there in cyber world can help clear these issues up, by posting the answers or pffer a link to follow or somewhere to contact, I would very much be indebted.
The reason for all this is that there are 3 of us building P40 variants from 78 Sqn... "Stormy Weather" is all but completed, "Watch My Form" has been completed, but I am still trying to find answers so I can complete my replication as historically correct as possible.
We hope to achieve some formation flight video, both ground footage as well as inflight footage.
Cheers!