p40k.jpgSo I dropped by Alaskan knife maker Bill B and his rebuild. [ About one year ago I posted an article here on Bill.]
And I notice this pic in the shop~~~~

Well, there must be a story here-----

Alaskan Peninsula /Aleutian Chain Spring 1944

Curtiss P-40K fighter aircraft is in trouble. A member of Fighter Group 343 flying out of Dutch Harbor and Adak, the aircraft is unable to make it to a landing strip. The pilot brings the craft down in muskeg. Commander of the 343rd is Col John S Chennault, first born of Major General Claire L Chennault, commander of the newly formed 14th Air Force--Flying Tigers.

Alaskan Peninsula /Aleutian Chain Spring 1971

Bill B is rotor craft mechanic for oil, gas, survey interests operating in Alaska and western Canada.
On this day Bill's Jet Ranger will carry field geologists down the Aleutian chain for sampling. They take a few minutes to look for a rumored downed WW II aircraft and strike pay dirt.
Remains of P-40K ser no 1025 are located. The Jet Ranger touches down and Bill finds all six Browning 50 cal MGs present. Surprisingly, Bill notes the guns are operational. Some sort of weird sulphating process has preserved them in spite of 27 years buried in the muck. These are reclaimed by the DOD straight away. Four years later the P-40 is lifted out of the muskeg and restoration begins.

Monroe, Louisiana Summer 1962

I am visiting my uncle and family. An elegant lady dressed in silk Cheongsam is welcomed. Madame Anna Chennault is in the forth year of widowhood. My uncle, a medical doctor, was the personal physician of Her late husband, Lieutenant General Claire Chennault. And the aircraft of choice of Gen Chennault's Flying Tigers? the Curtiss P-40.

pics
the Aleutian P-40 resides in the Evergreen Air and Space Museum.

https://picasaweb.google.com/pulsenpal/P40#

this is the story of the Aleutian P-40 and the restoration ---

http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/Inve...Issue%2010.pdf


jh