Query about Pearl Harbor P-40s

I see.  Good to know.  I can only imagine. Thanks again.  =]

bvallot

richs26: That's something I've noticed around '39-'41 timeline. I knew things were switching up...just wasn't aware what got documented and not lost over time.  But thanks for that extra follow up.  I was beginning to surmise that very same thing.

Joe: I hear ya. =]  I hadn't actually thought to look up the Japanese side of things.  May be worth a look. =]

Brandon: That's nice to hear.  We're supposed to be getting one here at the National DDay museum in New Orleans.  Unfortunately it's not a -B. =[ but I am looking forward to seeing it some day soon.

The biggest issue with researching on the Japanese side is finding a Japanese Historian that will help.  For the most part WW2 is taboo.  I did find a couple though that sent me some information, only it was all in Japanese.  I was able to muddle through a little and get some information though.

Joe

bvallot, a good book that explains about the differences in markings of this period is Dana Bell's "Air Force Colors", volume 1.  There are photos available of aircraft that never changed to the new marking system.  There is a good example of this of a group of Aleutian Tiger 11th PS P-40E's with the photo taken in July-August 1943 as evidenced by the red surround of the star and bar.

http://aleutianplanes.com/#P-40E1

richs26: That's something I've noticed around '39-'41 timeline. I knew things were switching up...just wasn't aware what got documented and not lost over time.  But thanks for that extra follow up.  I was beginning to surmise that very same thing.

Joe: I hear ya. =]  I hadn't actually thought to look up the Japanese side of things.  May be worth a look. =]

Brandon: That's nice to hear.  We're supposed to be getting one here at the National DDay museum in New Orleans.  Unfortunately it's not a -B. =[ but I am looking forward to seeing it some day soon.

Another thing to consider is that markings were in a state of flux with different markings applied to aircraft in the same squadron.  For example, with some aircraft having large plane-in-group numbers on the fuselage while others just have the small PIG numbers and group designators on the tail.  And some had the new system of fiscal year designator and serial number on the tail.  No body had time to write down who took what plane into the air with what pilot.  Brig Gen Taylor was even a consultant for the Tora film and the markings for his bird are not even close to what is depicted today.

bvallot

Joe, you're no doubt right.  I was just putting this question out there with my fingers crossed is all. =D

Glad to hear from you as well on it.

I am not the expert by any means.  I just know I have had a lot of difficulty trying to find individual aircraft information from the attack.  I can actually get more from the Japanese side than from the American.

Joe

If it makes any difference, and I don't think it will, one of the planes used in the movie is sitting at my local museum, new paint of course.

And parrot head is here also.  

Joe, you're no doubt right.  I was just putting this question out there with my fingers crossed is all. =D

Glad to hear from you as well on it.

To be honest you may not find the concrete information you are looking for.  In all that I have read and seen the only thing that is for sure is that there is not much surviving information from that day.  There are some books and websites that have some information on different aircraft but specifics are very hard to come by.  I was told that a fire destroyed the records and all we have left is bits and pieces.

Joe

A wealth of information right there guys.  Thanks a lot! =]

richs26: I am aware of what you noted above as the main differences between the two.  But as I only know what I read from different things published and learn from what's available online, I never want to assume too much when I start seeing a conflict between sources.  I hate sounding like a know-it-all one minute and a total retard the next.

I certainly appreciate the post. That's getting me closer to the ballpark I was looking for! =]

www.airfields-freeman.com/.../Airfields_HI.htm

I always like putting up this link on PH Day.

There were airfields and aircraft all over the islands, doing all sorts of things.

There were quite a few P-40 and P-36's that got airborne.  Welch and Taylor were the first.  8 USAAF pilots got airborne.  Out of the 8, 4 were P-36 pilots, 2 were P-40 pilots (Welch and Taylor), and I haven't found out the identity of the last remaining pilot and his mount.

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't there only 2 P-40s that managed to take off during the attack on Pearl Harbor?

All B/C's had 2 .50's in the nose and 4 .30's in the wings.  The C can be distinguished easily enough from the B by the fittings for the 52 gallon drop tank.  There were 87 B's and 12 C's in Hawaii.  Here is the roster of aircraft for Dec. 7th:

http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/cgi-bin/IKONBOARDNEW312a/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=14;t=45

 I haven't found anything that accurately states what aircraft Taylor and Welch specifically flew from Haleiwa.  Here is something that describes the aircraft stationed at Haleiwa by the 47th PS:

http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/cgi-bin/IKONBOARDNEW312a/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=14;t=24