At the time, the AVG had gone back to the ranks of the US Air Force.

Photo 01-02 Hawk 81A AVG 23FG3FS W46 Layer over China in a five ship formation May 1942 Wartime Color and black and white.

Profile 0A-0C: P-8127 early version, flown by John Petach and Bob Layher of the 2nd Pursuit Squadron. This aircraft is a good example of the 2nd Squadron's use of a ‘Chinese Blue’ for the lips Oil the shark's mouths. The small illustration on the side a/the aircraft is not a "Panda Bear," as some publications have stated, but rather a caricature of Petach riding a bicycle with a camera slung around his neck. This aircraft was later transferred to the 3rd Pursuit Squadron and flown by R. T. Smith.

Profile 0A: P-8127 later version, flown by R.T. Smith of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron. Formerly with the 2nd Pursuit Squadron, the aircraft now carries new squadron markings, including a repainted shark's mouth. Note the areas repainted with Dark Green on the cowl, mid-fuselage, and tail areas. The dark area immediately below the victory markings is simply where the fuselage had been washed prior to their application. A portion of the rudder has been repainted with fresh Dark Earth.

Profile 0A-0B:Hawk 81A-2 (P-8127) 3rd Pursuit Squadron, American Volunteer Group, China, June 1942. It was flown by R.T. Smith, one of the most important figures of the Flying Tigers with 8.90 kills. He was an instructor with the Army Air Corps at Randolph Field before joining the group. The Flying Tigers Curtiss P-4Q s have been given here with their factory designation for clearness' sake as the AVG received a batch of machines originating from British stocks which did not correspond exactly, technically, to the P.40Bs and Cs. The AVG used both the designation P-40B/C and Hawk 81 A-2.

Photo's Hawk 81A 23FG3PS White 47 P-8127

Photo 01: A beautiful shot of aircraft #47 in flight over China. This shot shows the aircraft during a transition phase for the squadron markings. Originally flown by John Petach of the 2nd Pursuit Squadron, the aircraft had a blue fuselage band and blue lips on the shark's mouth. In this photo the lips are now black, the ‘47’ all the forward cowl is painted out, and the blue fuselage band over-painted with red. This aircraft would eventually have a ‘Flying Tiger’ decal applied along with a ‘Hell's Angels’ squadron insignia, and R.T. Smith's name and victory markings aplied.

Photo 01: Curtiss Hawk 81-A2 #47, after being transferred to the 3rd Pursuit Squadron and having new squadron markings applied. Originally flown by John Petach of the 2nd Pursuit Squadron, the aircraft wore a blue fuselage band and blue lips on the shark's mouth. New markings include black lips, a red fuselage baud, ‘Hells Angels’ insignia, ‘Flying Tiger’ insignia, and pilot R. T. Smith name and victory markings under the cockpit.

Profile 00: P-8133 flown by Tommy Haywood of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron. This aircraft was formerly attached to the 2nd Pursuit Squadron. The ‘Bulldog’ insignia was applied to both sides of the aircraft as a reference to Haywood's days as an USMC pilot. Of particular interest are the partial remains of a ‘Flying Tiger’ insignia that peeled off during flight. The outline of the ‘Tiger’ is still visible, due to the discoloration of the surrounding area by the protective varnish applied to secure the decal. A new decal complete with blue victory "V" has been applied.

The 3rd Pursuit Squadron ("Hell's Angels"), participated in the first massive air battles over Rangoon, Burma the "Flying Tigers" were disbanded on 4 July 1942. Pilot Tommy Haywood all the wing root of his #49. The ‘Bulldog’ was applied to both sides of the aircraft. The partial head of a ‘Tiger’ decal remains, and a new complete decal has been applied just aft of it. Photo 02: A close up view of Tommy Haywood's #49. This aircraft was originally assigned to the 2nd Pursuit Squadron, but later was obtained by the 3rd Pursuit Squadron and flown by Haywood. The 'Tiger' decal was a replacement for an earlier one that peeled off, just forward of where this one was apllied.Tommy Haywood's #49, in 3rd Pursuit Squadron colors.Tommy Haywood in aircraft #94. Some researchers have confused this aircraft with Haywood's #49, thinking this photo was of the latter.

Photo 01: Group shot of 3rd Pursuit Squadron pilots. Standing are Haywood (left) and Olson. Sitting are (from left) Smith, Jernstedt, Prescott, Laughlin, and Reed. Behind them is aircraft #68.

Photo 02: Ken Jernstedt, Tommy Haywood and R. T. Smith strike a pose in front of Smith's #77. Playing silly buggers or clowning arround as the yanks would say.

Profile 0A-0B P-8109 flown by Charles Older of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron. This profile represents probably the final stage of the marking evolution for this aircraft. Note the repainted area on forward cowl and spinner. While it is extremely faded in most reproductions, the interior of the shark's mouth was painted "Chinese Blue". The small "FIRST AID INSIDE DOOR" stencil just forward of the fuselage access hatch is in red, rather than the more common white lettering.
Photo's:

Photo's 01-05: Several colored photo shots of a five-ship formation over China. Aircraft include #68, #46, #49, #81, and #74.

Photo 01: Probably the best color photo of Chuck Older's #68. Note staining from spilled fuel below the two fuel caps. R.I Smith stands in front.
Photo 02: Group shot of 3rd Pursuit Squadron pilots. Standing are Haywood (left) and Olson. Sitting are (from left) Smith, Jernstedt, Prescott, Laughlin, and Reed. Behind them is aircraft #68.
Photo 03:A color photo of Chuck Older's flghter, P-8109
Photo's 04-05: Several views of Older's #68 P8109.
Photo 06: A rare view of the starboard side of Chuck Older's #68.
Photo 07: Chuck Older's #68. Note odd camouflage demarcation on the vertical fill.
Photo 08: Excellent view of Chinese roulldel under the wing of Older's #68.
Photo 09: Yet another shot of the shark's mouth of #68. This is all early shot, taken prior to the repainting done on the forward cowl and spinner. Still visible is the white "68" just above the shark's eye.
Photo 10: Note the wheel hub markings
Photo 11: This shot of Older's #68 was taken prior to the repainting done on the spinner and forward cowling, depicted in the color photos elsewhere ill this book. Note the area just above the “eye" where the white "68" has been painted out.
Photo 12: A close-up view of the markings on Older's #68.

Photo 01: Chuck Older and R. T. Smith in Kumming, China, 1942.

Photo 02: Chuck Older in the cockpit of his aircraft, P-8109 Charles Herman (Chuck) Older, born on 29 September 1917 in Hanford, California, graduated from the University of California in 1939 with a degree in political science. Joining the Marine Corps for flight training, he received his wings and commission at Pensacola on 1 April 1940 and was assigned to VMF-I. In July 1941 he resigned his reserve commission to join Chennault's American Volunteer Group (AVG), then forming in Burma. Assigned to the 3rd Pursuit Squadron ("Hell's Angels"), Older participated in the first massive air battles over Rangoon, Burma and became one of the first two AVG aces on Christmas Day, 1941 when he added three Japanese aircraft to two destroyed on 23 December. Credited with five more victories by the time the "Flying Tigers" were disbanded on 4 July 1942, he returned to the States and joined the USAAF.

Profile 00: P-8186 flown by Bill Reed of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron. Note the chalk outlines of mouth styles that were drawn prior to the painting of the shark's mouth. Probably the most interesting feature of this aircraft is the application of RAF roundels to the upper wings, undoubtedly applied at the Curtiss factory and simply not removed prior to shipping to China. This could very well be the only aircraft of the 99 Hawk 8I-A2s flown by the A.V.G. with these markings. RAF roundels were not applied to the lower wings. No good photos showing the 75 on the rear fuselage could be found, so the marking was constructed using other aircraft in the "70 - 79" number range as references.

Photo 01: Bill Reed's #75. Note the RAF roundel still all the upper wing inboard on the Chinese national insignia.
Photo 02: P-8147 flown by Erik Schilling of the 2nd Pursuit Squadron. This aircraft was converted to a photo recoil Bottom left: Bill Reed in front of his aircraft #75. Prior to painting the shark's mouth, each pilot would sketch the rough outline in chalk. Still visible is an early sketch of a very differently shaped mouth. Note that barrels on the fuselage guns extend further out than normal.
Photo 03: Bill Reed's #75. Note the chalk outlines afa shark's mouth sketched on the cowling visible just above Ihe painted mouth.
Photo 04: A close-up view of the markings under the cockpit of Bill Reed's #75, showing the "Hell's Angel" insignia of the 3rd Pursuit Group.

This is a pack of three skin. The same plane, n°75, a three different moments: December 1941 without victory markings, January 1942 first victories painted, March 1942 with Disney Flying Tiger on fuselage.

Profile 00:P-40C of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron ("Hell's Angels") American Volunteer Group, flown by Robert T. Smith out of Rangoon, Burma, 1941. Dark Green and Dark Earth upper, Yellow Sand under surfaces.

Photo 01: Aircraft #77 after having bellied-in. Note the repair patch on the vertical fill just forward of the serial number.

Photo 02: R. T. Smith poses next to his aircraft #77
Photo 03: R. T. Smith leans on the tail of his aircraft #77
Photo 04: A close-up view of R. T. Smith #77. Note the barely visible #77 just above the shark's eye.
Photo 05: Jesse Crookshanks, next to R.T: Smith's #77.
Photo 06: Pilot R.T. Smith in his aircraft #77. Note that the ‘Hell's Angels’ insignia is only a white outline at this time, and has yet to receive a red fill. Compare this shot to the other close up views of #77 elsewhere. The progression of the markings application is interesting.
Photo 07: R. T. Smith leans on the wing of his aircraft #77. This view clearly shows the size and position of the upper wing roundel. Note the antenna wire coming from the wing tip and running just behind Smith.
Photo 08: Ken Jernstedt poses in the cocpit of R.T. Smiths #77
Photo 09: A close-up view of the markings on R. T. Smith #77. Note that in this photo the angel insignia is painted red. Compare this to the color photo showing the same insignia prior to the application of the red fill.
Photo 10: Smith in the cockpit of #77. Note the "PRESTONE" decal just forward of the canopy.
Photo 11: R. T. Smith in the cockpit of his #77. Note the excellent view of the reflector sight and the offset mounting of the ring sight.
Photo 12: R.T. Smith's #77. Note the shell ejection chute, drain pipes, and repainted patch just inboard on the wing guns.
Photo 13: R.T. Smith's #77. Note the under side position markings.

Photo 01: Pilot R.T. Smith poses all the spinner of his Hawk 81-A2 #77 clowning around. This photo cracks me up.

A shot of R. T. Smith in front of aircraft #40. Note the data plate in the aft cockpit scallop. The dark area around the "Flying Tiger" decal is from a varnish that was brushed over the decal to prevent it from peeling off during flight.

Photo 07: Aircraft #91, P-8150. Note colors used to paint the shark's mouth. The tongue is an exact match for the ‘Dark Earth’ camouflage color. A red cheat stripe is used to separate the tongue and the badly faded ‘Chinese Blue’ upper portion of the mouth. The eye consists of a black pupil within a ‘Chinese Blue’ disk.

Photo 01-02: Flight Leader Paul J. Greelle poses next to his Hawk 81-A2 P-8195 #84.

Photo 01: Hawk 81A 23FG3PS White 88 P-8121 Flight Leader Ken Jernstedt Kuming, China 1942 after a belly landing.

Photo 02: A close view up of Ken Jernstedt's #88. Note the mis-matched camouflage edges on the gUn port covers.

Photo 01: Group shot of 3rd Pursuit Squadron pilots. Standing are Haywood (left) and Olson. Sitting are (from left) Smith, Jernstedt, Prescott, Laughlin, and Reed. Behind them is aircraft #68.

Photo 02: Ken Jernstedt, Tommy Haywood and R. T. Smith strike a pose in front of Smith's #77.

Photo 01-02: White 90 under going maintenance.

Photo 01: Aircraft #91, P-8150. Note colors used to paint the shark's mouth. The tongue is an exact match for the ‘Dark Earth’ camouflage color. A red cheat stripe is used to separate the tongue and the badly faded ‘Chinese Blue’ upper portion of the mouth. The eye consists of a black pupil within a ‘Chinese Blue’ disk.

Photo 02: Aircraft #92 of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron. Note the area of the under wing just inboard of the Chinese roundel. The area where the RAF roundel would have been applied had been masked off during factory painting, and is still visible. This was probably a very light gray color.

Profile 00: Hawk 81A-2 (P-8123), 3rd Pursuit Squadron, American Volunteer Group. This plane was flown by Tommy Haywood, formerly of the USMC who finished his tour of duty with the Flying Tigers with 5.80 kills. Camouflage was dark earth and dark green similar to those of the RAF together with a medium grey, Federal Standards reference 16473.

Photo's Hawk 81A 23FG3PS White 49 Tommy Haywood Burma 1942 01

Photo 01: Pilot Tommy Haywood all the wing root of his #49. The ‘Bulldog’ was applied to both sides of the aircraft. The partial head of a ‘Tiger’ decal remains, and a new complete decal has been applied just aft of it.

Photo 02: A close up view of Tommy Haywood's #49. This aircraft was originally assigned to the 2nd Pursuit Squadron, but later was obtained by the 3rd Pursuit Squadron and flown by Haywood. The 'Tiger' decal was a replacement for an earlier one that peeled off, just forward of where this one was apllied.

Photo 01: Tommy Haywood in aircraft #94. Some researchers have confused this aircraft with Haywood's #49, thinking this photo was of the latter.

Photo 02-05: Four in-flight shots of Tommy Haywood's #94.

Photo 01: Group shot of 3rd Pursuit Squadron pilots. Standing are Haywood (left) and Olson. Sitting are (from left) Smith, Jernstedt, Prescott, Laughlin, and Reed. Behind them is aircraft #68.

Photo 02: Ken Jernstedt, Tommy Haywood and R. T. Smith strike a pose in front of Smith's #77. Playing silly buggers or clowning arround as the yanks would say.

Maps Reference