Curtiss P-40E Warhawk 12AF 57FG65FS White 09 flown by Roy Whittaker El Djem, Tunisia 1943

Curtiss P40F(E) flown by Capt Roy E 'Deke' Whittaker of the 65th FS/57 FG on April 18th 1943. This A/C was not the regular mount of Whittaker (he normally flew White 43 Miss Fury), in fact this aircraft was normally flown by Col Art Salisbury, C/O of the 57th FG, hence it had the emblems of the 64th, 65th and 66th Fighter Squadrons on its nose. Allied intelligence discovered that on April 18th 1943 the beleaguered Afrika Korp was planning a mass evacuation from North Africa. The US 57th FG launched a patrol of 48 P40 A/C from the 64th, 65th, 66th and 314th FS from El Djem, covered by the RAFs 92Sqn flying top cover. Once intercepted the combined force destroyed a total of 60 Ju-52s and 18 Bf-109s in what became known as 'The Palm Sunday Massacre' Whittaker destroyed 4 enemy A/C during this engagement.

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 12AF 57FG64FS White 10 Pilot Arthur Exon Scordia, Sicily 1943 00

Profile 01: Curtiss P-40F, serial number 41-14596, 64th Fighter Squadron (57th Fighter Group), Scordia, Sicily 1943 flown by Cap!. Arthur E. Exon, squadron commander. Camouflage was dark earth, middle stone, azure blue with a touch of dark green around the roundel.

Planes and Pilots: Curtiss P40 Vol 3 From 1939 to 1945.

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 12AF 57FG64FS White 10 Sweet Stuff 01-02

Photos 01-02:P-40F-10-CU USAAF 41-20010 of the 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group-the Black Scorpions. This craft, seen in 1943, carries an unusual variety of markings, running the gamut from early RAF style tail flash to Northern Europe-style national insignia.

Photo: Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG64FS Black Scorpions 1943 01

Photo: Armourers loading bombs on an overall Desert Pink and Azure Blue aircraft of the 64th Fighter Squadrons 'Black Scorpions'. The wheel covers on this P-40F are Blue with a White star. The 64th was a part of the 57th Fighter Group which took part in the Palm Sunday Massacre in which 75 German aircraft were shot down. [USAF]

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 12AF 57FG64FS White 14 Sicily 1943

Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG64FS Black Scorpions 1943 01
Armourers loading bombs on an overall Desert Pink and Azure Blue aircraft of the 64th Fighter Squadrons 'Black Scorpions'. The wheel covers on this P-40F are Blue with a White star. The 64th was a part of the 57th Fighter Group which took part in the Palm Sunday Massacre in which 75 German aircraft were shot down. [USAF]

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 12AF 57FG64FS White 20 Sicily 1943

Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG64FS Black Scorpions 1943 01
Armourers loading bombs on an overall Desert Pink and Azure Blue aircraft of the 64th Fighter Squadrons 'Black Scorpions'. The wheel covers on this P-40F are Blue with a White star. The 64th was a part of the 57th Fighter Group which took part in the Palm Sunday Massacre in which 75 German aircraft were shot down. [USAF]

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 12AF 57FG64FS White 29 Sicily 1943

Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG64FS Black Scorpions 1943 01
Armourers loading bombs on an overall Desert Pink and Azure Blue aircraft of the 64th Fighter Squadrons 'Black Scorpions'. The wheel covers on this P-40F are Blue with a White star. The 64th was a part of the 57th Fighter Group which took part in the Palm Sunday Massacre in which 75 German aircraft were shot down. [USAF]

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 12AF 57FG65FS White 44 North Africa, 1943 00

Profile 00: P-40F White 44 65th Fighter Squadron (57th Fighter Group), North Africa, 1943. Camouflage was sand 26 (FS 34133) on neutral grey or azure blue underneath.

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 12AF 57FG65FS Pilot Gilbert Wymond Egypt October 1942 00

Profile 01:P-40F 'White 46' 65th FS 57th FG Egypt October 1942. Flown by Lt. Gilbert O. Wymond Jr. Wymond severed longer in the 65thFS than any other pilot during the war. He was one of the pilots that flew off of the USS Ranger. He was named Squadron Commander in 1943 and held the job for 2 years while flying 140 combat missions. This AC was the first of 16 AC assigned to him.

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 12AF 57FG65FS White 47 Pilot Alfred Fronning Amedola, Italy Nov 1943 00

Profile 00: P-40F Warhawk operated by 65th Fighter Squadron (57th Fighter Group), Amedola Italy, November 1943 flown by 1st Lt. Alfred C. Fronning. Six kills with the 65th Fighter Squadron, of which one on a P-47 Thunderbolt.

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 12AF 57FG66FS White 87 Sicily 1943

Curtiss P-40F 57FG66FS White 87 named El Tigre Sicily 1943

 Curtiss P-40K Warhawk 12AF 57FG64FS White 13 Pilot Johnson Cash Hani Main, Tunisia May 1943 00

Profile 01: P-40K, serial number 42-46046, 64th Fighter Squadron 57th Fighter Group), Hani Main, Tunisia, May 1943, flown by 1 st Lt. R Johnson Jay Overcash, 5 kills.

 Curtiss P-40K Warhawk 12AF 57FG66FS Pilot George Long Cap Bon, Tunisia May 1943

Curtiss P-40K, 66th Fighter Squadron (57st Fighter Group), Cap Bon Tunisia May 1943, flown by Capt. George W. Pop Long.

Palm Sunday Massacre
The Palm Sunday Massacre was probably the most successful single engagement for P-40s. Involving all three squadrons of the 57th Fighter Group and 314th Squadron of the 324th Group, as well as 92Sq. RAF, it took place on Palm Sunday evening, April 18, 1943. Immediately before sundown, P-40s on anti-transport patrol off Cape Bon, Tunisia sighted a huge formation of German aircraft bound for Sicily. Over 60 Ju-52s escorted by 21 fighters were jumped by 46 P-40Fs covered by 11 SpitfIres. Caught at low altitude by the Americans diving out of the sun, what followed can only be described as a slaughter. Before the melee ended at dark, 59 Ju-52s and 16 fighters had splashed into the sea or had crash landed on Tunisian soil. Six P-40s failed to return.

USAAF 42-46046 Curtiss P-40K Warhawk 57FG64FS White 13 Robert Jay Overcash Tunisia May 1943 0A

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG66FS 83 Lt Robert Adams named Swampus Cat later shot down 4th Nov 1942 POW 01

Photo description: On 4 November 1942 the 66th FS suffered its first combat loss after flying 71 missions comprising more than 600 sorties. Lt Robert Adams, flying his P-40F ‘No 83’ Swampus Cat, was shot down by ground fire behind enemy lines while escorting bombers. The group received word in January 1943 that Adams was a prisoner of the Italians (Norman Brandman)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 30

 USAAF 41-13969 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG 55 Lt Frank Hertzberg at Khartoum enroute to Egypt Jul 1942 01

Photo description: Sudanese guards pose with Lt Frank Hertzberg’s P-40F 'No 55' (41-13969) at Khartoum while the 57th FG’s aircraft were en route to Egypt in July 1942. Note the fighter has not yet been decorated with the red propeller spinner that was a standard marking of the RAF’s DAF (Frank Hertzberg)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 18

 Curtiss P-40 Warhawk 57FG64FS White 32 Lt Gordon Ryerson nosed over while landing at LG 174 30th Oct 1942 01

Photo description: Lt. Gordon Ryerson of 64th FS / 57th FG and his pranged Warhawk. On 30th October 1942, after a scrap with Messerschmitt 109s, Ryerson nosed over his aircraft while landing at LG 174. (James Crow coll.)

 USAAF 42-46040 Curtiss P-40K Warhawk 57FG64FS White 13 Robert Jay Overcash Tunisia May 1943 02

Photo description: As supplies of P-40Fs began to dwindle, the Ninth Air Force began getting Allison-powered P-40Ks, identifiable by the extended dorsal fin and the air scoop on top of the nose, as replacements in late 1942. This brightly marked ‘No 13’ of the 64th FS was assigned to crew chief Frank Roldan in December 1942 and flown by numerous squadron pilots (W T Robison via Steven Robison)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 33

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG66FS White 87 El Tigre await take off at Ben Gardane Tunisia 1943 01

Photo description: P-40Fs of the 66th FS await take-off orders at Ben Gardane or Soltane, Tunisia. Lt Dale Deniston was shot down by flak in the nearest aircraft, 'No 84' ROBIN, on 26 March 1943, but was rescued by New Zealand troops. On the Palm Sunday mission of 18 April 1943, Lt Robert Looney shot down a Ju 52/2m while flying 'No 87' EL TIGRE (Jim Kirkendall)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 39

 Curtiss P-40K Warhawk 57FG64FS 34 named Messerschmitt Bait Lt William Jenks Tunisia 1943 01

Photo description: P-40K 'No 34' of the 64th FS was aptly named, as the limited altitude capability of the Allison-powered fighters usually forced their pilots to wait for their adversaries in highflying Bf 109s to attack from above before engaging them. Lt William Jenks, the regular pilot of MESSERSCHMITT BAIT, was killed in action on 13 March 1943, although he was flying a different P-40 at the time (Lyle Custer)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 40

 USAAF 41-14235 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG66FS White 01 Col Art Salisbury Tunisia May 1943 01

Photo description: The P-40F assigned to Col Art Salisbury in the spring of 1943, ‘No 01 ‘(41-14235) was maintained by personnel of the 66th FS. Later transferred to the 65th FS, the fighter was shot down during a ground attack mission on 6 November 1943 near Metkovic, Yugoslavia, Lt Robert Blackshaw being posted missing in action (Bob Hanning via www.57thfightergroup.org)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 42

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG65FS White 52 Lt Harry Stanford at Tunisia 1943 01

Photo description: A very pleased Lt Harry Stanford and his crew chief pose with their 65th FS P-40F ‘No 52’ shortly after the Palm Sunday mission, in which Stanford was credited with three Ju 52/3ms destroyed. It is likely that the two-colour camouflage on this short-fuselage Warhawk was applied during an overhaul at the maintenance depot in El Kabrit, Egypt (New England Air Museum)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 44

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG64FS White 20 Lt George Blednick and 42-10453 P-40L White 32 Lt Paul Carll 1943 01

Photo description: The extended fuselage of the latebuild P-40F and P-40L is plain to see here as two 64th FS Warhawks fly in formation during the summer of 1943. Lt George Blednick is at the controls of 'No 20', while Lt Paul Carll is flying P-40L-1 'No 32' 42-10453 (Bruce Abercrombie)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 60

 USAAF 42-45993 Curtiss P-40K Warhawk 57FG64FS Lt Dick Maloney take-off mishap at Tripoli 27th July 1943 01

Photo description: One of the last P-40Ks assigned to the 57th FG, 42-45993 met its end on 27 July 1943 when the engine cut out on take-off from Tripoli while Lt Dick Maloney (in boots holding a bent propeller tip) of the 64th FS was ferrying it to Heliopolis to turn it in. Note the yellow border on the national insignia, the RAF fin flash and the red propeller spinner – all standard markings of the period. Group markings had been removed (Bruce Abercrombie)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 64

 USAAF 42-45993 Curtiss P-40K Warhawk 57FG65FS White 45 and White 54 Lt Harold T Monahan Sep 1943 01

Photo description: Bombed-up Warhawks of the 65th FS await take-off orders in the autumn of 1943. By this time, the national markings had been adorned with white rectangles on either side of the star, as well as a red border, as seen here. Lt Harold T Monahan would be shot down and killed in the second P-40 in this line-up, No 54 Bernice, on 20 December 1943 (Wayne Dodds via Mark O’Boyle)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 69

 USAAF 41-19851 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG66FS White 93 Lt John Teichrow mid air at Rocco Bernardo Italy 18th Sep 1943 01

Photo description: Lt John Teichrow belly-landed P-40F-15 41-19851 ‘No 93’ at Rocco Bernardo, in Italy, after hitting a 64th FS P-40 while taking off for a test flight to slow-time the engine on 18 September 1943. The crew chief of ‘No 93’, SSgt Lou Lederman, was not pleased (Bruce Abercrombie)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 69

 USAAF 41-20010 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG64FS White 10 Capt Arthur Exon Sweet Stuff Sicily 1943 03

Photo description: The changing of the guard from P-40s to P-47s took place at Amendola from December 1943 through to January 1944. Here, P-40F-20 41-20010 ‘No 10’, assigned to 64th FS commander Capt Art Exon, awaits its next bombing mission while groundcrews work on a new P-47 in the background to prepare it for combat (W T Robison via Steven Robison)

Source: Osprey Aviation Elite Units 39 57th Fighter Group 'First in the Blue' by Carl Moleswor Page 78

 USAAF 41-13970 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG66FS White 95 2Lt Thomas T Williams Libya Dec 1942 01

Photo description: 2Lt Thomas T Williams of the 66th FS/57th FG was flying this P-40F-1 (41-13970) on 4 September 1942 when he scored the USAAF’s first official air-to-air claim in the MTO – a Bf 109 probably destroyed. Shown here in about December 1942, after it had picked up the name COUNT PISTOFF and RAF fin flashes, ‘White 95’ was shot down on 11 January 1943, carrying its regular pilot, Lt W B ‘Bill’ Williams, to his death (Dale Deniston)

Source: Osprey Aircraft of The Aces 43 - P-40 Warhawk Aces of the MTO by Carl Moleswor Page 14

 USAAF 42-10453 Curtiss P-40L Warhawk 57FG64FS White 32 1Lt Paul L Carll over Scordia Sicily 16th Sep 1943 01

Photo description: 1Lt Paul L Carll of the 64th FS/57th FG flies Warhawk ‘White 32’ over Scordia, Sicily, on 16 September 1943 – just two days before the group moved to mainland Italy. This P-40L-1 (42-10453) displays the 64th FS ‘Black Scorpions’ badge, along with a red flash extending around the nose. It also carries six wing guns, and its serial is painted near the top of the tail above the RAF fin flash (Bruce Abercrombie)

Source: Osprey Aircraft of The Aces 43 - P-40 Warhawk Aces of the MTO by Carl Moleswor Page 78

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG65FS White 60 2Lt Charles F Constanzo Tunisia 1943 01

Photo description: A crew chief stands on the wing of P-40F-1 ‘White 60’ TADPOLE – note the thin outline on the Warhawk’s fuselage numbers. 2Lt Charles F Constanzo of the 65th FS/57th FG destroyed a Bf 109 in this aeroplane on 11 January 1943, but he was in turn shot down on the Palm Sunday 1943 ‘Goose Shoot’ mission (Ed Silks)

Source: Osprey Aircraft of The Aces 43 - P-40 Warhawk Aces of the MTO by Carl Moleswor Page 22

 USAAF 41-19913 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG64FS White 21 at Maison Blanche Algiers May 1943 NA710

Photo description: A Curtiss P-40 on the ground, Maison Blanche. Late model 'long tail' P-40F serial 41-19913 (ship #21) to the 64th Ftr Sq, 57th FG.

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204944979 Local ID: 342-FH-3A28538-111993AC

 USAAF Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG65FS Unc A Bud White 44 with 43 and 42 waiting for take off Burg El Arab Oct 1942 NA709

 USAAF Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG65FS Unc A Bud White 44 with 43 and 42 waiting for take off Burg El Arab Oct 1942 NA720

 USAAF Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG65FS Unc A Bud White 44 with 43 and 42 waiting for take off Burg El Arab Oct 1942 NA721

Photo description: Curtiss P-40 "Warhawks" Are Parked On The Line Prior To Take Off From Their Base Near Burg-El-Arab Somewhere In North Africa. Oct. 1942. 'Unc A Bud' nose art on this P-40F is a tribute to the mascot of the 65th Ftr Sq, 57th FG, a rooster nicknamed "Uncle Bud." (U.S. Air Force Number 91544AC) (U.S. Air Force Number 91543AC) (U.S. Air Force Number 122258AC)

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204945809 Local ID: 342-FH-3A28544-91544AC
Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204945807 Local ID: 342-FH-3A28543-91543AC
Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204945799 Local ID: 342-FH-3A28537-122258AC

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG66FS White 78 and 92 taking off on a shuttle mission to Russia 1943 NA768

Photo description: Curtiss P-40'S Of The 9Th Af'S 57Th Fighter Group Based In North Africa Taking Off On A Mission To Russia. 1943.(U.S. Air Force Number B59155AC)

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204945817 Local ID: 342-FH-3A28570-B59155AC

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG64FS Black Scorpions in North Africa 1943 NA716

Photo description: An anonymous P-40K displays the squadron emblem of the 64th Ftr Sq, 57th FG. Taken in '1943,' The unit spent the first half of the year bouncing around Libya and Tunisia; by the end of the year they had hopscotched their way to Amendola, Italy. Curtiss P-40 Of The 9Th Af'S 57Th Fighter Group At Its Base In North Africa. 1943. (U.S. Air Force Number 59155AC)

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204945801 Local ID: 342-FH-3A28541-59155AC

 Curtiss P-40K Warhawk 57FG64FS 11 Capt George D Mobbs after combat over Libya 1943 NA625

Photo description: North Africa-Holes in the tail of U.S. Fighters were caused by 20 mm cannon shells in a recent combat over Libya. The pilot, Capt. George D. Mobbs of Wooster, Ark., was severely wounded in the aerial battle with several German ships but through superior flying ability brought his ship home. CAPT George D. Mobbs, Wooster, AR - 64th Ftr Sq, 57th FG, was flying this P-40K (ship #11) when he came out on the short end of an argument with Luftwaffe fighters. Wounded in the fight, he managed to nurse his crippled bird home to this landing, where it was subsequently salvaged. In the course of his tour, he was officially credited with four confirmed aerial victories.(U.S. Air Force Number 11692AC)

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204944854 Local ID: 342-FH-3A28495-11692AC

 Curtiss P-40F Warhawk 57FG65FS White 43 1Lt Roy E Whittaker prior to a shuttle mission to Russia 1943 NA208

Photo description: North Africa Curtiss P-40 pilot, Capt. Roy E. Whittaker, of the 9th AF's 57th Fighter Group in his plane ready for take-off to Russia. 1943. (U.S. Air Force Number A59161AC)

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204946126 Local ID: 342-FH-3A28941-A59161AC

 P-47D Thunderbolts 57FG66FS forced to wait after heavy rains Amendola Italy 1944 NA1807

Photo description: P-47's IN ITALY-P-47 Thunderbombers sit patiently in the mud waiting for their next assignment to strafe and bomb the Hun in Italy and keep tightening the iron ring around Germany. (U.S. Air Force Number 56104AC) 66th FS 57th FG Amendola early 1944

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204907625 Local ID: 342-FH-3A22957-56104AC

 USAAF 41-5726 Curtiss P-40E Warhawk 57FG65FS Yellow 50 flown by Philip G. Cochran CO East Hartford Connecticut Apr 1942 0A

Profile 0A: Philip Gerald Cochran was born on 29th January 1910 in Erie, Pennsylvania, and died on 26th August 1979. He joined the ranks of the USAAC in 1935 and gradually worked his way up to become one of the best P-40 pilots. As a Major, he commanded the 33rd FG in North Africa. Later, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he became commander of the 1st Air Commando Group in India. The unit carried out a wide range of missions from fighter escort of transport and bomber aircraft to supply flights, including very daring missions to supply British Long Range Penetration Groups operating in enemy territory. For his aggressiveness and willingness to take risks on supply missions, Cochran earned the respect of the troops. He scored two aerial victories during the war and retired after the end of hostilities. He returned to Erie, Pennsylvania, and joined his brother's company, Lyons Transportation Lines, where he became chairman of the board. He died of a heart attack while fox hunting in 1979. His P-40E from spring of 1942 carried the standard Olive Drab and Neutral Grey livery, complete with yellow nose decorations and squadron emblem behind the canopy (both of which were carried by other squadron aircraft as well). There was also a Shillalah inscription on both sides of the nose.

Eduard P-40N WARHAWK 1/48 https://www.eduard.com/eduard/p-40n-warhawk-1-48-1-2.html