P-40N
Restored Curtiss P-40N Warhawk 42-104986 at the Australian International Air Show.
On 14 February 1944, the aircraft (assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron, United States Army Air Force 49th Fighter Group) was flown by 1Lt Nelson Flack during a raid on Wewak, Papua New Guinea. During the attack, Flack found himself in an aerial duel with a Japanese Ki-61 'Tony'. He successfully shot down the enemy aircraft, however, due to damage sustained from the fight, the aircraft lost power and Flack had to make a forced landing. Flack survived the encounter, but lost his life a few years later in Korea. The badly damaged P-40N sat in the jungle for over 60 years, until recovered and restored.
P-40N
Restored Curtiss P-40N Warhawk 42-104986 at the Australian International Air Show.
On 14 February 1944, the aircraft (assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron, United States Army Air Force 49th Fighter Group) was flown by 1Lt Nelson Flack during a raid on Wewak, Papua New Guinea. During the attack, Flack found himself in an aerial duel with a Japanese Ki-61 'Tony'. He successfully shot down the enemy aircraft, however, due to damage sustained from the fight, the aircraft lost power and Flack had to make a forced landing. Flack survived the encounter, but lost his life a few years later in Korea. The badly damaged P-40N sat in the jungle for over 60 years, until recovered and restored.