CHECKERTAILS ACROSS THE MED ! - PHOTOS
P40F Warhawks of the 325th FG taxi into position for launch from USS Ranger off the North African coast 19th Jan 1943 |
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Captain Joe Boomer in the cockpit of his P40F Warhawk ' Trixie' The green dragon insignia of the 318th Fighter Squadron can be seen in the circle in front of Trixie. |
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Lieutenant Colonel R.L Baseler with Bob Hope and Frances Langford in front of Baseler's P40 'Stud'. Bob Baseler started a tradition with this P40, and later named his P47 and P51 'Big Stud' and 'Little Stud'. Bob Hope cracked up Frances Langford with a few choice remarks about the meaning of the word 'STUD' ! |
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| Flight Officer Bill Slattery's P40F 'SWEET LAURIE II ' 318th FS. Note that the aircraft's number 55 is slightly painted onto the canopy glass. |  |
| Lieutenant Colonel Gordon H Austin, leader of the Checkertails until July 1943, seen in the cockpit of his P40F ' LIGHTHOUSE LOUISE'.Austin was a popular leader who lead by example, before he joined the 325th FG he was incharge of the 47th FS at Wheeler Field near Pearl Harbor and managed to get some of his P40s airborne and claimed 8 Japanese aircraft destroyed on that fateful day. |  |
| Captain Ralph G (Zack) Taylor points at his P40L 'DUCHESS OF DURHAM IV ' this aircraft carried the number 13 |  |
| The unit has just moved to Mateur in Tunisia June 1943, and operations carried on as normal even before tents and equipment had been set up. |  |
| Captain John Watkins and his crew chief pose with his P40. Note that Watkins has had the outer .50 machine guns removed from each wing to lesson weight and improve climb rate. |  |
| flight Officer Paul M Hesler was flying this P40 when hit by ground fire. There are at least 10 holes around the cockpit area, and his flaps were hit, however Hesler was unharmed and brought the aircraft back. Note again how the number 4 is just touches the glass. |  |
LA DOUCHE SUPREME - the Checkertails own heated shower, the envy of every unit in North Africa, note that the water is stored in a P40 droptank! When Bob Hope and Frances Langford visited the unit, Frances spent so long in the shower that the USO troupe were late for the next show. Co-builder John Watkins was also famous ( or infamous!) for his working still, and produced a fine wine called 'Popskull de Tunisie' |
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| 'HOIMANN THE GERMAN' one of several captured aircraft made airworthy by the 325th, Hoimann - a Bf 109G was named in honor of Herman Goering! Bob Baseler had it pained just like his P40 - all over black with red spinner, ailerons, elevators, and rudder. Baseler flew this 109 and buzzed a P38 unit sending men diving in all directions in revenge for the P38s bouncing his unit by mistake! |  |
| Damaged in collision with another P40 and forced to make a crash landing, this aircraft gives us a good look at the famous 'Checkertail', the other P40 crashed killing the pilot. |  |
| End of the road for Col Austin - Bob Baseler pins full Colonel Eagles on Gordon Austin July 1943, just before Austin left the 325th to take over the 319th Bombardment Group. The Checkertails were lucky that they had another great leader in Baseler who took over from Austin and maintained the fantastic morale and performance that Austin had built up. |  |
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The P40 was by far the best aeroplane in WW2 to show off 'Sharkmouth' paint schemes, Britain, USA, France, Australia, AVG, all had various designs on this theme, although only a few of the 325th FG P40s sported 'Sharkmouths' |
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(left) P40s were built in huge numbers, and one of the few aircraft to serve on every front in the war. (right) This P40 shows off the National markings of all the countries that flew the P40 ! |
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