African vehicles

[motto (RIP)]

There is no doubt that the Merlin turned the P51 from an ok aircraft into an outright success that nobody could deny. That magic didn't happen with the P40.
The Curtis airframe being an older design apparently made the Merlin of little or no advantage in which case it would have been an unnecessary supply chain complication even if the P40 Merlin was compatible with the P51 which it probably wasn't and so my surprise at its adoption.
Often we know what was done but are left wondering why?

David

Good stuff Tony, keep it coming . The aircraft being a P40F would presumably predate the Torch operation and it begs the question as to how long prior to this DAF aircraft were operated in American markings?

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by motto

The aircraft being a P40F would presumably predate the Torch operation and it begs the question as to how long prior to this DAF aircraft were operated in American markings?

Not very long Dave, perhaps two or three months at most. The USAAF squadrons arrived with DAF in Egypt a few weeks before Alamein, which was late October, and Torch was early November.

There were about half a dozen USAAF squadrons with DAF, comprised of P40 Fighter and B25 Bombardment Squadrons. They all carried the RAF fin flash in addition to their USAAF markings, and I believe they were delivered in a plain pinkish colour scheme intended specifically for desert use (unlike USAAF a/c intended for Torch operations which all arrived in camo scheme).

[Lang]

Here are 2 photos of DAF P40's. Wide and Narrow white stripe.

This is an interesting link.

http://raf-112-squadron.org/79th_fg.html

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Lang

Here are 2 photos of DAF P40's. Wide and Narrow white stripe.

I'm guessing the wide stripe was officially superceded by the narrow stripe, possibly to reduce visibility to enemy a/c. Perhaps this was initiated in the desert where the problem became evident in the much brighter light. Whatever the case, the wide stripe is seen on early model P40s and becomes increasingly rare on later models. Will need to check more photos of course.

[Lang]

If you can follow the same squadrons through a period you might see if it was a widespread instruction or just what the squadron signwriter decided.

[Lang]

You are on a hiding to nothing to try to make sense of the tail markings.

I found AWM photos of RAAF P40's in Italy with both wide and narrow stripes in the same squadron.

Here is a photo of Australian P40's in one squadron, wide stripes and nothing! December 1943

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Lang

You are on a hiding to nothing to try to make sense of the tail markings.

Yes I suspect it will probably do my head in if I try! As you say the logical way would be to follow the timeline in a few different squadrons, to see if it was time related or just local practice.

No need to worry about the Aussie P40s pictured, they're operating in SWPA so they bear RAAF markings (blue and white only). DAF was under RAF command so all British Commonwealth squadrons operating with DAF bore RAF markings (red/white/blue).