P-40E Warhawk “Tarheel”

Subject:: Curtiss P-40E Warhawk
US Army Air Forces (1941-1947)
9 FS, 49 FG White 85 Tarhell (2nd Lt. George Preddy)
February 1942 - Darwin, NT
Olive Drab, Neutral grey
Scale:: 1:48
Status:: Completed
Started:: November 7, 2015
Completed:: April 23, 2016
Time spent:: 63,75h

This P-40 was flown by George Preddy when he was based at Darwin, Australia in February 1942. Preddy was a new pilot when he flew this Warhawk(named Tarheel after the US state of North Carolina where he was born and raised) and he was nearly killed during a training mission when another Warhawk flown by Lt. John Sauber (who unfortunately did not survive the accident) collided with him. Preddy managed to bail out. Recovering from his injuries took several months and when he was fit for fight again he received orders to return to the US. He went on to fly P-47 and P-51 becoming the highest scoring Mustang Ace of WWII.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Preddy