Hobby Master HA5505 1:72 P-40N “Angry Bee” – Miniature Marvels: Airplane Models & Painted Dice* Airplane Model

Description

Hobby Master HA5505 1:72 P-40N “Angry Bee” BU-O, Lt. Ken Goldring, 80 Squadron, RAAF, Nov 1944

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk first flew in 1938 as a modification of the Curtiss P-36 Hawk.Warhawk was the official U.S. designation while the name Tomahawk was used by theBritish Commonwealth and Soviet forces for the P-40B and C and Kittyhawk for P-40Dsand later variants. The P-40 was first used by British squadrons in North Africa and theMiddle East in 1941. The P-40 lacked a two-speed supercharger making them inferiorto German aircraft but was an adequate fighter in low altitude combat zones. Almost12,000 P-40s were produced.

No. 80 Squadron was formed in September 1943 and equipped with Curtiss P-40
Kittyhawk. On July 29, 1944 Curtiss P-40N 43-23237 was received by 80 Squadron
RAAF and assigned an ADF number A29-671 and letters BU-O. BU-O was assigned to
Lt. Ken Goldring who named the aircraft Angry Bee. From mid-summer 1944 Americanand Australian forces were engaged in battles to drive Japanese forces out of DutchNew Guinea. Noemfoor Island was a major goal because of three airfields that could beused to support the Allied advance.