The previous P-40s shown were from the Heckman/Cashion Collection, but this one today is an official Air Force image and with the image was information, and this perhaps explains the reason it was an official photograph. These P-40s were reported to be "F" models. These were supposed to have been being phased out. It took to the end of the war to "phase" them out.

This picture was likely taken in the Solomon Islands at Munda, New Georgia Island. (There had been heavy ground fighting to take the Munda airfield away from the Japanese. This was necessary to secure Guadalcanal. This airfield is still in operation in 2013.)

These aircraft are part of the13th Air Force, 18^th Fighter Group, 44^th Fighter Squadron.

The reason for the photograph was because of the pilots of these two aircraft. The closest P-40F, "White 116" was flown by 1Lt. Henry E. Matson, and the other, "White 111" flown by 1Lt. Jack Bade; both aces. The "White" would have been part of the radio identity which would identify the aircraft and squadron at the same time.

Tail numbers cannot be made out therefore year of manufacture and serial numbers cannot be determined. (The "111" and "116" are for local identity.)

Henry E. Matson, flew out of Munda, New Georgia Island (Solomon Islands) in Sept. 1943. Earlier, on June 7, Matson shot down a Zero and then got involved with another Zero flown by Japanese ace and veteran pilot, Masuaki Endo. Many Japanese pilots were not veterans very long, but Endo was on his second tour of duty. To survive this long, he had to be good and lucky.

In Endo’s first combat, he had claimed a F4F Wildcat and two Dauntlesses. This was after a flight of 560 miles to get to the combat area. Then he had another 560 miles to fly before he got home.

In a head-on attack with Matson, Endo’s Zero was set afire. (Very common with Zeros.) Though on fire, rather than bail out, Endo pressed the attack and rammed Matson’s aircraft head-on.

Matson parachuted safely at 18,000' with burns to his face, neck, and hands. Endo died in the crash.

(In any physical stress, the P-40's structure was superior to that of the Zero.)

Jack Bade, in his P-40F, "Destitute Prostitute" ("White 111") was credited with 5 confirmed kills when he returned to the US. (This aircraft can be seen as "Reckless Prostitute" with 14 kill marks. This is an anomaly and is not to be believed. The port side of the aircraft can be believed; not the starboard side.)

Bade’s "White 111" could truly be described as "Old War Weary" and was the last P-40 in the group. They later switched to P-38s.

Back in the US, Bade continued risky flying as an experimental test pilot for Republic. He was killed in an F-105 crash in 1963.

Tomorrow, we start the Image du Jours with images from another collection.