Flt Sgt Copping's P-40 From The Egyptian Desert

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14 years 5 months

Posts: 282

P40

Peter

I think Jakub is just sorting out they were loaded onto a joint server as some photos are his and some belonged to his colleague so he was splitting them so they are credited to both.

regards

Mark

Member for

17 years 5 months

Posts: 24

@ SHEPSAIR - I certainly hope Jakub is able to post them back up. These pictures taken are more historically valuable than most probalbly assume. Especially the inital find pictures. They document so many things that I'm afraid are lost now. Things that are unique to an aircraft operating out in a harsh enviroment. Changes made post-factory that were adaptations due to the theatre and squadron it was in. Such things may not have ever been documented before or just lost in obscurity. One could sit and stare for long while picking out the details.

I think a big hardy "Thanks" is appropriate for Jakub and his efforts to bring this P-40 to the World's attention.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

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14 years 5 months

Posts: 282

P40

Shay

I think there are more photos than just those listed, looking at the info on each I think there were a few gaps.

Might be some more photos from the visit planned today tomorrow though not sure I want to see them :-( except the ID tag if one is found.

Mark

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18 years 3 months

Posts: 104

This a breathtaking discovery! I'm praying it gets saved before it's vandalised to death.

I'm watching this thread with great interest.

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15 years 10 months

Posts: 1,311

Been saving the photos, like a few others no doubt, I plan to build a 1/48th diorama of the scene before the http://www.mocgb.net/forums/images/smilies/yahoo/pirate_2.gif started taking it to bits.

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16 years 7 months

Posts: 10,647

Is that for your 'P-40 found in the Sahara' hoax in twenty five years time Strangey?!

I agree that a photographic survey of how it was found is a vital record.

Member for

15 years 10 months

Posts: 1,311

Is that for your 'P-40 found in the Sahara' hoax in twenty five years time Strangey?!

lol, I didn't say when I was going to do it....

Just deciding on which of my P40 kits to crash land will take quite a while ;)

Don't forget these, Dr S...just for added realism!

Nobody will ever be able to tell whether they are real, or not.

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15 years 10 months

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^^^^ http://www.mocgb.net/forums/images/smilies/yahoo/24.gifhttp://www.mocgb.net/forums/images/smilies/yahoo/24.gif^^^^

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 282

P40

43-2195

This was the 'eye in the sky' website sent through.

http://www.flashearth.com/

On photo 2 of the additional photos, this one look of interest. This looks like the marks left by a flak hit. This scaring I have seen on other 20mm hits.

https://picasaweb.google.com/114682566226043469349/Airplane?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKr-tIXt1ubCmAE&feat=directlink#5736775335212407922

Interestingly right on the pivot point of the undercarriage. I went to think the rear fuselage damage was also the same (20mm).As for the undercarriage fairing - 13mm?

Picture 31 shows a well beaten track. Would not really need GPS? :-(

regards

Mark

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 10,168

Doesn't look like a flak hit to me??

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 258

Having looked at the new and old pics again it looks like all of the data plates have been removed and fairly recently if you look at pic 4 just behind he canopy winder the instruction plate has been removed and you can clearly see zinc chromate green/yellow paint where it should be. It has been said that this plate was plastic and could have fallen off but that doesn't account for the removal of the screws. If we assume that all the data plate have been removed on purpose is there any other way to ID the aircraft? I know the RAF stenciled cowlings etc I was wondering if the numbers were stamped on fitting like hurricanes for example?

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 832

Hi Mark (shepsair)

Can you confirm that the RAFM was 'on the case' before all of this internet activity or whether the publicity generated here and on other websites has increased their interest in this particular aircraft.

Thanks Paul

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14 years 5 months

Posts: 282

P40

Ozjag

I believe all of these photos and videos are all before the web discussion went live.

First set was from end Feb when discovered and intact. Second set March/April with broken perspex etc.

Thats why I am not sure if I want to see current photos!

RAFM were made aware at the same time as the rest of us. Up until the photos were published, it was only known to the survey guys and there Egyptian counterparts but gradually more and more locals know at it

As this P40 was relatively new (assuming date it arrived in theatre and if it is the one we think was lost), I doubt there would be any stenciled cowls/panels etc though might be wrong. Still relying on a couple of ID tags and engine number that may still survive.

Peter - not sure. The radius pattern are marks I have seen on a Bf109E hit with a 20mm cannon shell.

Mark

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 8,464

Posted over on WiX by Ashley Briggs, was this image of the plate forward of the throttle box (from a different aeroplane):

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa355/Desotos/April%2025%202012/photo-1.jpg

Not a dataplate at all!

Bruce

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 258

I think we realise that the the two plates that are missing from the pics aren't the constructors data plate but the point is you are hardly going to to go to all the trouble of removing the patent plate and the canopy instruction plate and not the manufacturers data plate which is on the longeron right next to it. Hence the question! Let'hope s the engine plate is still there.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 8,464

LOL, I dont think we all do!

My understanding was that the data plate wasnt on the longeron; in the initial pictures we saw, there was only the above shown plate missing. Way back in this thread, I think it was said that there was likely to be some sort of ID plate behind the seat.

We shall see!

Bruce

Member for

11 years 11 months

Posts: 6

Yup, that's the plate with the Curtiss Wright build number and (in my case) the USAAC serial number.

Not sure of RAF orders had the RAF serial number stamped there, but it seems likely.

I have a full set from a P-40M...just need the rest now