From Find-A-Grave.
Kenneth Wayne Sprankle was 17 years old when his family moved to West Virginia. He never married or had children.
He was killed when his plane stalled coming out of a slow roll and spun into a cliff.
The inscription of his grave in the Punch Bowl reads: "Kenneth W. Sprankle, Pennsylvania. 1st Lt. 6 AAF Pursuit Sq. World War II.
April 26, 1915- Jan. 24, 1942."
He is buried at the National memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. Plot M289.
--GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Showing posts with label Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawks. Show all posts
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
History of the P-40 Tomahawk-- Part 2: Used By Most Allied Air Forces
The P-40 Tomahawk was used by most Allied forces during the war and remained in the front lines of operations for the entire period of the war.
The United States Army Air Corps named the P-40 the Warhawk. The British and Russian Air Forces used the name "Tomahawk" for the 'B' and 'C' series and Kittyhawk for the 'D' models.
It was powered by an Allison V-1710 and armed with nose and wing mounted Browning machine guns. Pilots generally avoided high altitude combat due to a lack of a two-stage super charger. This made combat with the Focke-Wulf 190 and Messerschmidt Bf 109 very dangerous.
At medium to low altitudes the P-40 had good agility.
--GreGen
The United States Army Air Corps named the P-40 the Warhawk. The British and Russian Air Forces used the name "Tomahawk" for the 'B' and 'C' series and Kittyhawk for the 'D' models.
It was powered by an Allison V-1710 and armed with nose and wing mounted Browning machine guns. Pilots generally avoided high altitude combat due to a lack of a two-stage super charger. This made combat with the Focke-Wulf 190 and Messerschmidt Bf 109 very dangerous.
At medium to low altitudes the P-40 had good agility.
--GreGen
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
History of the P-40 Tomahawk-- Part 1: 3rd Most Produced American Fighter
From Collins Foundation World War II Planes page.
They were built by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation and were single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. A total of 13,738 were built between 1939 and 1944, making the aircraft the third most-produces American fighter after the P-51 and P-47.
The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk. This new design reduced development time and enabled rapid entry into production and operational service.
--GreGen
They were built by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation and were single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. A total of 13,738 were built between 1939 and 1944, making the aircraft the third most-produces American fighter after the P-51 and P-47.
The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk. This new design reduced development time and enabled rapid entry into production and operational service.
--GreGen
The Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawk-- Part 3: #41-13297 "Rediscovered" and Restored
This is definitely a plane with a history, even if it had very little war record.
In 1985, the plane was "rediscovered". After a preliminary investigation it was determined that its air frame was not severely damaged and it could be removed and restored. Some parts were recovered in 1985 and the rest recovered in 1989.
In 1989, the Curtiss Wright Historical Association in Torrance, California, was formed to restore the plane. The restoration was named "Project Tomahawk."
Whenever possible, parts of the original plane were used. Two other P-40 Bs, the 39-287, that also crashed in Hawaii in 1941 and the 39-287, that crashed in a severe storm over the Sierra Nevadas on October 24, 1941, were utilized for parts.
When it was finished, it joined "The Fighter Collection" at Duxford, United Kingdom. In 2003, it began flying wearing the same color scheme it had in Hawaii in 1941 as a member of the 18th Pursuit Squadron based at Wheeler Field.
--GreGen
In 1985, the plane was "rediscovered". After a preliminary investigation it was determined that its air frame was not severely damaged and it could be removed and restored. Some parts were recovered in 1985 and the rest recovered in 1989.
In 1989, the Curtiss Wright Historical Association in Torrance, California, was formed to restore the plane. The restoration was named "Project Tomahawk."
Whenever possible, parts of the original plane were used. Two other P-40 Bs, the 39-287, that also crashed in Hawaii in 1941 and the 39-287, that crashed in a severe storm over the Sierra Nevadas on October 24, 1941, were utilized for parts.
When it was finished, it joined "The Fighter Collection" at Duxford, United Kingdom. In 2003, it began flying wearing the same color scheme it had in Hawaii in 1941 as a member of the 18th Pursuit Squadron based at Wheeler Field.
--GreGen
Monday, August 7, 2017
The Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawk #41-13297-- Part 2: In a Hanger During the Attack
The Collins Foundation Tomahawk was made a part of the 19th Pursuit group at Wheeler Field in Hawaii.
In October 1941 it was in a wheels up landing which required repairs. It was in a hanger when the Japanese attacked and that probably saved it.
It was quickly repaired afterwards and returned to flight worthy status.
However, on January 24, 1942, after just nine months of service and just 56 hours flight time, on a routine training flight it spun out of control and crashed.
The pilot, Lt. Kenneth Wayne Sprankle, was killed. The crash took place in a rather inaccessible area. The body was recovered and the plane left in place.
It has since been recovered.
--GreGen
In October 1941 it was in a wheels up landing which required repairs. It was in a hanger when the Japanese attacked and that probably saved it.
It was quickly repaired afterwards and returned to flight worthy status.
However, on January 24, 1942, after just nine months of service and just 56 hours flight time, on a routine training flight it spun out of control and crashed.
The pilot, Lt. Kenneth Wayne Sprankle, was killed. The crash took place in a rather inaccessible area. The body was recovered and the plane left in place.
It has since been recovered.
--GreGen
Saturday, August 5, 2017
The Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawk #41-13297-- Part 1: This One at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941
On July 27, 2017, I wrote about the Winds of Freedom Tour coming to the Executive Airport in Chicagoland. I, unfortunately, did not get there, but while doing research on their planes found out that one of planes among the Collins Foundation's World War II collection is the only surviving airworthy U.S. fighter from the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, this plane was not at the show last week.
It was a Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawk fighter like the ones the Americans were flying in the movie "Pearl Harbor."
It was one of the 131 P-40 Bs built at the Curtiss facility in Buffalo, New York, between 1940 and 1941.. Its number is Bu No. 41-13297 and it was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in March 1941 and sent to Wheeler Field, Hawaii in April.
--GreGen
It was a Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawk fighter like the ones the Americans were flying in the movie "Pearl Harbor."
It was one of the 131 P-40 Bs built at the Curtiss facility in Buffalo, New York, between 1940 and 1941.. Its number is Bu No. 41-13297 and it was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in March 1941 and sent to Wheeler Field, Hawaii in April.
--GreGen
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