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Obetend t1_j9dbgwl wrote

Definitely a P-40, and definitely not the Flying Tigers seeing that the nose art is a snake head. After a quick google search this is what I found with identical nose art:

The “Bushmasters” of the 78th Fighter Squadron / 15th Fighter Group operated their P-40K’s from the Hawaiian Islands and Midway in 1943. They carried a large snake head on the noses of their aircraft. An interesting if somewhat obscure marking.

Anyway, that is an impressive find! Love this kind of stuff

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Dramatic-Scratch5410 OP t1_j9dc63z wrote

Holy crap. I've looked at this picture as closely possible and I never saw that snake. Guess I need to get glasses. I'll look that unit up and see if perhaps there's a organization comprised of surviving members (although too many years may have passed). Thank you!

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Obetend t1_j9dct4r wrote

No problem! I just finished reading Baa Baa Black Sheep by Gregory Boyington, who himself was a Flying Tiger. According to him the Flying Tigers were a kind of “off the books” unit. No one wore rank or any insignia. They technically weren’t in China doing what they were doing (wink wink). So after seeing all the insignia on these pilots I figured something was amiss and looked closer at the nose art.

Edit: The Flying Tigers technically weren’t even in the US military

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Dramatic-Scratch5410 OP t1_j9ddpcu wrote

The 78th has a very interesting history, and upon googling, I actually saw this same picture. It's too old for it to be a random copy, so I'd assume it's owner has some connection to the unit. I'll check out that book, and in return, recommend to you "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors", possibly my most favorite WWII novel. If you enjoy books about naval warfare it's second to none.

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Obetend t1_j9dk6vh wrote

I’ve read it! One of my favorites as well.

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NthngToSeeHere t1_j9dedq8 wrote

The flying tigers were Chinese Air Force. The planes had Chinese insignia. They were part of a group of squadrons known as the AVG (American Volunteer Group). When the US entered the war the AVG was disbanded and absorbed into the USAAF.

There were similar units flying for the Canadians and British. They were also disbanded and absorbed after 1941.

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Obetend t1_j9enwio wrote

Thanks for tightening that up! I remember this from the book but couldn’t quite recall the details last night.

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Teufelkuss t1_j9dr1xn wrote

Not just technically, but literally. They were hired by the Chinese corporation CAMCO, pilots for hire (mercenaries really) that were recruited from the US army air corps and the U.S. navy by Gen. Claire Lee Chennault, who was hired by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek to build a credible Chinese Air Force basically from scratch…..

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Inle-rah t1_j9ggv2m wrote

We are poor little lambs,

Who have lost our way,

Baa, BAA, baa

(Intro to the TV series)

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SagebrushPoet t1_j9dwqwj wrote

I was going to say it was that the 2nd guy from the right in the middle row had a passing resemblance to Claire L Chennault. Really nice, obscure find.

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Igor_J t1_j9h1rd2 wrote

I knew it was a P-40 but didn't see the nose art so I was wondering who they were with. I knew it wasn't the Tigers. Cool. Thanks.

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