Thanks folks!
Any chance of some RAAF ones?
Sorry Greg ... the Curtiss AP-40E never served outside of the Aleutians. The next best thing would by the RAAF's
Kittyhawk F.Mk IIIP (P for Pontoon). Based on the P-40N-5-CU
Warhawk airframe, the
Kittyhawk IIIP was otherwise similar to the earlier AP-40E
SeaHawk.
Australian service came about when the RAAF concluded that it would require a float-fighter for use in New Guinea. The USAAF was set to receive a dozen AP-40N-5-ED
SeaHawks but was more than happy to relinquished them after the end of the Aleutian campaign. The RAAF
Kittyhawk IIIPs deployed to New Guinea with No. 88 Squadron (as part of No. 9 Operational Group). The first '
FloatHawk' missions were air support operations flown towards the end of the Huon Peninsula campaign.
Shown here is the first
Kittyhawk IIIP after assembly at Aircraft Erection Depot Townsville. The aircraft was test-flown from the Platypus Channel Eastern Breakwater Pier before being delivered to the RAAF in late Sept 1943.
Old Wombat: Apologies, still no sea-scooper nose