CRASH OF A P-40E KITTYHAWK
NEAR HARRISVILLE, QLD, AUSTRALIA
ON 8 FEBRUARY 1942

On 8 February 1942, USAAF P-40E Kittyhawk #41-5436 of the 7th Pursuit Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, landed with its wheels retracted near Harrisville, in south east Queensland, Australia. The undercarriage, air screw, air filters and under surfaces of the aircraft were damaged. The aircraft was able to be repaired. The pilot was L. Wilhite.

The Operations Record Book for 3 SFTS Amberley (see link below) has the following entry:-

9 Feb 1942    Lt. Wilkite, U.S. Air Corps, crashed P40 near Harrisville; not injured. Bad weather; no flying.

Note:- A different spelling for the pilot's surname.

REFERENCE

Document prepared by 1st Lt. Elmore G. Brown, titled:-

"Headquarters, USA Air Forces in Australia
A-4. Aircraft Movements Status & Statistics Section
Location and Status of Damaged Aircraft in Australia"

Operations Record Book 3 SFTS Amberley

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett, Chris Jamesson and Thomas Murray for their assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 4 May 2001

This page last updated 22 January 2021