P-40 RNZAF Gloria Lyons

[jankees]

As the result of correspondence between two armourers of No. 4 Servicing Unit at Ondonga, on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands, and a pen-friend who was a tuberculosis patient at Christchurch Hospital in New Zealand named Gloria Lyons, it was decided to adopt her as a unit mascot. At that time 4 (SU) aircraft carried code letters, so one P-40N-1, NZ3148 coded 'G', was duly christened 'Gloria Lyons', and this name was painted on the lower engine cowls.

 

Gloria1 (0006) by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

 

Gloria 3 (0001) by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

 

Gloria1 (0003) by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

 

After this aircraft was written off due to a crash landing on February 9th, 1944, another candidate was found in NZ3167 ( This a/c has often been listed as having been NZ3188), a P-40N-5 that was also sign written with the name.

This aircraft was also to be written off (two weeks later) after being hit by enemy ground fire while on a strafing mission to northern Bougainville on May 17th, 1944. The pilot, F.O. Charlie Woods, who co-incidentally was involved in the loss of the first 'Gloria Lyons', was forced to bail out into the sea.

 

A third P-40 (an N-20), NZ3220, was selected as the next candidate, and was duly marked. The cumulative scores and missions of the three 'Gloria Lyons' P-40s were painted on the fuselage of NZ3220. These were 55 Yellow bomb symbols representing strike missions, and two and a half Japanese flags representing victories over enemy aircraft.

Gloria 3 (0003) by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

 

Gloria 3 (0002) by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

 

Gloria 3 (0001) by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

 

When it returned to New Zealand in late 1944, it was repainted in the Foliage Green/(NZ) Sky Gray scheme, but the markings were retained. Somehow it escaped being scrapped and was sold to John Smith, a collector, who stored on his farm in Mapua. After his death last year, it was discovered as a barn find, together with a Tiger Moth, P-51, a Mosquito and another P-40. She is currently undergoing restoration.

 

 

As a footnote, the fourth and last 'Gloria Lyons' was an F4U-1A, NZ5233, which was written off after a landing accident at Torokina on June 15th, 1944.

[BillD22]

Outstanding liveries, series of shots, and fascinating historical note although the "Gloria" name seems to have been an unlucky one for all but the last aircraft!:cool::cool::cool::cool::D

[peer01]

Great paints, story and pics JK :cool::cool::cool:

[NMLW]

Nice history of the P-40s. Fine job on the paints and pics. :cool: :cool: :)

[jankees]

and why not add the Corsair as well?

F4U Gloria (0006) by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

 

F4U Gloria (0002) by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

[Rupert]

Great Gloria shots and a wonderful history lesson as well. Thank You!

 

Michael