This folder contains a repaint for the Curtiss P-40F Warhawk by Inibuilds. It shows P-40N NZ3220 "Gloria Lyons" of the RNZAF. 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. That is the paint in this file.
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. That is the paint in this file. 
The cumulative scores and missions of the three 'Gloria Lyons' P-40s were painted on the cowl of NZ3220. 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. These were 55 Yellow bomb symbols representing strike missions, and two and a half Japanese flags representing victories over enemy aircraft. Later, it managed to survive the war and the melting pot, and was privately owned and stored at Mapua (near Nelson). At present, restauration is in progress.  
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. Repaint by JanKees.

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Curtiss P-40F RNZAF NZ3220 "Gloria Lyons"

Repaint of the Curtiss P-40F Warhawk by Inibuilds showcasing the iconic P-40N NZ3220 "Gloria Lyons" of the RNZAF. This historical aircraft, chosen as a unit mascot during WWII, carries distinctive markings representing its missions and victories. The detailed paint job includes bomb symbols and Japanese flag symbols on the cowl, highlighting its combat history. Perfect for history buffs and aviation enthusiasts looking to experience a piece of wartime aviation heritage.

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