Register Review

Closely following on from the Hurricane and Corsair noted in the two previous issues is yet another interesting warbird, Precision Automotive’s Curtiss Warhawk PFO, although this aircraft is thought to be a longterm restoration project and a long way off flying.

The Warhawk, piloted by Nelson Flack of the 5th Air Force, 49th Fighter Group, 8th Fighter Squadron, USAAF, took off from Gusap, PNG, on February 14 1944 on a ‘search and destroy’ mission over Wewak. Flack found a Japanese Ki-61 Tony and after a short dogfight damaged the Tony which crashed into shallow water killing the pilot. During the engagement Flack’s aircraft cooling system had been damaged and he was forced to make a crash landing in a field about 60 miles north of his home airfield of Gusap and behind enemy lines. After exiting the aircraft it caught fire and exploded. After several attempts to rescue Flack he eventually walked out of the jungle and was repatriated to America.