Page 105
BUILT
67th FS, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, November 1942
P-400 listed in the squadron records as “Old 13”
was one of few original Airacobras delivered to
67th FS in the spring of 1942 and still serving on
Guadalcanal in the beginning of 1943. Rudimentary
conditions of the remote Pacific airbases and lack
of the spare parts forced the ground personnel
into many improvisations. Textbook example
is the story of the “Old 13” Airacobra which
already crash-landed during her service on New
Caledonia and her wreck was cannibalized for
the spare parts. 67th FS heavy losses after its
transfer to Guadalcanal and the critical lack of
the aircraft on the island caused the abandoned
Airacobra wreck to be restored to the airworthy
condition after a complex repair. The aircraft
received a new wing and also a number of many
fuselage panels and hatches had to be replaced.
According to the surviving repair record the
replacement parts were painted in Olive Drab/
Neutral Grey colors and therefore the Airacobra
sported the unique display of the British and
American camouflage shades. Furthermore,
the more powerful engine was installed, and
the damaged propeller blade was replaced by
another one balanced by pouring the melted
plumb into its tip. The instrument panel was
furnished with the essential gauges only, there
were only holes after the rest of the instruments.
This repaired Airacobra was christened “The
Resurrection” and this inscription was painted
on both sides of the fuselage. Unfortunately, no
photographic evidence exists so the inscription
appearance is based on another 67th FS airplane.
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February 2024