Strana 30
11th FS, 343rd FG, Atoll Kiska, Aleutian Islands, summer 1943
A29-113, S/Ldr. Richard Cresswell, CO of No. 77 Squadron (RAAF), Australia, 1942
The Aleutian Tigers represent some of the most
attractively colored P-40s, thanks to the tiger
head that adorned the nose of most aircraft
of this type. The 343rd FG was founded on
September 3, 1942, at Alaskan base Elmendorf
Field. Initially, the group consisted of the
11th FS and 18th FS, both armed with P-40s,
and the 54th FS, which used P-38s and operated
out of Adak. The pilots of the 11th FS went
operational almost immediately after moving
to Umnak Island in the Aleutian Islands. In
October 1942, the 344th FS joined the group,
also with P-40s. The group provided air defense
of the Aleutian Islands and also bombed or
strafed Japanese targets on Kiska Island itself.
Its pilots flew their last combat mission in
October 1943, and subsequently conducted patrol
and reconnaissance flights until the end of the
war, with the exception of high-altitude flights
in early 1945, during which the pilots engaged
Japanese balloons with incendiary charges.
All units were already using P-38s for this
purpose, but the P-40s remained in service
alongside them. The Tiger Heads were
a reminiscence of the AVG, the Flying Tigers
of Claire Chennault, since the 343rd FG was
initially led by his son Lt Col John S. Chenault.
The aircraft depicted here received a name,
in this case Flossie, as one of the few Aleutian
P-40s. The insignias had short-lived red lining.
Richard Cresswell was born on July 27, 1920,
in Franklin, Australia, and was an electrician
apprentice before he joined the RAAF ranks
in June 1938. He began his career with
No. 1 Flying Training School as an air cadet in
July 1938 and spent the next 12 months learning
to fly. He was discharged from the school as
a Pilot Officer and joined No. 3 Army Cooperation
Squadron. He then served as an instructor
and after the Japanese bombing of Darwin
on February 19, 1942, he was assigned to the
US 9th FS as a Liaison Officer. When the RAAF
formed three new squadrons (Nos. 75, 76 and
77) armed with Kittyhawks, Creswell, as a fresh
Squadron Leader, was appointed on April 20 as
Commander of No. 77 Sqn. At 21 years of age,
he was younger than most of his subordinates.
In the early hours of November 23 he scored
his first kill, which was also the first kill by
an Australian unit over Australian territory
and the first night kill over Australia as well.
No. 77 Sqn. was led by Creswell until August
1943, when he was appointed CO of No. 81 Wing
in New Guinea from May 1944 to March 1945,
concurrently leading No. 77 Sqn. for a second
time between September and December 1944.
In September 1950 he assumed command of
that unit for a third time, now in Korea, where he
also supervised the conversion from P-51Ds to
Gloster Meteors. His P-40E of the period when
he first commanded No. 77 Sqn. is interesting for
the distinctive drawings of flags on either side
of the nose. On the left side flew the RAAF, RAF,
Union Jack and American flags. On the right side
there was the Squadron Leader’s flag.
KITS 02/2025
INFO Eduard30
February 2025