Strana 56
11
th
FS, 343
rd
FG, Adak, Adak Island, 1942
ET600, Lt. Andrew J. Reynolds, 9
th
FS, 49
th
FG, Darwin, Australia, August 1942
The 343rd FG became famous for its actions
against Japanese in the area of Aleutian
archipelago, operating from Alaska territory.
Harsh conditions took their tax on both airmen
and their machines forcing to interchange
parts on daily basis. In this example. The P-40E
got not only a new rudder with part of serial
number of different aircraft, but also the bottom
engine cowl, which interrupted the famous tiger
head painting, which became a “trademark” of
Aleutian Tigers. Instead, there was a painting of
the probably personal emblem of the pilot – the
angry mosquito over the Aleutian mountains.
As there is only one photo of the plane in
this state of markings, we cannot be sure the
emblem was painted also on starboard side of
the nose.
Andrew Jackson Reynolds was born on August
17, 1917, in Seminole, Oklahoma. He studied
Chemical engineering and graduated from
University of Oklahoma prior to joining the Army
Reserves in November 1940. On July 12, 1941, he
was rated a pilot at Kelly Field and joined 20th
PS (Prov.) in Australia. He moved with the unit
to Java and became member of 17th PS (Prov.)
there. After escape back to Australia he joined
9th FS of the 49th FG. His first individual aerial
victory came on February 18, 1942, when he
shot down a Zero over Java. Prior to that, he
participated by 0,333 share on aerial victory
over what has been stated as Bf 110, but was
in fact a Mitsubishi G3M of 1. Kókútai flown by
WO Seiai Iwamoto. At the end of the war, he had
9,333 aerial victories on his account and was
promoted up to the Lieutenant Colonel rank
during the war. A t the end of the hostilities he
transferred to the new US Air Force and retired
in 1969 as a Colonel. His Star Dust P-40E-1
was known for the painting of the eagle in the
yellow field on the port side of the fuselage.
Other members of his flight replicated this to
form the Eagle Flight. The appearance of the
Star Dust inscription and graphics on the nose
changed during time, this one represents the
earlier version. The additional name Oklahoma
Kid was added on starboard side and it is not
known which color was added to the white as
the shading. We offer blue or yellow variants.
KITS 02/2026
INFO Eduard56
February 2026