Strana 35
P-40E-1, 41-25164, Capt. Ben S. Irvin, 9th FS, 49th FG, Darwin, Australia, 1942
P-40E, Lt. Robert Harry Vaught, 9th FS, 49th FG, Darwin, Australia, 1942
Lt. Ben S. “Bitchin’ Ben” Irvin served in the Phili-
ppines and after the Japanese invasion he conti-
nued fighting in Java with the 17th PS (Provisional).
He managed to shoot down a Japanese bomber on
February 18, 1942, during defense of the Dutch na-
val base at Soerabaja and added one Zero a week
later. He left Java for Australia and joined the 9th
FS of 49th FG on March 17. He was promoted to
the rank of Captain as he took command of the 9th
FS on August 28 and led the unit until October 31.
During that time, the 9th FS moved from Austra-
lia to New Guinea. Just a few days after the Flying
Knights, as the 9th FS was nicknamed, settled at
the base near Port Moresby, the order was recei-
ved that all the pilots who took part in Philippines
and Java campaigns, should return to USA. Thus,
Irvin relinquished the command of 9th FS on No-
vember 1, 1942, and returned home, leaving behind
his personal P-40E-1, which was adorned with
a large Pegasus on the left side and named “The
Rebel”. The pilot who inherited the plane added the
name “Bessie” on the vertical tail port side. On De-
cember 26, 1942, 1/Lt John D. Landers took off with
“The Rebel” as one of twelve P-40s. He led White
Flight on a patrol mission over Dobodura and was
shot down in an ensuing combat with Japanese Ki-
-43-I Oscars from 11 Hikō Sentai. Pilot bailed out
and the plane crashed into the jungle, where it
rests until today.
The way of “The Rebel“ into the ranks of 49th FG
was rather tortuous, as it was built for Lend-Lease
contract for RAF as ET488, but delivered to USAAF,
which planned to hand the plane over to NIEAF,
but instead, it ended with the RAAF as Kittyhawk
A29-92. But this serial was cancelled two days
later and the plane returned to the USAAF, whe-
re it was assigned to 9th FS (known as the “Flying
Knights“) of the 49th FG. Irvin decorated his P-40E
with Pegasus on the port side of the fuselage and
named it “The Rebel“. He flew it during the time
he led the 9th FS from September 19 to November
3, 1942.
Lt. Robert Harry Vaught was born on June 15,
1918, in Johnson City, Tennessee. He served as
a Flying Cadet from February 21 to October 31,
1941 and joined 49th PS of 14th PG after he was
rated a pilot on October 31. He changed the unit
for 49th PG on December 16 and moved to Aus-
tralia. His first victory came on March 28, 1942
(Mitsubishi 97 bomber), two Mitsubishi 96 went
down under his guns on December 7. Vaught’s
nickname “Snake Bite Bob” came from an inci-
dent which occurred on July 16, 1942. That day
he took off from Livingston Strip and found out
he had a snake on the floor ready to bite him.
He conducted several violent maneuvers, which
immobilized his passenger, so he was able to
grab it behind the head and realizing it was
a venomous one, he threw it from the cabin.
Vaught’s ill-fated day came on March 5, 1943,
when, now with P-38G-13-LO, he took off from
Dobodura Airfield on a mission over Salamaua.
He shot down two Zeros but, as one engine of
his P-38 was damaged in the combat, he deci-
ded to divert to Wau. On the final approach, the
other engine failed as well and the pilot was
seriously injured in the ensuing crash. Vaught
was sent back to USA and did not return to flying,
although he stayed in service until 1959, retiring
as Lieutenant Colonel. He died in June 1978. His
P-40E was decorated with the shark mouth and
“Flying Skull“. The name “Bob’s Robin” was pain-
ted on both sides of the fuselage. A red circle
of the older national insignia slightly showed on
fuselage as well as on the wing.
KITS 03/2025
INFO Eduard
35
March 2025