Strana 40
42-9768, Maj. Edward M. Nollmeyer, 26
th
FS, 51
st
FG, Kunming, China, winter 1944
Lt. Paul J. Eastman, 90th FS, 80
th
FG, China, 1944
Edward “Big Ed” Nollmeyer was the Commanding
Officer of the 26
th
Fighter Squadron, part of the
51
st
Fighter Group. His P-40K serial number
42-9768 underwent several changes in
appearance, which peaked in the form shown
here with the bunny emblem on the port side
of the fuselage and shark mouth with inserted
squadron badge. The 51
st
Fighter Group was
activated on January 15, 1941, and equipped with
P-40s. While training for combat, the unit served
as part of the defense force for the west coast
before it moved to India in March 1942. The pilots
defended the Indian terminus of the Hump route
and airfields in that area. They also flew strafing,
bombing, reconnaissance, and patrol missions
in support of Allied ground troops during
a Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943.
The group then moved to China in October 1943
to defend the eastern end of the route over the
Hump, guard air bases in the Kunming area,
harass Japanese shipping in the Red River delta,
and support Chinese ground forces in their drive
along the Salween River. The 51
st
FG returned
to India in the fall of 1945 and sailed for the US
in November where it was deactivated a month
later. Ed Nollmeyer made a name for himself in
the epic combat on December 22, 1943, when he
managed to shoot down two Zeros as confirmed,
three probably and also damaged two others.
The 80
th
FG was called the Burma Banshees,
and most of its aircraft were decorated with
a skull on the nose. None of them were the
same, although they sometimes differed only
in details. The primary role of the group was to
provide air cover for bases involved in air supply
operations to units in China via the Himalayas
(Hump operations). Later, from October 1943, the
group was tasked with providing air support to
units in northern Burma. Paul J. Eastman was
one of the pilots to conduct the task, his P-40K
was adorned with a stylish skull on the nose and
named Caroline. He later changed his P-40 for
a P-47. Walt Shiel wrote a book based on his
story and memories from the war times titled
Rough War.
KITS 05/2026
INFO Eduard40
May 2026