Strana 49
F/O Stanley Broadbent, No. 18 Sqn RNZAF, Torokina, Bougainville, spring 1944
Sgt/Plt G. F. Davis, No 112 Sqn RAF, Cutella/Sant Angelo, Italy, March 1944
This aircraft was the third to bear the name
Gloria Lyons, a young patient being treated for
tuberculosis at a hospital in Christchurch. Two
mechanics from No. 4 Servicing Unit RNZAF
stationed in the Solomon Islands corresponded
with her and had the aircraft with the code
letter G named after her. The first Gloria was
aircraft NZ3148, P-40N-1, which was destroyed
on February 9, 1944, during landing. Its legacy
was taken over by NZ3167, already a P-40N-5.
On May 17, it was hit by an enemy ground fire
during attacks in the northern Bougainville
area and the pilot had to bail out. The third
aircraft was NZ3220, which survived until the
end of the war. Here it is shown in the form that
corresponds to the end of its combat service
before returning from Torokina to New Zealand.
The painted bombs on the fuselage represent
the number of missions flown by all Glorias.
In New Zealand, the aircraft awaited further
service with a training unit and also underwent
several changes in markings and inscriptions.
The famous RAF “Shark Squadron” was founded
on July 30, 1917, and its mission was to protect
the airspace over London. The unit was
deactivated on June 13, 1919, and reactivated on
May 16, 1939, aboard the aircraft carrier HMS
Argus, which was heading for Egypt. In June, its
pilots received obsolete Gloster Gladiators, with
which they joined the fighting shortly after Italy
entered the war. During July 1941, the squadron
became one of the first to be operational with
Tomahawks. The aircraft’s prominent nose
with a large radiator inlet inspired the unit’s
members to paint shark mouths, following
the example of the German Bf 110s from ZG 76.
In December of that year, the squadron
replaced its Tomahawks with Kittyhawks
Mk. I and gradually took over more modern
versions up to the Mk. IV. Members of various
nationalities served in the unit. In addition to
the Britons, these were mainly Australians,
Poles, Canadians, and New Zealanders. Later,
more and more South Africans appeared in
the ranks of the “Shark Squadron”. After the
invasion of Sicily, No. 112 Squadron moved to
Italy in September 1943 and re-equipped with
Mustang Mk. III aircraft in December of that
year. At the end of the war, the unit reported 206
enemy aircraft destroyed in the air and 62 on
the ground. The aircraft shown was delivered in
American colors, which were modified by adding
Middle Stone to the Olive Drab, while the Neutral
Gray of the lower surfaces was repainted Azure
Blue. The upper surfaces had their color fields
swapped compared to the usual desert scheme.
KITS 08/2025
INFO Eduard
49
August 2025