Curtiss P-36G

[Bearfire]

Saludos.

I am sorry I cannot write this in spanish, but hope that English will do.
I am a Norwegian plastic modeller, and loves to model aircraft and also make colourprofiles. At the time I am planning a series of Curtiss P-36's related to the Norwegian Air Force.
Peru got several of the aircraft intended for Norway, but very little is known about them.
Are there any photos available to establish how they were marked with insignias and codes and what colour they were painted?
What squadron(s) were they assigned to?

I should be very happy if anyone could help with some info on this topic. Thank you.

Kind regards
Bjørnar Norås

[Mikoyan]

Welcome

Here its the link ,

http://perudefensa.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=135

Otto maybe you can give this guy a hand.

See you.

Mikoyan

[Veltro_28]

Curtiss P-36G (Export Hawk 75A- in CAP service

Hello Mr. Noras, welcome to Perudefensa

The Curtiss P-36G was obtained by the Peruvian Air Corps due to the Lend Lease agreement signed in 1942, on behalf of which, the EE.UU. will provide modern military equipment to Peru at preferencial prices. Those agreements weren´t honoured in the end.

Peru adquired a batch of 10 Curtiss P-36A-8 fighters, redesigned P-36G after norwegian forces return about 30 of them after completing their training @ Little Norway airbase in Canada. The worn out planes were divided between Curtiss (12 machines) and the USAF (18 ), but the US air force had no use for them as they were obsolete at every single operational belic theatre, and the engines were incompatible with those used by most US fighters. Peru, however, was eager to receive new fighters after the closure of Caproni Factory and facing the dwilling numbers of Ca.114 and NA-50 on its main fighter unit, the XXI Fighter Squadron. With the airforce against the wall and no other prospect available for fighters, 10 Curtiss P-36G were adquired in 1943, along with 13 Douglas Model 8A-5 (A-33), also previously used by Norwegian forces. Besides been in derelict condition, corrupt Mr.Prado administration paid an exhorbitant price for those machines.

Peruvian technicians selected the "better of the lot" machines from those available in Kelly Field, Texas, and got them back to flying condition (no ships were available for transport due to the war needs), for the long down south to Lima, capital of Perú. Accordingly, the 23 strenght group leave Texas on November the 1st. 1943, arriving to Las Palmas, Lima, four days later.

The machines were first allocated to the XXI (or 21) Fighter Squadron in Chiclayo, as replacement for the aging Ca.114s and NA-50s from that unit, which in exchange were sent to Las Palmas to serve as trainers. Then, in early 1944, they were transferred to the newly created 11 Fighter Squadron, in Talara. Soon after their arrival, two P-36 were lost during a mock up combat, both pilots perishing in their machines.

A second batch of 3 P-36 (to make up for operational losses, and for use as spare parts source) arrived on June, 1944.

As schemes is concerned, most machines arrived in Zinc Chromate green, while a few others sported a RAF brown/green scheme. Most machines were repainted black after arrival, however. By 1945 all P36 were deprived of paint and left bare metal finish, except for the anti glare panel ahead of cockpit.

No P-36 is preserved currently in Perú, confusion is made with the NA-50 preserved at Las Palmas air base.

Hope this helps.

Amaru

[Bearfire]

Curtiss P-36

Thank you, friends.

This was very useful information!
I have searched the net, but have not succeeded in finding this kind of info, until now.

For my colourprofiles I need some photos to find the right kind of letters for the squadron codes and their placement.
I have found some photos on the net, but they are taken from a distance, and I can't even see if the rudder has the red/white stripes.

Are there any photos of the P-36 showing such details?

I should appreciate any help on this, and if you would like to see some of my profiles you can see them at home.no.net/bearfire/Profiles/profiles_main.htm.

I thank you for your kind help.

Kind regards,
Bjørnar Norås

[Veltro_28]

Dear Bearfire

Very nice profiles

As you confirmed with one of your profiles, Norwegian forces used some Hawks in green Zinc Chromate finish, which was know here as the "apple green" Hawks. My friend Otto Tiger will put a couple pictures soon, in the meantime I will check my references for unit badges. (they are truly difficult to determine sometimes, not clear pictures are available AFAIK)

All the best

Veltro