RAAF in the Pacific: Kittyhawk Strafing Mission

Footage of RAAF 78 Wing P-40 Kittyhawks engaged in a ground strafing attack on Japanese positions in New Guinea during the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of WW2.

[@alfredenisz4775]

My friend's mother worked in the Curtis Wright plant that produced P-40s in Buffalo, N.Y.. She was a Rosie the Riveter.

[@gortnewton4765]

A part of war history there. Amazing.

[@johnlane35]

Australia built their P-40s under licence to Curtis. We also built P-51Ds, as well as our own designs. The P40 was Ideal for the equatorial jungles of New Guinea and Indonesia, as tough as old boots and very quick under 20,000 feet

[@aaronpotts5042]

An amazing part of your family history to have Rosie the Riveter in your family. She is very famous outside of the USA as well. I remember being with a Swedish girl and told her she could get anything she wanted from the market in London. She came back with a Rosie the Riveter metal sign and I bought it for her. Best of luck to your family. Aaron

[@SCscoutguy]

@@johnlane35 Australia never built P-40's they were all built in the US. The CAC did license assemble P-51D's post war with components made in the USA and Australia.

[@johnlane35]

@@SCscoutguy Good call, thanks.

[@chrisnizer1885]

Great example of the toughtoughness of the P-40, the dedication of those who built it, & the bravery of the Australian pilots who flew them. Not to mention a level of cooperation among allies to come together and share resources. Hopefully those lessons haven't been forgotten.

[@jeffrobdine]

Clive Caldwell: RAAF, highest-scoring P-40 pilot from any air force (22 victories); highest-scoring Allied pilot in North Africa;[102] Australia's highest-scoring ace in World War II (28.5 victories).

[@geeeeeee3]

I continue to wonder at such praise given to the Zero. They would never have been able to endure a fraction of the damage Allied planes endured. Just because they were nimble at the sack of ruggedness and lethality did not make them as great as they are hailed to be.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

Great credit is due to the photographer(s). Without them we wouldn't be watching this.

[@TimNelson]

Make no mistake. We yanks fully understand that Australians are amongst the most brave and tenacious warriors for freedom anywhere. Just damn glad they’re on our side!

[@aaronpotts5042]

Tim we're okay and you guys are pretty (very) good yourself. We just do things a little differently sometimes. We just like to think we get the job done. Cheers Aaron

[@AustNRail]

Cheers Mate. I served 20 years Australian Army and also served along side you guys. Thanks for being there USA; pity though about you’re current state of affairs with the left running (ruining) the show. Oh well.

[@MorsDengse]

Are you thinking of the Australians murdering civilians in Afghanistan, or is it some other Australians you think of?

[@aussieshooter5358]

G'day Tim, if it wasn't for you guys in the USA, I'd be speaking Japanese right now. There's not many of us but we do our best. God bless ya mate!

[@wekapeka3493]

Don’t forget the New Zealand airforce flew in this war zone also. My father did one tour flying P40’s and two flying corsairs, he flew withRNZAF 16 and 22 squadrons flying from US forward bases to bomb Rabaul and other places expending their ammunition strafing on the return flight.

[@seanlander9321]

I find it immensely satisfying living in my paradise in Australia to know that these men made it so. Cheers.

[@createdeccentricities6620]

The Kittyhawk might have been considered obsolete in the European Theater but she was a stalwart in the Pacific.

[@brucelamberton8819]

And did a great job in North Africa too

[@neilpemberton5523]

The highest scoring P-40 ace was the Australian Clive "Killer" Caldwell in the North African theatre, with 22 confirmed kills. He shot down several experten in Bf109s.

[@outinthesticks1035]

@@Future-Preps35 I think this is why it did not do as well in England and Europe , there they were in a defensive role , protecting England or the bombers flying over Europe . In north Africa and pacific they were attacking and able to pick their tactics

[@willl7780]

high alt was not its game...perfect for the pacific

[@bobsakamanos4469]

@@outinthesticks1035 Bombers in north africa flew at about 12,000' so the Kittyhawks could indeed provide escort duty. P-40F's and Spitfires flew top cover for Kittybombers also.

[@arrowbflight5082]

an excellent war time short showing the Aussies giving the Japanese a sound thrashing...the proof is in the pudding, just how durable the p-40 Kittyhawk was a good 25% of the port wing gone! and to return some 200+ miles back to base speaks volumes about p-40's and the brave pilots who flew them in anger.clearly the p-40 was quite capable of getting the job done and her pilots back safely to fly and fight another day! To those gallant Aussie pilot's, and their ground crews well done lads,well done. Thank You.

[@bbd468]

Indeed good sir...INDEED!

[@bradfordnugen7973]

arrow B Flight port is the left? I always get mixed up

[@bradfordnugen7973]

arrow B Flight got it! Port is the left! Roger that! Over and out!😂

[@eriktruchinskas3747]

@@bradfordnugen7973 i remember it like how more people are right handed so the cooler word (starboard) is on the right side cause of course those assholes would take it

[@joedemers5480]

Bradford Nugen Left Right Port Starboard Red light Green light Less letters More letters

[@mikeoreilly7122]

What a great place KZbin is - I actually met Curley Brydon in New York when we were both working for News Corp. He was one hell of a straight shooter talker too - I guess he had form for that as a fighter pilot. He was a high exec for Rupert Murdoch in USA and a real character. I believe he also was an offshore sailor, and a champion car racer.

[@paladin56]

Great footage. The RAAF did a superb job in New Guinea. Interesting that they name the pilots in the film. Most unusual for the period which makes me wonder if the film was released just after the War. John Waddy, who gets a mention here, shot down 11.5 of his 15.5 victories flying the P-40, although mostly in North Africa.

[@myday805]

Plenty of fighter pilots were household names during the war on all sides.

[@brucelamberton8819]

They also did a great job in North Africa, as did the Aussie RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain

[@clayz1]

My dad was in the US Army and served as a medic in the jungles of New Guinea. They fought along side Australian units. Dad never said anything but good about Australians.

[@warrenmilford1329]

@@clayz1 You should do some research about the battles in New Guinea, if you haven't already. They are some of the most brutal and testing of the war. Australians were fighting there before the Americans got fully involved, then they fought together many times later on.

[@nickdanger3802]

At 14.18 the Kittyhawk was the aircraft that was the most successful ...they got the Kittyhawk immediately after they stopped flying the Hurricanes...the Kittyhawk and Tomahawk were virtually the sole air force of the cell three squadron type aircraft for three years right through the North African campaign and right through the Eastern Mediterranean and Yugoslavian areas the Kittyhawk carried that by itself, and it was a brilliant aircraft...2,000 pounds of bombs 3 Squadron RAAF You tube

[@johnwilliamson2276]

When I was in Vietnam in 1969, a friend went to Melbourne on R&R. He told me of the love that the Australian people had for the US Marines, from their actions in WWII to then. I rotated home before I could find out myself. SEMPER FI

[@redchief3690]

We have allways stood together and allways will

[@andrewsartscalemodels2344]

I was lucky enough to have the privilege of building a 1/48 scale P40 model for a former ww2 raaf p40 pilot named John. Still one of my favourite memories.

[@TheophilusPWildbeest]

2:03 the shot was cut just before the artist.... got to the point.

[@jameshunter5485]

No way the Allies win the Pacific War without the substantial contribution of the Aussies.

[@frankanderson5012]

James Hunter Not just the Pacific war.

[@petergarrone8242]

If it wasn't for the americans in the battle of the coral sea, the aussies would have been toast.

[@Skipper.17]

Peter Garrone the Aussie fought in the battle of the coral sea as well you know. It wasn’t just the yanks.

[@Skippy-id9yt]

@@petergarrone8242 if it wasn't for the aussies in the southern Pacific Americans coming to australia would have been met by Japanese zeroes and betty bombers , and had to Australia to launch from (your England in the Pacific they say)

[@raboalvarez9853]

@@frankanderson5012 Premium indians

[@paulrourke4785]

By the way, I had the privilege to serve with 75 Squadron in Malaysia, with Mirage fighters.

[@tonylarkin7564]

Thank you for your Service Sir ..

[@johnlansing2902]

To them we owe our freedom to them we owe the comforts we enjoy......thank you is so small so limited a way of expressing my appreciation

[@ChaplainBobWalkerBTh]

they fought valiantly and now we are losing all freedoms that they supposedly fought for.

[@pof1991]

Curtis kitty hawk very underrated just amazing how two of those guys got the planes home with hardly any wing left

[@slick4401]

2:00 = Australian humor reigns eternal.

[@DataWaveTaGo]

At 1:53 - that's the first clip I've seen of the inertial starter on a P-40 in use.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

What the P-40 could do well was dive and take lots of damage and bring its pilot home as it was so aptly shown.

[@arrowbflight5082]

a small correction is in order here, i recall a photo on wiki showing Tom Jacklin's A/C with 25% of the port wing gone, the result of a mid air collision. Curly's A/C came back with at least 5 ' ft of the starboard wing missing, amazing ! Damn good kite, i'd say.

[@oveidasinclair982]

That's left wing, they're not naval types, they're air corp.

[@arrowbflight5082]

@@oveidasinclair982 The air force used the naval terms port and starboard when they flew " ops". Typhoon units always set up their attack in one or the other formation being echelon port / starboard. Cheers.

[@arrowbflight5082]

@@oveidasinclair982 The air force used the naval terms port and starboard when the they flew " ops ". Typhoon units always set up their attack in one or the other echelon port / starboard. Cheers.

[@petercampbell1478]

Not being a pilot just wondering how the rear edge of a wing could be damaged in a mid air collision? The wiki source would be interesting?

[@arrowbflight5082]

@@petercampbell1478 What actually took place was, a 75 mm round went off near him causing the damage. Result, 25 % of the trailing edge on the port wing was lost. ( it took a little digging to find that ) cheers.

[@ronaldfazekas6492]

My dad was a radarman in the USAAF attached to the RAAF on Goodenough Island, New Guinea--I thought that it was age that made him refer to P-40s as Kitthawks until I found that was the British/ Australian designation of the plane

[@havanadaurcy1321]

My grandfather was on Tambu and Moresby because radio tech repairer who was moved from the Army who I found out were dying at Kokoda. He claimed that Kittyhawk planes saved more Australians in the 44 days than anything else.

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

The P40 was a beast. With proper tactics, it could hold its own with any contemporary design.

[@chpman2013]

Looks like a mix of P-40M and N Warhawks, a couple of my favorites...and seeing those 2 P-40's with their wings badly damaged yet making it back to base just shows how solid they were.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Brilliant original footage. Glad it shows the pilots climbing down from their grossly damaged P-40s, just to drive home the reality of their job.

[@multigrian]

LOL at the guy painting. The pilot wants him to move so he just prop washes him away.

[@Xenophon1]

The P-40 was one tough SOB.

[@Nipplator99999999999]

I have a very strong disgust for the commonly adopted history, that forgets so many heroes from the wars and conflicts fought through the years. No one or two countries did it all, with all the rest serving them refreshments. I served with many soldiers from more countries than I can remember post 9/11. We might have traded banter over whose was better, but I have nothing but respect and gratitude for them all.

[@SirRobertofKnoxly]

Fantastic video!! I have customised two of my RC models after these guys. I have Geoff Atherton's 'Cleopatra III', BU B, A29-629, 80 SQN, and Gordon White's 'Stormy Weather' , HU A (overscored), A29-570. Thanks very much for posting.

[@seventhson27]

The Kittyhawk was a darn site better plane that she was mostly given credit for. Here, in the hands of competent pilots, she was deadly.

[@binaway]

The most numerous type ever in RAAF service. Half came front the Desert air-force stocks, a gift from Britain. The rest purchased direct from the US

[@binaway]

@MichaelKingsfordGray How many Zeros did they shoot down?

[@mickryan2450]

And what were they going do with us we fight

[@seanlander9321]

Actually Britain gifted nothing and reneged on the Spitfires Australia had paid for in 1941 diverting them to the RAF. Even the first Kitty Hawkes in the RAAF were a mistake because Australia snaffled them on their way to the Dutch who had surrendered. Washington had a fit and demanded their return so a payment was sent from Canberra to shut them up. Interestingly the dopes in Washington had reported that Australia didn’t have any pilots.

[@scottmclennan6114]

The Australians had flown P40s in North Africa as part of the Desert Air Force, so when the US offered them to the RAAF when they had to fight the Japanese in PNG they were glad to get them because they knew how tough and well made they were.

[@pmritzen2597]

It was that, or fly the Brewster Buffalo or the mighty Wiraway! The P-40 allowed them to live longer and not fight with one hand behind the back. It's weird how some planes we're Duds in the European theater and tigers in the Pacific War. Different Strokes for different folks!

[@pat36a]

@@pmritzen2597 two differnt wars. One was fought on the ground and at high alt. ( Russia was differnt) and the other was by Sea and low altitude.

[@montys420-]

@@pmritzen2597 if we didn't take p40's Australia had already designed and tested andmass produced the Boomerang CA4!

[@blueycarlton]

@@montys420- The CAC-15 was already on the drawing board to be the P40's replacement. The project was put on the back burner when the Australian Govt.obtained the licence to build the Mustang. One CAC-15 flew in March 1946, it was one of the fastest piston engine aircraft built.

[@Triple5live]

Was it John Jackson? A pilot 34 yo who returned to PNG and taught guys who had never flown before with 1 week tuition in Townsville then off to PNG to fight Zeros. Then on arrival they were shot at byAustralian ground forces, thinking they were Japs having been under attack for a while.

[@rustycann6887]

they came home with that much battle damage .the curtis was a beast. them men were brave and cool as ice...

[@edwardcnnell2853]

While the P-40 was outclassed by the Axis fighters is was a solid aircraft. No hydraulic controls yet easy to fly and forgiving of minor errors. It was structurally stronger than the Japanese fights it faced and could take higher g-forces in turn. It also could dive faster than the lighter Japanese planes and diving away then climbing above the Japanese plans to dive on them again, zoom and boom The Flying Tiger pilots soon learned that a head on attack could be successful because they could take more punishment than the Japanese fighters.

[@captainclone1367]

My Dad and Grandfather built P-40's during the war at the Buffalo N.Y. plant. My Grandfather even built Jenny's during World War I!

[@DragonsEyeTours]

My father was ground crew on Kittyhawks in the 76th squadron. He always had the highest regard for the Americans as I'm sure they did him.

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

For people who say the P-40 was outdated, it stayed in WW2 due to it being so tough and able to handle the rough terrain and the harsh conditions. Just look at the damage done to two of them and they still flew 200 miles home.

[@islandmick6349]

Great footage...At the end I was waiting for the commentator to end with, ..."as a matter of fact, I got it now!" (sorry rest of world, Aussie joke there)

[@stuart8663]

I'll drink to that!

[@browndoggyntnt4590]

Ice cold Vic......

[@gbnq2513]

@@browndoggyntnt4590 Vic..... Toilet cleaner. Make mine a XXXX

[@sonnyburnett8725]

As a Yank I’d love to know what it means. Always admired Aussies for there toughness and who cares attitude.

[@lachw0540]

@@sonnyburnett8725 it's a quote from an ad from Victoria Bitter: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaDPnHaEq6mhjcU

[@hennessyblues4576]

At 7:13 many of you may not know this. But that guy rode on the wing like that the entire flight of the attack on Japanese positions. Its the only place where he could have access to turn the camera on and off, and keep it in focus. Brave blokes those cameramen were. Very brave indeed. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have this great footage of Japanese bases being attacked.

[@welshpete12]

nonsense !

[@Mannock]

I remember that John Ford and his crew filmed the bombing of Iwo Jima on the port wingtip of a Piper Cub. Those Technicolor cameras took up a lot of room.

[@peterk2455]

That's a Queensland version of a 'Wingman'

[@WorksOnMyComputer]

I thought you were also going to say he carried a machine gun and provided backup fire power. That or he could be on the wing to help guide the pilot as he had trouble seeing ahead with a tail dragger aircraft while taxing. A common enough practice from the time. Granted my story sounds more factual and less exciting.

[@TheAngryYank]

Awesome aircraft for its time. Just read it was in production until 1944 and the third most produces after the P-51 and P-47. Obviously, it proved its worth in combat.

[@Grunt0369USMC]

RAAF tackled some of the hardest job flying old equipment against some of the top Japanese pilots

[@xl1200r]

The Aussie pilots were so successful because they always laughed,cracked a joke and generally didn’t give a shit 😁

[@jonnybeck6723]

That wuz truly marvelous! Thanx so much for uploading. Yes I think those may've been type "N"'s... the biggest longest and fastest of all the P-40's.

[@MartintheTinman]

Yes, P-40N

[@charliesinatra1079]

much respect from the US to the brave aussies ....great men of the greatest generation

[@aussieshooter5358]

Whenever the USA needs us, We will be there! Much respect back to you my brothers!

[@brucelamberton8819]

Right aircraft for the job: rugged, reliable and packed a punch with six 0.50 cal MGs. And put to good use by brave Aussie pilots.

[@kyffaa]

Good video which helps me to do research of making my RAAF P-40E model

[@AUSSIEDAVEROCKS]

Damn that P-40 was still able to fly with half a wing blown away, amazing. That's one tough little fighter. I doubt any modern fighter would fly for long with the amount of damage these aircraft could take.

[@joecook3223]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2SYaqOlg8-pjKM

[@pmritzen2597]

How about an A-10 Warthog

[@johnpisciotto7115]

An Israeli F-15 suffered a missing wing due to a mid air collision. Took it off at the root. Flew it back to base. The guys at McDonnell Douglas didnt believe it to they saw it with their own eyes.

[@sourmashnumber7169]

Them Aussies are some badass humans.

[@charlesharper2357]

Because they were volunteers...not draftees...

[@andrewphillips8341]

Well they were. Now Auzzie has been dominated by the SJWs

[@WorksOnMyComputer]

@@andrewphillips8341 I guess you haven't kept up on Iraq or Afghanistan.

[@AH-we7rj]

We do our best, despite the pc movement and political interference. Commonsense is something that has disappeared over the years too, replaced by urbanised greedy halfwits who think their manure don't stink...

[@barrycollins2629]

What a great comment. Thank you A H.

[@MrMerlinPower]

This is a great video. I love seeing Aussie warbirds in action.

[@zerosparky9510]

I love the P/40---Kittyhawk. When I was a kid. Mid 1960s. Was age 10 . I always wanted to fly a P-40.

[@eduardodeandres3864]

Thanks for posting

[@wayvicle]

dropping your belly tank so your mate can light it up. Good one. The amount of wear on those planes is amazing. Lots of missing paint.

[@johnnoble01]

Fantastic airmanship and bravery!

[@johnlane35]

I am in awe of the courage of these men. Well done ol'pals.

[@tedsmith6137]

7:24 and on, "It's just a flesh wound! I've 'ad worse!"

[@jchan3358]

All right, we'll call it a draw.

[@warhawk40]

Did you notice that with the P-40N it had to be hand cranked to be started because Curtiss wanted to lighten the plane for more speed so they omitted electric starters.

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

Awesome footage

[@bilbobigbollix7318]

Great stuff. Very surprised to see them doing Victory rolls after combat though. It was usually frowned upon. Still, they're heroes, not me!

[@MartintheTinman]

Different when you're the CO

[@dennismason3740]

Your name sounds like a Japanese fighter airplane. This film rocks.

[@whiskeywilliams]

Those anti-aircraft rounds you can see flying at the plane look sketchy as hell. What chrome plated balls on those pilots!

[@stevelewis7263]

When you consider the damage these planes suffered and they could still fly, compared to the modern fighters laden with fly by wire technology where even minor damage can lead to an aircraft being lost, it seems we are relying too much on technology in aircraft over survivability and ease of maintenance and repair

[@stevelewis7263]

I'm thinking of planes like the Eurofighter Typhoon, not the incredibly robust Fairchild A-10 Warthog

[@xl1200r]

good shots digger!!

[@allgood6760]

Thanks for this 👍✈️🇳🇿

[@Jin-Ro]

0:51 ah the GoPro, I remember it well.

[@dogboy1974]

brave men flying in extreme circumstances by the seat of their pants... amazing

[@artistjoh]

Amazing that aircraft could fly with half the wing gone. Seems to be an Aussie habit. There was an Aussie Canberra bomber that famously got one wing mostly blown off by the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War and the plane managed to get back to base and landed on a prayer. Sometimes it is just the skill of the pilot to create lift and enough control to fly a wounded bird like that.

[@aussieshooter5358]

Rest my brothers, I'll be up there soon ta have a beer with ya!

[@TheDesertwalker]

My American uncle flew P-40s and A-20s in New Guinea. He said the Aussies were great fighters in the air...and at the local watering hole.

[@jamesbohlman4297]

They made that fancy v-12 work without an inclosed, air-conditioned, lighted shop.

[@mini696]

My pop did this for two years, no wonder he flew down the main street of his home town lower than the powerlines. His prop was only feet off the ground.

[@joecook3223]

At 5.40, i think I've seen that bit in an old video, a vhs called "just Australian planes" thought it crashed trying to pull out of that dive.

[@paradigmproductions7992]

Hello, Any idea who owns the right to this film? (if not in public domain) We'd like to use it for a project. Where did you find the original? -Thank You in Advance

[@Relay300]

Great stuff

[@Primal_Waters]

Beautiful aircraft the Kittyhawks.

[@briansteffmagnussen9078]

How on earth can a plane fly and land when the whole wing is left in the pacific ?

[@MottyGlix]

Part of the wing was still intact, providing some lift. But with a whole wing gone, you need an F-15 (with an Israeli pilot?). And the F-15 is much heavier than the P-40. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2SYaqOlg8-pjKM

[@noislamonazisdotcom9888]

The leading edge of the wing is whats important for creating lift. If that was gone then he was as well.

[@stanhathcoat920]

Great footage, never seen this one. The P40 was a much better aircraft than it gets credit for.

[@1911m1a1ellis]

Cop that Tojo.

[@jackabon]

Excellnt P40s Go the RAAF Kittyhawks !

[@conservativemike3768]

I’ve flown over that region, and it’s the most brutal operating environment imaginable. It’s hard to believe anyone could stay alive on the ground for more than a few days let alone try to fight a war. The Japanese lost more to disease, bad equipment, and starvation. At least the Aussies were near home turf with US supplies rolling in to keep them going, but even with that… ROUGH.

[@u2mister17]

Seems the kitty used the wings as ornaments.

[@infinitecanadian]

Of course, they didn't actually have sound on most cameras back then, but it looks good.

[@tfranken1561]

0:55 the origin of the go-pro.

[@kenshaw1964]

ooooh smashing good job,lads...

[@marvelmax03191]

No, the tracers were actually there. They helped the pilot direct his fire. Something like every five were dipped in the chemical that created the tracer effect.

[@XxIceCavexX]

Guy flew in on about half a wing !

[@The.Drunk-Koala]

I kept flinching when I saw the bullets wizzing by.

[@philiphorner31]

They needed a lot of hi octane gasoline. The story of how they got it would interesting.

[@SGusky]

Good looking p-40Ns!!!

[@bobkarigan4512]

These warriors were absolutely amazing beautiful people I thank God they were willing to fight and when necessary die for our freedom, to lose sight of their sacrifice is a unbelievable sin.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

The tropics were tough to take before having to fight a war . Wet and damn Hot 33 constant day and night . We didnt like snobbery or ranks but fought for our brother and buddy . If you wanted the best out of them treat them with respect and get their version . All tough hard footballers too

[@johnmorrison1180]

Warhawk, Kittyhawk how do they differ?

[@string-bag]

Bless them all!

[@WWIIKittyhawk]

Nice!

[@mauriceupton1474]

ANZAC Lest we forget.

[@stephaniedykes4157]

I'm surprised this plane was still being used this late in WW II.

[@uruterus7849]

Great to see 75 SQN in there!

[@brianrourke3633]

Back then smoking was considered good for you......

[@NathanChisholm041]

It was a pre requirement!

[@nickdanger3802]

Churchill "Our most vital need is therefore the delivery at the earliest possible date of the largest possible number of Curtiss P-40 fighters." page 86 The Burning Blue Addison and Crang

[@Ofotherworlds]

The Americans would have insisted on painting a bikini on "watch my form" before they let the film go out to the folks back home.

[@timej31]

nice