1943 P 40N 1 KITTYHAWK
Born in Buffalo, New York and battle-tested in New Guinea, this combat-proven Kittyhawk flew with Australia’s 75 Squadron in WWII. Today, it returns to the skies as a symbol of ANZAC valor and a hands-on tribute to history in motion.
Fast Facts
Service & Assignment
Performance & Features
Combat History
Assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force’s 75 Squadron in New Guinea, Kittyhawk A29-448 entered combat against Japanese forces in August 1943. Operating from forward airstrips like Turnbull, Nadzab, and Tadji, it flew low-altitude ground attack and air defense missions in the Pacific theater.
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Combat Highlights
Supported Allied land forces in Papua New Guinea
Sorties from Turnbull, Nadzab, and Tadji airfields
Multiple pilots, including Frank Coker, Geo Williams,John Bailey, and Dick Sasse
Notable Incidents
March 13, 1944 – Landing mishap at Nadzab airfield; returned to service. May 4, 1944 – Systems failure and wheels-up landing at Tadji.
Combat Retirement
Converted to components in October 1944 after airfield damage
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Restoration Story
Recovered in 1973 from a remote airfield in Tadji, New Guinea, this Kittyhawk was brought back from decades of dormancy. In the 1990s, Pioneer Aero Restorations in New Zealand rebuilt the aircraft to flying condition. It was converted to a two-seat configuration for training and flight experience programs, complete with dual controls and full instrumentation, before being acquired by Soaring by the Sea Foundation and imported to the U.S. in 2024.
Restoration Team
- Pioneer Aero Restorations, Auckland, NZ
- Historical oversight by Charles Darby and Garth Hogan
Restoration Highlights
- Rebuilt to airworthy standards with dual-seat cockpit conversion
- Painted in original 75 Squadron RAAF camouflage
- Functional display guns (blank firing for airshows)
Modern Mission
This Kittyhawk returns to the sky as a flying tribute to ANZAC valor and Pacific theater airmen. Restored in authentic 75 Squadron camouflage, this aircraft helps honor Allied cooperation while thrilling audiences with its agile presence at airshows and events.
Mission in Motion
No longer grounded in the past, this aircraft serves the present through:
Airshow demonstrations
Educational ride-alongs (dual seat)
Youth and donor flight programs
Living history reenactments
A Story That Soars
Rare airworthy Kittyhawk
Embodies ANZAC spirit
Connects spectators with frontline fighter history
Built to Serve. Rebuilt to Inspire.
More than a restored fighter, this Kittyhawk is a mentor in metal. Through ride-alongs, airshows, and hands-on programs, it flies to honor the past and ignite the dreams ofthose just beginning their flight path.
Whether you're hands-on or high-altitude, there’s a place for you in the Soaring by the Sea Foundation mission.