P-40E Kittyhawk AK803 Arrives At New Temporary Home

After being shipped from its previous base in New Zealand earlier this month, Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk S/N AK803 has arrived at its new, temporary home at the Erickson Aircraft Collection in Madras, Oregon.

The aircraft was delivered to the RCAF in October 1941 and based at an RCAF Station in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where it saw use in anti-submarine patrols. Later, it was flown 4,000 miles to Annette Island, Alaska (setting a record in the process) before moving on to Boundary Bay near Vancouver, British Columbia, where it performed fighter affiliation work with B-24s and B-25s.

Following a landing accident on Vancouver Island, AK803 was sent to Coates Limited on Sea Island, where it was stripped to bare metal, polished and used as part of a War Bond drive at Brockton Point Oval in Vancouver.

After being declared surplus in 1946, the machine was acquired by noted warbird preservationist George Maude, who transported it from Patricia Bay to Saltspring Island, British Columbia, where it became a tourist attraction.

The machine has been restored and, apart from six 50 inch caliber machine guns, is considered to be one of the most original examples of the type in existence. It has reportedly amassed 569.20 total hours since new, and 3.30 since military overhaul, which included a new Allison V-1710-73 engine.

The P-40 is currently available for sale with an asking price of $1,895,000. It will reportedly remain in the museum until sold. Check out photos of the arrival/display below.

 
(via Erickson Aircraft Collection and Platinum Fighter Sales Top Photo: Gary Danvers Collection via Flickr)