Description
PYN-up Decals P-40 Curtiss Cuties #1. The P-40F from the 85 FS/79 FG coded X2*8 carried a remarkably well-executed shaded painting of a nude woman on the left side of the rudder while in Tunisia in late 1942. Because of the angle of the only known photo of the full plane, it’s unclear whether the individual aircraft number was 8 or 9; of course we provide both in our decal set. Additionally, in some cases in the 85th the “X” was differently sized on the left and right sides, so we again provide you with both versions. In addition, the squadron insignia was hand painted on most aircraft and significant variations in the depiction are documented, including both white or yellow wings. Since yellow is more colorful and the photo does not provide such detail, we’ve provided the yellow-wing version. Censors were active during the Second World War (in spite of what you see painted on this ship), and the 79th nude tail art figures were eventually given clothes to cover the naughty bits. Luckily for us she’s nude in our photo and that’s the decal you get! The second bird is an American P-40E from the 8 FS/49 FG flown by Lt Monty Eisenberg, Strauss Field, Darwin, Australia, June 1942, which defended Darwin alongside Aussie-flown P-40s such as Cresswell’s famous four-flag ship depicted in our PYN-up Decals set PYND48025. This plane, #44 and named “Dollye” sported a standing nude between the canopy quarter panel on the left side and the fuselage star. This is one of the more unusual nudes, with one hand on the canopy quarter panel and the other on the fuselage star. For some reason, Eisenberg’s “Dollye” has often been portrayed in profile paintings with the large white Pegasus marking actually applied to a completely different ship in the same unit. There are plenty of good photos showing the Pegasus on the other plane, and three good photos of Dollye with the female artwork on the mid fuselage. The Pegasus was never applied to this ship. Note the yellow aircraft number (often incorrectly portrayed as white) was painted on the fin on top of darker olive drab paint used to obliterate the original serial number painted there. In all, an unusual and interesting combat ship from a little-known theatre.
