WIX Archives

Tallichet P-40's

Posted by Rob Mears on Wed May 29, 2002 04:29:18 PM

In reply top Can anybody ID this P-40? posted by Paul McMillan on Wed May 29, 2002 12:35:21 PM

Back in the early 1990's I happened through the little "one-stoplight" town of Hawkins, Texas. I took a side road and happened right up on a little 1950's-era gas station with antique pumps and a dilapadated facade. In the lot behind the station was a PBY Catalina, UH-1 Huey, the sparse remains of four Hawker Hurricanes, seven disassembled Canadian Nord trainers, a partially restored Blenheim, and a TBM! It was a treasure trove out in the middle of nowhere. I took a peek through the window of the little brick gas station and saw another, almost complete Hurricane inside along with various bits and pieces of other warbirds. No one was there at the time (it was Sunday) so I snapped a few photos and left.

I happened by a few years later and a full size hangar had been erected in the lot next to the little gas station (though the nearest airport was many miles away). I knocked on the door and the one worker that was there allowed me inside to check out the scene. Inside was a F9F Panther, the TBM, some WWII vehicles, and a near complete P-40 under static restoration. I explored around the packed little hangar and came upon three wingless P-40 fuselages stacked behind the TBM against the far wall. All were still wearing remnants of their war time color schemes. Their data plates were intact, but I failed to jot them down. I was extremely curious how the collection of planes found their way to the small little town. After listening to the sheetmetal man on duty I discovered that some of the aircraft belonged to David Tallichet and had been farmed out for restoration by the owner of the facility - Bob Sneider. The three P-40's were examples recovered by Tallichet from PNG in the early-1970's. I always wondered what happened to the three wingless P-40's and I figure its as good a chance as any that the plane under restoration with MAPS is one of those examples.

Can anyone confirm the identities of the three P-40's located in Hawkins, Texas during the early-1990's, as well as their current dispositions?

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