The REAL Sky Captains: Defenders of New York, 1941

[Fletch]

Pilots of the 35th Pursuit Squadron, 8th Pursuit Group, getting a briefing from a ground officer at Mitchel Field, Garden City, LI, NY, April 20, 1941.

The 8th and 33rd Groups at the time were responsible for the air defense of New York City. They were the first Air Corps units flying the then-new Curtiss P-40, a service-test model rushed into production without any armor or self-sealing tanks.

More info about this pic, including how to get an original!

 

[Story]

The Millville (NJ) Air Museum has mementos for the Air Defense Squadrons defending the Philadelphia area, including a couple of P-40 pilots killed in accidents.

From what a former girlfriend's father told me, the narrow span between the main landing gear wheels could be lethally tricky for inexperienced pilots.