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Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk A29-133, “Polly”, on display in Aircraft Hall, Australian War Memorial.

By August 1942 the Kittyhawk aircraft known as “Polly” had arrived with No. 75 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, at Milne Bay on the far eastern tip of Papua. “Polly” was the regular aircraft of Flight Lieutenant Bruce “Buster” Brown, and was flown in the defence of Milne Bay. Brown named it “Polly”, after his girlfriend.

During late 1942 the Kittyhawk was damaged several times while fighting Zeros. On 14 April 1943 “Polly” was flown by Squadron Leader Wilfred Arthur against the last major Japanese air attack on Milne Bay. Although Arthur’s guns failed after take-off, he still led his pilots into action. He was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery. Soon after, “Polly” was retired from service and ended up at an RAAF school at Flemington race course.

Milne Bay, New Guinea. Flight Lieutenant B. E. “Buster” Brown, a pilot of No. 75 Squadron, RAAF, sitting on the cockpit sill of his P-40E Kittyhawk aircraft “Polly” (A29-133).
AWM P02821.003

More About:

• Short history of No. 75 Squadron, RAAF
• “Polly” - Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk A29-133 - collection record
• Geoffrey Pentland, The P-40 Kittyhawk in service, (Melbourne: Kookaburra Technical Publications, 1974)
• Stewart Wilson, The Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian service. (Curtin, ACT: Aerospace Publications, 1988). [Contains a list of RAAF Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks, with their numbers and disposal.]