Taking off, Western Desert

A Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk of No.3 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, taking off on an operational flight from the desert landing ground at Antelat. The dust is typical of desert landing grounds, a factor that makes landings hazardous. Severe dust storms make any flying at all impossible, sometimes for days. Even when there is no wind, aircraft warming up, taking off and landing create a small dust storm over the landing ground. In his flying suit and helmet, the pilot is talking to his flight leader through his radio - it was practice in the squadron to leave the cockpit open until airborne.