Liberty Foundation

Just as Don Brooks' B-17G. “Liberty Belle” made its first airshow appearance at the Geneseo Airshow in 2005, so too will his newly restored P-40 make its first appearance this year at Geneseo's “Flying Tigers Reunion.”

In 1942 Curtiss P-40E Warhawk USAAF serial number 41-5709 was involved in a landing accident on September 29th in Alaska. This aircraft, along with a second P-40 also involved in the accident were bulldozed from the runway and cannibalized for spare parts. It remained in Alaska until Dick Odgers discovered the remains at a dumpsite in Cold Bay in 1984. Two years later it was purchased by Tom Reilly and moved to his Flying Tigers Warbird Restoration Museum in Kissimmee, Florida.

After hurricanes destroyed much of that facility, Don Brooks purchased the fighter on June 30, 1990 and moved it to Douglas, Georgia where a complete restoration began, again under the auspices of Tom Reilly who, in 2004, went to work full-time for Don Brooks after the museum was closed.

A new wing from a crashed P-40E in Russia was eventually mated to the fuselage on August 29, 2007. At the moment the aircraft is being prepared for its new paint scheme and test flight. It will be painted in the AVG camouflage and sharks tooth mouth of the Flying Tigers.

This aircraft will be put up for sale by the Liberty Foundation after the Geneseo Airshow. Any potential buyers are encouraged to attend the show on July 12th and 13th and get a firsthand look at it.

By Frank Schaufler and Seth Goltzer