Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale USAAC Curtiss P-40B Warhawk Fighter – 160/15P, 2nd Lt. George Welch, 47th Pursuit Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group, Wheeler Field, Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941
Several months ago, speculation had it that Hobby Master would be delving ever deeper into the 1:48 scale aviation market with a rendition of a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. Turns out the rumors were true as the Company announced today their first foray into the early war fighter – a P-40 Warhawk that was flown by 2nd Lt. George Welch (HA9201). This particular warbird rose to meet the Japanese aerial forces as they were wreaking havoc at the US base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Following an extremely late night at the Squadron Christmas party the day previously, USAAF pilots George Welch and Kenneth Taylor woke to the sound of explosions and low flying aircraft. The date was December 7th, 1941 and the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor was under attack. Still wearing their mess dress from the previous night, the men rang ahead to Wheeler Field, where their Squadron had been deployed for gunnery practice and instructed ground crews to prepare two P40 fighters for flight.
Driving their Buick at high speed and coming under fire from Japanese aircraft, the men arrived at Wheeler and immediately made for their aircraft – taking off beneath waves of attacking enemy aircraft, the two pilots fought valiantly against overwhelming odds, even landing to re-fuel and re-arm, only to take off and fight again. During a frantic few minutes, Welch destroyed four enemy aircraft, with Taylor accounting for at least a further two. For their heroic actions during the Pearl Harbor attack, George Welch and Kenneth Taylor were both awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
Look for Welch’s P-40 to meet the aviation onslaught head on some time this Spring.