Reserve Grand Champion – Oshkosh 2001
This particular aircraft had been abandoned by the US Army Air Force on Amchitka Island in the Aleutians, probably because of battle damage.
In 1969, the plane was recovered by aircraft collector and broker, Bob Sturges of Troutdale, Oregon, and returned to the United States. Bob offered the plane for sale and in 1972 it went to Joseph Morasky in Connecticut who registered the craft as N4363. By 1978 it was with Warbird collector, George Enhorning and in 1986 with Mustang rebuilder, Bob Byrne who also owned P-40K N293FR.
In 1988 the P-40K was purchased by the Alpine Fighter Collection and shipped to New Zealand where it was restored to flying condition over a 4-year period, making its first post-restoration flight on 18 April 1992 as ZK-PXL and finished in Royal New Zealand Air Force markings. In late 1997 the fighter was extensively damaged in a forced landing and was put up for sale by the Alpine Fighter Collection.
Purchased by Dick Thurman, the P-40K was rebuilt in a joint venture by Pioneer Aero Restorations Ltd and Avspecs Ltd in New Zealand. It made its post-restoration debut in Warbirds Over Wanaka in April 2000.
This aircraft is now owned by Butch Schroeder of Danville Illinois.
My dad was Joseph Morasky. I found this site online before he passed away. He was so happy to see the plane fully restored, to see the history, and to see his name as part of the history. I remember driving to Oregon from CT to pick the plane up (I would have been 6)….and then driving it back to CT over the Rocky Mountains — it was on a boat trailer and we got 3-4 flat tires a day going over the Rockies. I remember stopping at a truck stop (76??) and a little boy coming up to us and saying “Hey, mister — do you know your plane has holes in it?” It did look very different then it does now. I remember playing in the cockpit and especially am appreciative of the pictures of the that. My dad was in WWII and maintained these planes and loved them. Thank you so much.
Hi! My name is Butch Schroder in Danville, Illinois. I own this airplane know. We are rebuilding the plane making it more orginal. We have pictures of this airplane from WW2 and it will be painted in it orginal colors. Thanks for your letter. cell 217-497-5127