Ghost P-40

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December 8th 1942 and in the skies is an eerie sight. A plane that just shouldn't be there. A ghost plane.... A ghost Curtiss P-40 Warhawk!

Pilots Robert Lee Scott and Johnny Hampshire from the “Flying Tigers” scramble to intercept the mysterious craft that is showing markings that haven't been used for 10 months.

The plane is sporting extremely heavy damage; holes riddle the fuselage, pieces of the wing are missing, it has ad-hoc repairs with mismatched paint and bare metal in places, and one of its landing gear wells is completely empty. Taking a closer look at the canopy they see it destroyed, and the pilot slumped against the controls, unmoving.

What could this strange aircraft be? How did it get there? We take you through the story of the ghost P-40 and how Milton McMullen was part of the team that built it in the jungle of the Philippines.

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[franciscraig]

As a Filipino who were born and currently staying here in Mindanao, this is the first time I've heard this story even tho I'm quite a history enthusiast myself. Thank you Yarnhub for telling this story. WW2 history here in our country is sadly not that well-discussed in schools even though we're one of the most affected areas of this conflict.

[Frosty_tha_Snowman]

There's a car dealership near where I live that's had a P-40 outside in front of it for as long as I can remember. I've never taken a picture of it because it was just always there, and I decided I was going to take one the other day when I drove by, and it was gone. The guy apparently sold it to a museum that plans on restoring it and putting it on display, and I plan on going to visit it when it's done.

Correction: he donated a t33 shooting star to a place called the Missouri Freedom of Flight center, he actually sold the P-40 to a private collector.

[darkspire]

The P-40 Warhawk is one of the unsung heroes of World War 2. It was never as fast, or as manueverable, or well-armed as the Zero, or Fw 190, or Spitfire. But it held the line regardless and pulled some amazing feats that it doesn't get enough credit for.

[anonimxsidecas]

That was one of the most impressive and emotive story I've ever heard of WW2. Patching up a P-40 in the middle of the forest with scrap parts of other aircrafts is something unthinkable and amazing. These men deserve all recognition and respect in the world.

RIP, brave soldiers.

[iamicognito]

that's gotta be one of the most badass things I've ever heard. Sure, people retrofit fancier gadgets or crazier weapons onto their crafts, or they cleverly use tactics to overcome weaknesses to improvise, but building a plane out of two and then stripping away whatever is deemed unnecessary? Hot damn that shit's cool!

[Huziharamantics]

Even though the pilot died while en route to China, he still accomplished his mission in the end by successfully delivering the letters to friendly forces.
Godspeed unknown pilot. You will not be forgotten.

[Frosty_tha_Snowman]

A hi-jacked Frankenstein P-40.. engine from one, body from the other, with a bunch of damaged and homemade added parts.. pretty cool.

Kind of reminds me of the Maus, how they took the working turret from one and the hull from the other to make one whole tank.

[EidolonandOnly]

Kinda got choked up hearing that at least the letters made it back to those they were addressed to. Shame that the diary was lost though.

[henrydomanboi]

using 2 broken p-40s and merging them together is genius
R.I.P to all the men that worked on the amazing p-40 and the pilot aswell

[justasimplegamer]

The determination from the Pilot that flew the p40. You gotta give props to him even though with the circumstances and the chances of seeing land, meeting the enemy.


Its a suicide mission to deliver the letters with little ammo and armor based on their location but someone's gotta go it right?

[SleepyBoyo]

As a Filipino, we are honored to be in Yarn hub videos as a Piece of History of the Philippines in 1940, i hope there's more missing or Unspoken Story of our great heroes on the day of ww2.

Very Cool Content! I've still subscribe since 2020-2021

[motionsic]

Incredible story on the ghost plane! It had gone nearly twice as far as its original range allows. I am also amazed that make shift landing skid would work especially if accurately depicted under the left wing. For a tail dragger plane, lots of right rudder would be required on takeoff to keep straight on takeoff run to counter P-factor. I imagine the skid would be much draggier then right wheel requiring even more right rudder to compensate. Must have taken a heroic pilot to pull off the takeoff in the tight jungle strip!

[Dizzy.]

I have returned to show my love and appreciation for you yarnhub, not only do you provide entertainment but also education, please continue what you do.






I'm also Filipino and this is good for my ego.

[abitofapickle]

The fact they put that thing together from two wrecks, and it still managed to land on its own after taking severe punishment, is a testament to the ruggedness of the Warhawks.

[kaiyang]

I'm Chinese and actually heard this story when I was a kid but it was slightly different:
It was said that American aircraft were sent on an attack mission from the Philippines to hit Japanese airbases in Taiwan. They were supposed to fly to mainland China after the attack but only one (the ghost one) actually got there. All the other details match exactly, including the American planes firing some shots at the ghost plane before realizing it was one of theirs, the ghost plane running out of fuel and crashing etc. Apparently Japanese records have mentions of at least 2(!) aircraft strafing up bases in Taiwan during this time. If anyone has more details about this I would love to hear more

[infinitlycool]

When I was a kid my Dad gave me a book called _Unexplained Mysteries of World War II, _ which contained many different unexplained events that happened during the war. The Ghost P-40 was one of the stories I remember the most. One of the best books I ever had during my childhood. The moment I saw this video's title I knew what the story was. Thanks for making this. It brought back a lot of memories.

[peterrudenko]

I shivered when heard about those 10 month old signs. I thought "is this plane really flew it's way all 10 months?" But then... The pilot was a brave man... God bless him.

[donaldwrightson]

I had found out from my dad that my grandparents worked at the Curtiss plant during the war making P-40's. I always loved those planes and still do!!!!

[Thatoneguy]

Okay, but the sheer fact that this group of soldiers built an entire P-40 out of scrap, wreckage, and literal bamboo, yet somehow managed to fly in a perfectly straight and level course with no pilot control and half its control surfaces is insane. These men have all my respect.

[fredr.]

I heard of this story when I was a kid. I'm 64 now, well, next month I am. This is the first I've seen it on youtube. My God, the shivers are still running up and down my spine over it. I must say, this must be a true story. I believe my Dad told me about it, but I do not recall for sure. He wanted to be a fighter pilot but was too short and he was not old enough to join the service until the Korean War so he would have flown then if he could have. I am flabberghasted this story showed up!