Curtiss P-40L Warhawk 42-10857/X-4 USAAF
P-40L 42-10857, named ‘Skipper’, was operated by the 86th Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group and
assigned to Lt. Edward E. Parsons. However, often times a pilot would fly whatever ship is available
and, on January 31st, 1944, Lt. Michael Mauritz was behind the stick when, ten minutes into a mission in
support of US Army Rangers at Cisterna during Operation Shingle, the allied amphibious landings at Anzio,
he noticed the engine temperature rising. Before he could reach the nearest airstrip, the engine failed
and Mauritz was forced to ditch in the water near Latina. He was able to get out and make it ashore, but
was soon taken prisoner by the Germans. Fortunately, with the help of Italian partisans and other allied
sympathizers, Mauritz was able to escape and eventually returned to his outfit. | picture Marco Piccirilli