P40-E Lt. Eduard Kleinkönnig, JG 9, Kolguyev Island, 1946
P-40E coded '59' was discovered by members of JG 9 preserved in ice on one of the Kolguyev Island plains. The method by which the aircraft got on the
island, and under what circumstances, are a matter of speculation. Not even the locals were able to shed any light on the mystery. The assumption that the
aircraft was a Kittyhawk of the Northern Fleet, who's pilot became disoriented and bellied in along the beach of the island, sucking the last of his fumes out
of his empty tanks, is a good one. If the landing didn't kill him, surely the carnivorous penguins of the island did. Later, the aircraft was transported to the JG 9 airfield, and brought to airworthy status, and was used on harassment raids against said penguins. For a more effective appearance for this role,
Lt. Kleinkönnig had his aircraft adorned with the skull of a rabbit and crossed carrots. The mission markings behind the cockpit, according to Kleinkönig's
memoirs, denoted successful anti-penguin patrols, the yellow markings designated yolky-palky attacks, and the red symbolized successful napalm 'rings
of fire'.
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