The A-20A (40-166) put down at 7-Mile Drome after it was damaged by flak during a raid over Lae on 1 November 1942. Relegated to the boneyard, where it would become a spares source, it was eventually found to be in better condition than initially thought. Towed to 3-Mile, where the Havocs were based, it was stripped of its wings. Another Havoc, 39-724, had suffered a nosewheel collapse on 15 December 1942. Its twisted fuselage was of no use, but its wings were fine so, in short, at least two aircraft became one (40-3153, ‘Yellow Fever’, is also reported as a major donor, but it pranged on 24 February 1943 after 40-166 is reported to have returned to service).
‘Fat Cat’ was the nickname given to the, somewhat unofficial, unit…