I haven't seen that before, very interesting. Good questions, I haven't ever heard why they would do that? I don't know how much actual gunnery practice they got back then, it wasn't like it is today though. Maybe this unit was for learning combat maneuvers and tactics?

Before WWII vintage photos on this page are the only ones I have seen, and the one with the gun covers in the black and white, I didn't see until this unit's main page.

It's an easy modification to do, it would be unique from other P-40's, and you have photographic proof of it, so it was at least used on some aircraft. I would go for it 

I hadn't heard of them not having machine guns in the squadron before, I had heard that it was a training unit, so that does make sense. Other than a couple pictures in some books and the captions, haven't really heard of anything about this unit. I do have a 1/48 model with these markings.

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Have fun  I always liked those markings

That's great 

Looks great  The tread looks good

That's looking great! 

Looking good!

That was some bad luck with the masks and also lifting up of the paint, good job on fixing it. I've had problems with paint, even primer lifting up before, I pretty much only use acrylics. I now scuff up the plastic slightly and sometimes I will use an adhesion promoter spray that I get at automotive supply stores, sprayed on plastic car parts before they get painted. Seams to help some.

Nice markings!

That's some nice detail in such a small scale