2 HIGH TIME PLTS HAD A FIRE IN FLT FROM GASOLINE SYPHONING FROM 1 OF THE WING FUEL TANKS OF A WORLD WAR 2 TRAINER.

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ON MAY/SUN/92; AT APPROX XA50 HRS; I WAS GIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION IN A WORLD WAR 2 ACFT. THE STUDENT PERFORMED HIS PREFLT; AND UPON COMPLETION; ENTERED THE FRONT COCKPIT TO ADJUST HIS SEAT; SEATBELTS; ETC. I THEN PERFORMED MY PREFLT AND FOUND THE ACFT TO BE READY FOR FLT. I PROCEEDED TO SECURE THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR LOCATED ON THE L SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE AND TO GET OUR HEADSETS ON; AT THIS TIME; I NOTICED A FUEL TRUCK HAD PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR ACFT. I TOLD THE DRIVER THAT WE DID NOT NEED FUEL AND HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AWAY. UNKNOWN TO ME AND MY STUDENT; HE HAD REMOVED OR LOOSENED THE R SIDE AND L SIDE FUEL CAPS; AND DID NOT REPLACE OR RETIGHTEN THEM WE COMPLETED SECURING OURSELVES IN THE COCKPIT; AND TAXIED FOR TKOF. AFTER ABOUT 40 MI OF FLT; I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE ON THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT. UPON CLOSER OBSERVATION; I FOUND THIS TO BE A FIRE. I SURMISED THAT THE VENTING EVAPORATING FUEL MIXTURE WAS IGNITED BY THE EXHAUST WHICH EXITS ON THE R SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE ADJACENT TO THE FUEL FILLER. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THE STUDENT IN THE FRONT COCKPIT; AND TOOK OVER THE FLT CTLS. I PUT THE ACFT IN A DIVE WHICH PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE STUDENT WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO GET THE ATIS AND A LNDG CLRNC AT OUR HOME ARPT. I SURVEYED THE ACFT FOR DAMAGE BUT COULD FIND NONE OTHER THAN 2 MISSING FUEL CAPS. I HAD FULL CTL USAGE AT THIS TIME AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A STRAIGHT-IN LNDG ON THE DUTY RWY. UPON LNDG; I RECEIVED PERMISSION TO TURN OFF AND PARK ON THE GRASS. I REQUESTED A TOW VEHICLE AND SECURED THE ENG. THE R SIDE OF THE WING AND EMPENNAGE WERE BLACK WITH SOOT; BUT APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. ABOUT AN HR LATER; BOTH FUEL CAPS WERE FOUND ON THE RAMP VICINITY OF WHERE THE ACFT WAS PARKED. THIS MATTER WAS RPTED TO THE NTSB JUN/MON/92.