The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American military fighter widely used during the Second World War. British and Commonwealth versions carried the names Tomahawk and Kittyhawk. Available in substantial numbers early in the conflict, it served in many theatres and became closely associated with the Flying Tigers in China.[1][2]
Development
The P-40 developed from the radial-engined Curtiss P-36. Designer Donovan Berlin adapted the basic airframe for an Allison liquid-cooled engine, seeking better performance without an entirely new aircraft. The XP-40 first flew in October 1938 and won an Army Air Corps competition the following year.[1]
Production began in 1940. Orders intended for France passed to Britain after the French defeat. The aircraft proved better suited to lower-altitude combat than high-altitude operations over northern Europe, and British Tomahawks became important in North Africa.[1]
Configuration and combat
The P-40E carried six .50-inch wing guns and could carry bombs beneath the airframe. Its Allison V-1710 engine and robust structure supported a reputation for durability, even when opponents possessed advantages in speed or manoeuvrability.[2]
P-40s fought during the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines in December 1941. They subsequently served in China, the Aleutians, North Africa, Italy and other regions. The 99th Fighter Squadron, the first African American U.S. fighter unit, operated the type in the Mediterranean campaign.[2]
International service
The Warhawk's significance depended partly on availability: Allied air forces needed effective aircraft immediately, while newer fighters were still reaching production. It therefore remained useful even after more capable designs entered service.[1]
The Smithsonian's surviving Kittyhawk served with No. 111 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, including its deployment to Alaska. It was later restored in Chinese-theatre markings, connecting a preserved Commonwealth airframe with the type's better-known Flying Tigers heritage.[1]