Curtiss P-40 with the RAF, RNZAF and RAAF

Like it or not, the USAAF had only the P-40 available when it went to war. It rarely outperformed the fighters that it opposed, but it was one of the sturdiest fighters produced during World War II. Remembered as a "best second choice," innumerable pilots owe their lives to its rugged quality. The Curtiss P-40 was undoubtedly one of the most controversial fighters to serve in quantity during the Second World War. It was praised and abused, lauded and vilified, but the fact remains that, as the first American single-seat fighter to be manufactured on a mass-production basis, it bore much of the brunt of the air warfare over several battle fronts. Its performance was inferior to the performances of the majority of its antagonists, but this shortcoming was partly compensated for by its tractability and its sturdiness which enabled it to withstand a considerable amount of punishment. It was amenable to adaptation and it was available when most sorely needed.

Not particularly good technically or in performance, though very durable, P-40s continued to be produced until the end of 1944, serving also with air force units of Turkey, South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Later versions were known as Kittyhawks to the RAF and its Allies. Not usually realized is that the name Warhawk applied only to the United States Army Air Force P-40s starting with the P-40F version, a much improved plane with a license built version of the British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine installed.
The Kittyhawk was the main fighter used by the RAAF in World War II, in greater numbers than the Spitfire. Two RAAF squadrons serving with the Desert Air Force, No. 3 and No. 450 Squadrons, were the first Australian units to be assigned P-40s. Other RAAF pilots served with RAF or SAAF P-40 squadrons in the theater.

Many RAAF pilots achieved high scores in the P-40. At least five reached "double ace" status: Clive Caldwell (22 kills), Nicky Barr, John Waddy, Bob Whittle (11 kills each) and Bobby Gibbes (ten kills) in the Middle East, North African and/or New Guinea campaigns. In all, 18 RAAF pilots became aces while flying P-40s.
A total of 301 P-40s were allocated to the Royal New Zealand Air Force under lend lease, 297 seeing service, (the remaining 4 being lost on delivery). These aircraft equipped 14 Squadron, 15 Squadron, 16 Squadron, 17 Squadron, 18 Squadron, 19 Squadron and 20 Squadron. Some RNZAF pilots in North Africa and Italy also flew British P-40s while serving with RAF squadrons.

RNZAF P-40s were successful in air combat against the Japanese during intense fighting in the Pacific theatre from 1942 until 1944. New Zealand pilots claimed 99 aerial victories in P-40s, losing 20 aircraft in aerial combat. Geoff Fisken, the Commonwealth's highest scoring flying ace in the Pacific, flew P-40s with 15 Squadron, although half his victories came with the Brewster Buffalo.


TECHNICAL NOTES:
Armament: Six .50-cal. machine guns, 700 lbs. of bombs externally
Engine: Allison V-1710 of 1,150 hp
Maximum speed: 362 mph
Cruising speed: 235 mph
Range: 850 miles
Ceiling: 30,000 ft.
Span: 37 ft. 4 in.
Length: 31 ft. 9 in.
Height: 12 ft. 4 in.
Weight: 9,100 lbs. loaded

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Curtiss
• P-40
• warhawk
• tomahawk
• kittyhawk
• RAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• 112
• shark
• squadron

[jeffie8696]

According to the famous fighter writer Jeffrey Ethel the P40 is much better in the cockpit than most would believe. Apparently he did a full stick aileron roll and bounced his head off the canopy. He described it as a Pitts with an Allison V12. Also citing that it would put on 400mph in a dive in a heartbeat. Please remember it replaced biplanes!!

[orcstr8d]

What a playful bunch those guys were- passing their mascot dog and "feeding" him into the sharks mouth on that plane. 5 stars.

[warwatcher91]

The P-40 really is rather underestimated isn;t it?

[danonguam]

The P-40's were all made in Buffalo, New York.

[ovemunk]

According to a recdent article in "The Aeroplane" it could outturn a ME109 E and was better below 10000feet. the Me109 F and the FW109 on the other hand were superior. Fortunately there were mainly "E" models in Africa.

The Kitty/Wargawk was an exellent ground attack plane and its armament of 6 '50calibers gave the Germans something to think about. It was a very efficient plane when used correctly.

[dahl327]

can someone tell me where the Kittyhawks where made for the RAAF?

[ronw62]

Very enjoyable footage of the P-40. Thanks.

[kinglijah]

great information :-)

[christof139]

@crpdst2003, Thanx for the good info. Very interesting & unknown to me.

BTW, I believe Molders was shot down in France 1940 by a French pilot flying a P-36 Mohawk/Hawk 75, & the 30 or so the Germans sold to the Finns were well used by the Finns to good effect, as you no doubt know.

Aircraft are all unique. The French Bloch-152 (I think that is right) was slow but a tough customer. I think the Rumanians used some. I bet they could have been modified into Sturmovik type ground attack craft.

[lOmnivoreSobriquet]

@lOmnivoreSobriquet

Or "Tomahawks" perhaps.

Another great Bomberguy video I like...

[lOmnivoreSobriquet]

Massive Fench orders for this type that heavily contibuted to the large scale gear-up of the production.

H-81 as it was cald (P-36s were "Hawk H-75"), they were hurriedly shipped in 1940 but ended-up on British shores... All the "Kittihawk"s were those "Hawk-81" due to Frqnce in fact.

They were kept in north Britain in '40, reserved for the hoped-for many French flyers, then, converted to British standards (the gas handle..) and kept for ground straffing against the expected "frisés".

Then, NA.

[crpdst2003]

@christof139  post World War I engines benefitted from curtiss most of all.....Rolls Royce hired Napier best designers and gave them the directive to NOT BUILD THEIR NAPIER LION triple bank 12 cyl engine but copy the Curtiss Vee twelve Conqueror immediately.....

well they made the Kestral engine than stepped it up to the Merlin.....so you can say the Allison and the Merlin were 1st cousins.....ps BMW copied it too....but inverted it... but they say theirs alone too..