Curtiss P-40 Warhawk / Kittyhawk
Technical Information
Background
The P-40 is described as an average
fighter at best because of its handling and range. Prone to enter
a spin when it stalled, and took several thousand feet to recover
from steep dives. It could not out turn the Japanese Zero.
The P-40 is best known as the aircraft used
by Claire Chennault's American Volunteer Group "The Flying
Tigers".
While not an outstanding fighter, it was well used during the
first half of the war, until it was replaced by more capable
types.
Merlin Powered P-40F
The P-40F was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine,
only 603 were produced from January - August 1942.
Overseas Exports - Kittyhawk
Mark IA (P-40E and P-40E-1
The P-40 "Kittyhawk" was
the codename of the export version of the fighter, that was rejected
by the
RAF, but used by the RAAF and RNZAF in the Pacific. A total
of 1,500 were exported between September 1941 - June 1942, and
were counted under USAAF deliveries with USAAF serials. RAF s/n
ET100-ET999,
and EV100-EV699.
Production
Not counting the P-47 or
P-51, P-40s were the most extensively built US fighter,
with almost 14,000 units being delivered before production
ended in 1944.
