Curtiss P-40, Warhawk, Kittyhawk, Tomahawk
   The P-40 was America's foremost fighter in service when WWII began. P-40s engaged Japanese aircraft during the attack on Pearl Harbor and the invasion of the Philippines in December 1941. The P-40 served in numerous combat areas - -the Aleutian Islands, Italy, the Middle East, the Far East, the Southwest Pacific and some were even sent to Russia. Though often outclassed by its adversaries in speed, maneuverability and rate of climb, the P-40 earned a reputation in battle for extreme ruggedness. At the end of the P-40's brilliant career, more than 14,000 had been produced for service in the air forces of 28 nations.
     The P-40 gained its greatest fame as the plane of the famed Flying Tigers.  In the late 1930's Japanese forces were inflicting heavy loses on the Chinese.  President Roosevelt promised the Chinese president that the United States would help, even though the US was not at war.  The United States provided obsolete P-40B airplanes, but China didn't have the pilots to fly them.  The U.S. Army, Navy and Marines asked for volunteers.  They were released from duty and joined the "Chinese Air Force."  They began training at Rangoon in Sep. 1941.  Two of the three squadrons moved to Kunming, China to protect the Burma Road, the only ground route into China, and on Dec. 20, 1941, the Flying Tigers received their "baptism under fire" when they inflicted heavy losses on Japanese bombers attempting to attack Kunming.  Months of combat followed and the A.V.G., greatly outnumbered in the air and operating under adverse conditions (such as no replacement pilots and practically no spare parts for repairing aircraft), scored a very impressive record against the enemy, 286 Japanese planes shot down at a cost of 12 A.V.G. pilots killed or missing in action. In May 1942, pilots of the 23rd Fighter Group, selected to replace the Flying Tigers, began to arrive in China and the A.V.G. was dissolved on July 4, 1942 when the 23rd Group was officially activated.
    The P-40 was also flown by the famous Tuskegee airman of the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first Army Air Force unit to consist of black Americans.  The name came from the Tuskegee Institute Division of Aviation, a university for blacks founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881.
   The first P-40 did not have a nickname.  Later versions which had larger engines were called the "Warhawk" and "Kittyhawk."   Those exported to Great Britain, France, China and other countries were dubbed the "Tomahawk"
  For RAF Version, See P-40 Tomahawk

Curtiss P-40B "Flying Tiger"
Magnificent model from our Premier Series.  Hand-carved Philippine mahogany, carefully finished.  Accurate camouflage and exquisite detailing.  1/26th scale.  17" wingspan by 13.5" length.
  No. AEF4D-FT.  Only $169.95
P-40 Warhawk
From our Premier Series.  Same size as above.
  No. AEF4D-AR.  Only $169.96
P-40B Flying Tiger
From our Deluxe Series.  1/24th scale.
18.5" wingspan x 16" length
  No. AEF4D-DX.  Only $139.95
 
P-40B Flying Tiger
From our Standard Series.  1/40th scale
14.5" wingspan x 12.25" length
  No. AEF4D-ST.  Only $119.95
P-40B Flying Tiger, Junior
Same, but smaller 1/48th scale
9.5" wingspan x 7.5" length
  No. AEF4D-JR.  Only $69.95 

See: RAF P-40

 
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