P-40D Warhawk
Manufacturer:
Curtiss
Wingspan:
37 ft. 4 in.
Length
31ft. 2 in.
Max Speed:
335mph
Range:
850 mi.
Service Ceiling:
29,000 ft.
Entered Production:
1938
Total Manufactured:
13,740
Armament:
(If applicable)
6 x .5in machine guns in wings
Summary
The P-40 Warhawk was a reliable fighter used in all theatres of World War II. The P-40s began production in April of 1939 after winning a US Army Pursuit Competition at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. The resulting contract marked the largest peacetime order for fighters from the War Department since 1918, calling for production of 524 P-40s. In total, over 14,000 were produced from 1939 until 1944. P-40s that were sent to the Soviet Union or Commonwealth Nations were given the name Tomahawk for the P-40A-C, while P-40Ds and later variants were given the name Kittyhawk. Warhawk was the name given to all P-40 variants in the United States, which became famous for their shark mouth nose art and being flown by the American Volunteer Group, also known as the Flying Tigers, in the early 1940s. The P-40’s nose art was a display of aggression, a form of psychological warfare meant to intimidate.
Overview
The Curtiss P-40D (c/n 18723) Kittyhawk Mk I currently on display in Hangar 37 at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum may wear the distinctive shark-tooth markings of the legendary Flying Tigers, but this aircraft never flew in China nor served with the American Volunteer Group (A.V.G.). Purchased by the Royal Air Force (RAF), given the serial number AK979, but was diverted to Canada. It was taken on strength by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on April 23, 1942, given the serial number 1064, and spent the war years patrolling Canadian skies and at one point was with No. 132 Squadrons. After the war, most P-40 Kittyhawks were destroyed or scrapped. Fortunately, aviation enthusiast Fred Dyson foresaw their historical value and purchased a large number of British and Canadian surplus in 1947, then relocated them to Seattle. Thanks to his efforts, many US museums today have P-40s to exhibit, including the one now at Pearl Harbor. Among those rescued, our P-40D subsequently changed hands several times, at some point was modified to look like a P-40E, before being acquired in the early 1980s by the Flying Tiger Line and its parent company, Tiger International Inc. The aircraft was extensively restored and repainted in Flying Tigers livery as a tribute to Robert “Bob” Prescott, a former A.V.G. ace and the founder of the Flying Tiger Line shipping company. It was then moved to the San Diego Air and Space Museum for static display. In 1989, FedEx acquired the Flying Tiger Line and, with it, ownership of the P-40D. Recognizing its historical significance, FedEx loaned the aircraft to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in 2010, where it remains today. Though it now resides as a static exhibit, the aircraft is still maintained in optimal condition by its last pilot, John Hazlet, who continues to perform routine upkeep to preserve its legacy.
