CURTISS P-40 WARHAWK

 P-40 SERVICE

Manufacturer: The Curtiss-Wright Corp., Airplane Division, Buffalo, New York, USA
Models: Hawk 81, Hawk 87
(Developed from the 1935 Curtiss (Model 75) P-36 Hawk)
Designations: P-40; F-40
Names: Warhawk (USAAF); Kittyhawk & Tomahawk (RAF)
First official flight: (XP-40) 14/10/1938
(P-40) 04/04/1940
Factory production period: 1939 - 1944
Primary service period: 1941 - 1945
Last official flight: (ZF-40N) 1948

P-40 VARIANTS

1940 Hawk 81A-1 P-40 200  
1940 Hawk 81A-1 Tomahawk Mk. I 140 Total: 00340
         
1941 Hawk 81A-2 P-40B 131  
1941 Hawk 81A-2 Tomahawk Mk. IIA 110 Total: 00241
         
1941 Hawk 81A-3 P-40C 193  
1941 Hawk 81A-3 Tomahawk Mk. IIB 930 Total: 01123
         
1940 Hawk 87A-2 P-40D 23  
1941 Hawk 87A-3/B-2 P-40E 820  
1941 Hawk 87A-1/-2 Kittyhawk Mk. I 560  
1941 Hawk 87A-3/-4 Kittyhawk Mk. IA 1500 Total: 02903
         
1941 Hawk 87B-3 P-40F 1082  
1942 Hawk 87 P-40K 948  
1942 Hawk 87B-4 P-40L 600  
1942 Hawk 87 P-40M 336  
1942 Hawk 87 Kittyhawk Mk. II / IIA 330  
1942 Hawk 87 Kittyhawk Mk. III 616 Total: 03912
         
1943 Hawk 87W P-40N 4632  
1943 Hawk 87V Kittyhawk Mk. IV 588 Total: 05220

Grand Total: 13739


Curtiss P-40-E-1-CU, s/n: 41-36385, was a Lend-Lease aircraft through the
RAF (s/n: EV131), to the RNZAF (s/n: NZ3039). Now preserved at
Motat in Auckland, the fighter is a composite rebuild for
display with only the basic airframe and a few other
components being that of the original NZ3039.
Motat Museum, Auckland, New Zealand, 1999.

P-40 PRODUCTION

XP-40 Model 75P, 1938, P-36A (38-010), re-engined as the Warhawk prototype.
Modifications made in 1939 to increase performance.

P-40
Redesigned fuselage, engine upgrade, 2 wing, 2 nose guns.
First 3 airframes served as service test models designated YP-40.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

39-156 / 39-289 13033 / 13166  
40-292 / 40-357 13167 / 13232

Total: 00200

44 later converted to the P-40G, 16 sent to Russia.
390 additional airframes cancelled.

Tomahawk Mk. I
RAF version of the P-40, 4 wing guns, 2 nose guns.
Redesignated as Tomahawk Mk. II after modifications.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

(RAF) AH741 / AH840 14446 / 14545  
(RAF) AH841 / AH880 14091 / 14130

Total: 00140

P-40B
As P-40, 4 wing guns, 2 nose guns, armour, fuel tanks.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

41-5205 / 41-5304 15973 / 16072  
41-13297 / 41-13327 16073 / 16103

Total: 00131

Tomahawk Mk. IIA
RAF version of the P-40B.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

(RAF) AH881 / AH970 14131 / 14220  
(RAF) AH971 / AH990 14582 / 14601

Total: 00110

1 to RCAF, 23 to Russia.

P-40C
As P-40B, improved equipment, belly drop tank.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

41-13328 / 41-13520 16104 / 16296

Total: 00193

Tomahawk Mk. IIB
RAF version of the P-40C.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

(RAF) AH991 / AH999 14658 / 14666  
(RAF) AK100 / AK290 14761 / 14951  
(RAF) AK291 / AK570 15243 / 15522  
(RAF) AM370 / AM519 15823 / 15972  
(RAF) AN218 / AN517 17817 / 18116

Total: 00930

100 to China for "Flying Tigers", 195 to Russia.
Aircraft also sent to Australia, Egypt, South Africa, Turkey.

P-40D
Redesigned fuselage, chin intake, cockpit
windows, engine upgrade, 4 wing guns only.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

40-359 / 40-381 13234 / 13256

Total: 00023

1 additional airframe cancelled.
1519 aircraft s/n amended to later models.

P-40E
As P-40D, 6 wing guns.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

40-358 13233  
40-382 / 40-681 13257 / 13556  
41-5305 / 41-5744 16297 / 16736  
41-13521 / 41-13599 16737 / 16815

Total: 00820

84 to RAAF as A29-1 / A29-29,
A29-31 / A29-72, A29-75 / A29-79,
A29-81, A29-154 / A29-157,
A29-159, A29-162, A29-163.

Kittyhawk Mk. I
RAF version of the P-40D / E.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

Based on the 4-gun Model 87A-2 P-40D:
(RAF) AK571 / AK590 14952 / 14971 20  
Based on the 6-gun Model 87A-3 P-40E:
(RAF) AK591 / AK870 14972 / 15251    
(RAF) AK871 / AK950 15342 / 15421    
(RAF) AK951 / AK999 18695 / 18743    
(RAF) AL100 / AL230 18744 / 18874 540

Total: 00560

72 to RCAF as 1028 / 1099.
Some to Turkey.

Kittyhawk Mk. IA
RAF Lend-Lease version of the 6-gun P-40E.
USAAF designation P-40E-1.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

41-24776 / 41-25195
Delivered to RAF as:
(RAF) ET100 / ET519 		18795 / 19214  
41-35874 / 41-36953
Delivered to RAF as:
(RAF) ET520 / ET999
(RAF) EV100 / EV699		 19395 / 20474

Total: 01500

78 to RAAF as A29-30, A29-74,
A29-80, A29-82 / A29-153,
A29-158, A29-160, A29-161.
12 to RCAF as 720 / 731.
62 to RNZAF as NZ3001 / NZ3044,
NZ3091 / NZ3107, NZ3271.
17 to Turkey.


Lend-Lease P-40E-1-CU, s/n: 41-35918, was delivered to the
Russian Air Force via the RAF, s/n: ET564. It was recovered
many years later and is now fully restored to it's former glory.
Blenheim Airshow, New Zealand, 2003.


293 Kittyhawks were flown by the RNZAF from 1942 to 1948.
62 of them were the Kittyhawk Mk. IA (P-40-E-1), one of which
is seen here restored to flying condition and painted in AVG
Flying Tiger markings including the famous "shark mouh"
located behind and below the prop.
Built as a P-40E-1-CU (s/n: 41-25158, RAF s/n: ET482), it was
delivered to the RNZAF as NZ3009 in 1942.
Warbirds Over Wanaka, New Zealand, 2004.

P-40F
As XP-40F, Packard Merlin engine upgrade.
First 700 with "short" P-40E fuselage, 612 with "long" fuselage.
1082 delivered as P-40F.
230 delivered as Kittyhawk Mk. II.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

41-13600 / 41-14599 ?  
41-19733 / 41-20044 ?

Total: 01082
1 (42-13696), static test airframe.
100 to Russia.

P-40H - Not used.
 P-40I - Not used.
 P-40J - Projected high altitude version of the P-40E, cancelled.

 P-40K
As P-40E, engine / armament upgrade, many block no. changes.
First 200 with "short" fuselage, 1100 with "long" fuselage.
Original s/n's: 42-65902 / 42-66501, 42-64502 / 42-65201.
948 delivered as P-40K.
352 delivered as Kittyhawk Mk. III.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

42-9730 / 42-10429 21114 / 21813  
42-45722 / 42-46321 15523 / 16122

Total: 00948
40 to RAAF as A29-164 / A29-204.
9 to RCAF.
23 to RNZAF as NZ3045 / NZ3065,
NZ3090, NZ3108.
25 to Brazil.
3 additional airframes cancelled.

P-40L
As P-40F, lightweight version, 4 wing guns, reduced armour.
First 50 with "short" fuselage, 650 with "long" fuselage.
Original s/n's: 42-65202 / 42-65901.
600 delivered as P-40L.
100 delivered as Kittyhawk Mk. II.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

42-10430 / 42-11129 ?

Total: 00600

1 to RNZAF as NZ3074, returned to US.
607 additional airframes cancelled.

P-40M
As "long" fuselage P-40K, for Lend-Lease,
engine upgrade, minor changes.
336 delivered as P-40M.
264 delivered as Kittyhawk Mk. III.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

43-5403 / 43-6002 27091 / 27690

Total: 00336

92 to RAAF as A29-204, A29-205,
A29-300 / A29-389.
15 to RCAF as 831 / 845.
35 to RNZAF as NZ3066 / NZ3073,
NZ3075 / NZ3089, NZ3109 / NZ3119,
NZ3180.
19 to Brazil, some to South Africa.

Kittyhawk Mk. II / IIA
RAF version of the P-40F / L.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

Delivered from P-40F s/n:
(Designated as Kittyhawk Mk. IIA)
(RAF) FL219 / FL448 N/A

230

 
Delivered from P-40L s/n:
(RAF) FS400 / FS499 N/A

100

Total: 00330

Many to Free French, Russia and USAAF.

Kittyhawk Mk. III
RAF version of the P-40K / M.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

Delivered from P-40K s/n:
(RAF) FL714 / FL730 N/A    
(RAF) FR116 / FR140 N/A    
(RAF) FR385 / FR392 N/A    
(RAF) FR412 / FR521 N/A 160  
Delivered from P-40K s/n:
(USAAF designation P-40K-1)
(RAF) FL710 / FL713 N/A    
(RAF) FL875 / FL905 N/A    
(RAF) FR111 / FR115 N/A    
(RAF) FR210 / FR361 N/A 192  
Delivered from P-40M s/n:
(RAF) FR779 / FR872 N/A    
(RAF) FS100 / FS269
- 170 to Russia.		 N/A 264 Total: 00616

P-40N
As P-40M, reduced weight version, redesigned cockpit
windows, 4 wing guns, many block no. changes.
4632 delivered as P-40N.
588 delivered as Kittyhawk Mk. IV.
Produced 1943 - 1944
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

42-104429 / 42-106428 28191 / 30190  
43-22752 / 43-24751 30691 / 32690  
44-7001 / 44-8000 32741 / 33740  
44-47749 / 44-47968 33741 / 33960

Total: 04632
553 to RAAF as A29-400 / A29-587,
A29-600 / A29-704, A29-800 / A29-828,
A29-900 / A29-928, A29-1000 / A29-1079,
A29-1100 / A29-1221.
35 to RCAF as 846 / 880.
172 to RNZAF as NZ3120 / NZ3179,
NZ3181 / NZ3270, NZ3272 / NZ3293.
41 to Brazil, 1097 to Russia, many to NEIAF.
780 additional airframes cancelled.


Curtiss P-40N-1-CU Warhawk, s/n: 42-104730, was one of 553 P-40N's
out of a total of 880 P-40's of all types in RAAF service from 1942 to 1946.
Asigned RAAF s/n: A29-448, it was abandoned in the Islands after
World War II and was later recovered and restored to it's
present day flying condition, named "Currawong".
Warbirds Over Wanaka, New Zealand, 2000.

P-40O - not used.
P-40P - Projected P-40N with engine upgrade, cancelled.

 Kittyhawk Mk. IV
RAF version of the P-40N. 
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)

Delivered from P-40N s/n:
(USAAF designation P-40N-1)
(RAF) FR884, FR885 N/A  
(RAF) FS270 / FS399
- 130 to Russia. 		N/A  
(RAF) FT849 / FT954 N/A  
(RAF) FX498 / FX847 N/A

Total: 00588

 

Grand Total: 13739

P-40 CONVERSIONS

USAAF

RP-40 1+ P-40, 1942, redesignation as "restricted" from combat.
P-40A 1 P-40(40-326), 1941, photo equipment in rear fuselage.
RP-40B 1+ P-40B, 1943, redesignation as "restricted" from combat.
RP-40C 1+ P-40C, 1943, redesignation as "restricted" from combat.
RP-40D 1+ P-40D, 1943, redesignation as "restricted" from combat.
TP-40E 2 P-40E, 2 seater trainer with extra cockpit.
XP-40F 1 Model 87D
P-40D(40-360), 1941, RR Merlin engine upgrade.
YP-40F 1 P-40F(41-13602), revised air scoop design for cooling tests.
XP-40G 1 Model 81-AG
P-40(39-221), 1941, prototype P-40 with Mk. IIB wings, 6 wing guns.
43 converted as P-40G-CU, some with new s/n: 42-14261 / 42-14274,
42-14277, 42-14278, 42-14281. 16 later sent to Russia.
All 44 redesignated as RP-40G in 1943 as "restricted" from combat.
TP-40K 1 P-40K, 2 seater trainer.
XP-40K 1 P-40K(42-10219), prototype with wing mounted radiator inlets.
TP-40N 30 P-40N, 2 seater trainers.
XP-40N 1 P-40N, prototype with bubble canopy.
XP-40Q 3 Model 87-X
2 P-40K(42-9987, 42-45722) / 1 P-40N(43-24571), prototype modifications to
airframe and engines - clipped wings, 4-bladed prop, bubble canopy.
P-40R 123 P-40F/L, 1944-1945, retrofitted with Allison engines.
70 P-40F became P-40R-1, 53 P-40L became P-40R-2.
ZF-40N 1+ P-40N, 1948, redesignation as "obsolete".

FOREIGN MILITARY SERVICE
 - P-40's in service during WW2 with Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt,
   Free French, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey and the USSR.
 - P-40's in brief service post WW2 with countries like Brazil, China and
   The Netherlands.

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