Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Single-seat fighter bomber

Power Plant:

(P-40K)

One 988 kw (1,325 hp) Allison V-1710-73 twelve-cylinder VEE liquid-cooled engine

Specifications:

Armament:

Six 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine-guns with 281 rounds per gun; one 227 kg (500 lb) or two 45 kg (100 lb) bombs

History:

The Curriss P-40 series of fighter aircraft commenced with the XP-40 prototype and developed through to the P-40C Tomahawk, which was used by the RAAF in the Middle-East campaign, and ultimately to the Kittyhawk. The P-40 Kittyhawk Mks I to IV were variants of the Kittyhawk P-40D to P-40N supplied to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. Kittyhawks supplied to the RAAF during World War II operated with Nos 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 82, 84 and 86 Squadrons, and were used as low altitude fighters and ground attack aircraft. The most notable actions were in New Guinea, New Britain, Indonesia and Borneo. The type was also used by Nos 3 and 450 Squadrons RAAF in the Middle East.

The first Mk I (AK571) made its maiden flight on 22 May 1941, and 571 of this model (AK571 to AL230) were supplied to the RAF under the Lend-Lease Act. The Mk II was the P-40 fitted with the Packard-built Rolls Royce Merlin engine, but this model did not see service with British and Commonwealth forces. Some 21 P-40Ks were delivered as Mk IIIs (FL710 to FL730). These were similar to the P-40E and had an uprated engine. Late production P-40Ks had a lengthened fuselage to correct a tendency to swing on take-off. The P-40L and P-40M were produced in parallel, the P-40L being a lightweight machine known as ‘Gipsy Rose Lee’ after the famous striptease dancer of the time. The P-40M was built specifically for the United Kingdom and, fitted with the Allison V-1710-81 engine of 895 kw (1,200 hp), first appeared in 1942. These were also known as the Mk III.

The last version supplied to Commonwealth forces was the P-40N or Mk IV, which appeared in March 1943. This had four machine-guns in lieu of the previous six, smaller and lighter undercarriage wheels, and other minor differences. After 400 P-40N-1s had been produced, the P-40N-5 variant appeared with increased glazing in the rear cockpit area and a frameless sliding hood. About 1,100 examples of this model were built. A total of 1,523 examples of the P-40N-20 model was built, fitted with the Allison V-1710-99 engine, which was the V-1710-81 with an automatic engine control unit. The majority of the P-40N series was sent to the USSR, but a number were delivered to the RAAF.

As far as Australia was concerned, by February 1942 Japanese aircraft were bombing Darwin, NT and Broome, WA and, in response, Nos 75, 76 and 77 Squadrons RAAF were equipped with P-40Es. By March No 75 Squadron was in action in the battle for Port Moresby, PNG,  No 76 Squadron moved to operations in the Milne Bay area of New Britain in July, and No 77 Squadron was engaged in the defence of northern Australia before going to New Guinea.

The defence of northern Australia was initially the responsibility of the 49th Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) with P-40s, which were joined by No 54 Squadron RAF and Nos 452 and 457 Squadrons, with Supermarine Spitfire Vs, in early 1943. Between February and August 1942 USAAC P-40Es intercepted many Japanese raids and claimed 64 enemy aircraft. The first enemy aircraft destroyed over Australia by an Australian was by Sqdn Ldr R Cresswell in a P-40E (A29-113) on 25 November 1942 when he shot down a Mitsubishi G-4M ‘Betty’ bomber.

Australia received 163 P-40E Kittyhawks (Model 1A) between March and September 1942 and these were serialled A29-1 to A29-163. It then received 42 P-40Ks (Model III) between January and September 1943, becoming A29-164 to A29-205; and 90 P-40Ms between February 1943 and June 1943 becoming A29-300 to A29-389. A total of 553 P-40Ns ranging in variants from P-40N-1 to P-40N-40, these being also known as the Model IVs, were received between July 1943 and February 1945 and received serials A29-400 to A29-587, A29-600 to A29-704, A29-800 to A29-828, A29-900 to A29-928, A29-1000 to A29-1079; and A29-1100 to A29-1221.

The Kittyhawk was important in the defence of Australia and the Pacific islands to the north. The first batch was transferred at short notice from USAAF stocks on 8 March 1942 but the remainder were mainly transferred under Lend-Lease from aircraft allocated to the United Kingdom. These were immediately allotted to No 75 Squadron and less than two weeks later were sent into action at Port Moresby, quickly being followed by No 76 Squadron and No 77 Squadron which was equipped in April, taking up duties in the defence of Darwin. An operational training unit was set up at Mildura, VIC.

The Kittyhawk was also used extensively by Australian units in the Middle East, in particular by Nos 3 and 450 Squadrons alongside two RAF units, Nos 112 and 250 Squadrons, being used in both the fighter and fighter-bomber roles.

The Curtiss P-40s were involved in intense fighting against Japanese forces in the battle for New Guinea, operating from Milne Bay and Port Moresby, defending against Japanese air raids. In mid May 1943 a large Japanese bomber formation attacked Oro Bay, Port Moresby and Milne Bay, comprising 37 Mitsubishi G3M ‘Nells’, eight Aichi D3A ‘Vals’ with an escort of 30 Mitsubishi A6Ms, 15 P-40s attacking the force and destroying 4 bombers and two fighters.

By 1944 the Australian units were equipped with P-40Ns, being joined by Nos 80 and 82 Squadrons at Nadzab and Wards Strip in Papua New Guinea. In Australia Nos 84 and 86 Squadrons at Townsville, QLD provided fighter cover to northern Australia. Allied forces continued to push the Japanese forces back across the Pacific, Australian P-40 units operating as far as Morotai island in the Dutch East Indies. A P-40N-40 (A29-1161) was the last RAAF aircraft lost on operations in World War II when it was shot down on 9 August 1945. At the end of the war most P-40s were scrapped at Oakey, QLD, but many were destroyed on the RAAF bombing range at Werribee, VIC. Eventually the P-40 was replaced by the North American P-51 Mustang in 1946.

The Kittyhawk was also used extensively in the Pacific Theatre by the RNZAF. 297 Curtiss P-40E, P-40K and P-40Ns were operated between 1942 and 1945. These aircraft were serialled in the NZ3001 to NZ3293 range. Four were destroyed before being brought on charge. RNZAF units which operated the type included Nos 14 and 22 Squadrons, and Nos 2 and 4 Operational Training Units (OTU). The Kittyhawk provided New Zealand with its first real defensive capability and, in RNZAF hands, accounted for 99 Japanese aircraft destroyed in aerial combat, and 14 probables. 40 RNZAF P-40s were lost to enemy action.

In the order of 29 P-40 Kittyhawks have survived in this region. One P-40E (A29-53) has been placed on display at the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin, VIC. This aircraft (A29-53) was restored by United Aerostructures, this being a former combat aircraft involved in the defence of Darwin in 1942, one of its pilots known to be Prime Minister of Australia, John Gorton. A P-40E (A29-133) which was restored in Victoria, is now part of the collection at the Australian War Memorial. Another Mk I (c/n 15133 – ex AK752) was imported from Canada, restored at Scone and registered as VH-KTH on 12 December 1989 but was later sold overseas in July 1994 as N440PE.

An ex-RNZAF P-40E has been restored at Scone as VH-KTY (c/n 19128, ex NZ3094) and has been painted as CV-V, one of the Kittyhawks flown by Wibg Commander R G (Bobby) Gibbes, DSO, DFC and Bar, with No 3 Squadron RAAF. Others are nearing completion and some have registrations reserved.

Australian airworthy examples have included: P-40N VH-KTI (ex 42-105915) and P-40F VH-HWK (ex 41-14112) which was one of two recovered from Vanuatu, one being restored for the RNZAF museum with an Allison engine, VH-HWK making its first post restoration flight at Tyabb VIC on 27 April 2009, being one of only two airworthy Merlin-powered P-40s.

A number of other Kittyhawks have been under restoration in Australia. One P-40N (ex 42-104949) was allotted a registration for a period but the registration was cancelled in January 2015 and it is thought this aircraft’s restoration was not completed.

In New Zealand a number of Kittyhawks have been or are under restoration. A P-40N-1 (c/n 28492), formerly A29-448 with the RAAF, has been restored as ZK-CAG. A P-40K-5 (c/n 21117), which was restored as ZK-PXL/NZ3108 for the Alpine Fighter Collection but which was extensively damaged in an accident, was restored and flown again in 2000 before being shipped to its new owner in the United States. A P-40E Kittyhawk 1A (NZ3007) is held in the collection of the Museum of Transport and Technology. A Merlin-engined P-40F, one of two recovered from Vanuatu, has been restored with an Allison engine and placed on display at the RNZAF Museum at Wigram. This aircraft was exchanged for a Chance Vought F4U Corsair.

Others have been restored in New Zealand for overseas owners, including N1941P, a P-40E, and N940AK (ex RCAF 1058). Further registrations allotted have included: ZK-ZOC to a P-40N1 (c/n 28449 -ex NZ3125, 42-104687) for Arthur Pipe & Steel Pty Ltd. After flight testing in New Zealand this aircraft was imported to Australia where it became VH-ZOC. A P-40N (ex 42-104977) was restored by North Queensland Warbirds of Mareeba, being registered VH- MIK in October 2006 but was exported in 2014 to the United States, becoming N587VD. A P-40E was restored at Wangaratta as a P-40F in 2011 and became VH-PIV for its test flying before being exported to the United Kingdom where it became G-CGZP.

Some hundreds of P-40 Kittyhawks also operated in Australia during World War II with the USAAC (which became the USAAF on 20 June 1941) and many were used for training purposes. They suffered a high attrition rate and reports have indicated that of the 330 P-40s delivered to the USAAF, by March 1942 some 140 had been lost in training accidents in Australia. It has been stated a Corporal in charge of a refuelling crew in November 1942 said to pilots refuelling their aircraft on their way north “You won’t have trouble finding your way to Darwin; just follow the trail of crashed Kittyhawks, you can’t go wrong”.

Further examples continue to be rebuilt and registered. In late 2015 a P-40N-5-CU became VH-PFO (ex 42-104986) to its owner at Whorouly, VIC; and in February 2016 a P-40N-5 became VH-JBR (ex 42-104947) registered to its owner in South Australia. This aircraft later became VH-AIN (ex 42-10497) registered to Precision Airmotive Pty Ltd of Whorouly.