General

The Curtiss P-40 was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. It was used by the air forces of 28 nations, including those of most Allied powers during World War II and remained in front line service until the end of the war. By November of 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built.

The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36. This reduced development time ad enabled a rapid entry into production and operational service.

Warhawk was the name the United States Army Air Corps adopted for all models, making it the official name in the United States for all P-40s. The British Commonwealth and Soviet air forces used the name Tomahawk for models equivalent to the P-40B and P-40C, and the name Kittyhawk for models equivalent to the P-40D and all later variants.

Characteristics

In service with 349 squadron

349 squadron was established in Ikeja - Nigeria as part of the West-African Command. Aircraft were only delivered very seldom and quite often were unserviceable upon delivery. The situation only got worse by the weather conditions and the absence of any real combat duties. In March of 1943, not even five aircraft were flight worthy at that time and with the rain season approaching the CO filed a quite alarming letter to the staff in London. After some two months news finally came that the squadron was to relocate to the UK to start training on the 'Spitfire' and engaging in the war efforts. By that time, the squadron never became fully operational on the P-40. Although its short service period, both B-models as F-models of the P-40 were used by the squadron.