Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>P-40>HA5503

General Background

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk first flew in 1938 as a modification of the Curtiss P-36 Hawk. Warhawk was the official U.S. designation while the name Tomahawk was used by the British Commonwealth and Soviet forces for the P-40B and C and Kittyhawk for P-40Ds and later variants. The P-40 was first used by British squadrons in North Africa and the Middle East in 1941. The P-40 lacked a two-speed supercharger making them inferior to German aircraft but was an adequate fighter in low altitude combat zones. Almost 12,000 P-40s were produced.

The Aircraft

In March 1942 the 88th, 89th and 90th Pursuit Squadrons formed the 80th Pursuit Group. In February 1943 the 80th PG was ordered to the Far East instead of Europe and would be equipped with the Curtiss P-40 “Warhawk”. In May 1943 the 80th PG left for the Naggaghuli Base in the Assam Valley, India to protect cargo aircraft flying supplies from India to China by way of Burma and Japanese fighter aircraft. The sound made by the P-40 earned the 80th PG the nickname “Burma Banshees”.

Specifications :

Crew:	1.
Powerplant:	Allison V-1710 of 1,150 hp.
Maximum speed:	362 mph.
Crusing speed:	235 mph.
Ceiling:	30,000 ft.
Range:	850 miles
Wingspan:	37 ft 4 in (11.37 m)
Length:	31 ft. 9 in.
Height:	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Weight:	9,100 lbs. loaded
Armament:	Six .50-cal. machine guns; 700 lbs. of bombs externally