~~ The original XP-40 was a production Hawk 75A modified for installation of the more powerful Allison V-12, 1,150 hp liquid cooled engine. This new fighter was flown for the first time in October 1938.
~~ The P-40 had a wingspan of 37ft. 3in., fuselage length of 31ft. 8in., and a height of 10ft. 7in. Armament consisted of two .50 caliber machines guns in the nose and two .30 caliber machine guns in each wing.
~~ Although lacking somewhat in maneuverability and rate of climb, the P-40's top speed of 325mph, coupled with its rugged construction, armor plating and fast diving speed, enabled it to hold its own against most of the fighter planes in existence at that time. In the hands of such capable pilots as Col. Robert L. Scott of the famed "Flying Tigers" and Lt. Neville Duke of RAF No. 112 "Shark" Squadron in North Africa, the P-40 became a potent fighting machine. Wing Commander Clive "Killer" Caldwell RAF, while flying the P-40, scored more than twenty victories in the Middle East.
~~ Names for the P-40 ranged from the Curtis "Hawk", in the United States, Tomahawk in Great Britian to the "Tiger Shark" of the "Flying Tigers" in China. This group was formed into three squadrons, the 1st (Adam & Eve), the 2nd (Panda Bears) and the 3rd (Hell's Angels). They fought their first action on December 20, 1941 and in the following six and one-half months compiled a record of 299 victories with a loss of only 50 planes, eight pilots killed and four missing.
~~ During the war years the P-40 fought on many battle fronts and bore the insignia of many countries. Among these were the United States, Britain, Australia, China, South Africa, Turkey and Russia. The P-40 and the P-40B's were the first of a long line of P-40's whose performance improved with each modification.