NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/sci/military/12175

Text File | 1992-12-23 | 8.3 KB | 157 lines

Newsgroups: sci.military
Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!gatech!hubcap!ncrcae!ncrhub2!ciss!law7!military
From: Joseph F Baugher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Number Forty in the Series--Curtiss P-40 (2 of 11)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Keywords: Tomahawk, Flying Tigers, North Africa
Sender: [e-mail] (Sci.Military Login)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories -  Naperville, Illinois
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 17:17:11 GMT
Approved: [e-mail]
Lines: 144


From Joseph F Baugher <[e-mail]>

At a very early stage, the Curtiss P-40 attracted the attention of
foreign air forces.  On May 10, 1939, the French ordered 140 export
versions of the P-40 for the Armee de l"Air.  These aircraft were
designated Hawk 81-A1 by the manufacturer.  The Hawk 81-A1s were
identical to the US P-40 except that they had French instruments and
equipment and were equipped with reverse-movement "French-fashion"
throttles.  The first of the French-ordered H81-A1s flew on June 6,
1940, and a few were actually completed with French markings.
However, before any of their H81-A1s could be delivered, France
surrendered.  Britain agreed to take over the entirety of the French
order, and gave the H81-A the name Tomahawk I in RAF service.  RAF
serials were AH741/840 and AH841/880.

The USAAC had agreed to defer deliveries of their P-40s so that the
Tomahawk Is could be supplied to Britain as soon as possible.  The
first Tomahawk Is reached England in September of 1940.  The two
0.5-inch machine guns in the nose were retained, but they were
supplemented by four wing-mounted 0.303-inch Browning machine guns in
place of the 7.5-mm FN-Brownings specified by the French.  Such was
the urgency of their delivery to Britain that many of the 140 machines
still had French instruments and bore cockpit lettering in French when
they arrived.

However, Britain quickly concluded that these planes were not suitable
for combat, since they lacked armor protection for the pilot,
armor-glass windshields, or self-sealing fuel tanks.  Nevertheless,
since a German invasion was feared to be imminent, they were actually
issued to several operational squadrons.

However, the Hun never invaded England, and so the Tomahawk Is were
used only for training roles within Britain.  Overseas, the first
Desert Air Force squadron to be equipped with Tomahawks was No.  112
which exchanged its Gloster Gladiators for the Curtiss fighter.  No
112 Squadron became famous for its "shark's tooth" insignia on the
engine cowling, and this scheme was later adopted by the American
Volunteer Group in China.  AH774,793, and 840 were sold to Canada for
use as instructional airframes, but they retained their RAF serials.

The Tomahawk IIA (Model H81-A2) was equivalent to the US P-40B.  It
had protective armor and externally-covered self-sealing tanks.  110
were built for the RAF under a direct-purchase contract.  It carried
two 0.30-inch machine guns in the wings in addition to the two 0.50-in
guns in the fuselage.  A British radio was fitted.  RAF serials were
AH881/990.  AH938 was transferred to Canada as an instructional
airframe.  23 of these planes were transferred to the USSR.

The Tomahawk IIB (Model H81-A2) was generally equivalent to the US
P-40C.  It had four 0.303-inch Browning machine guns in the wings in
addition to the two nose-mounted 0.50-in guns.  Whereas the Tomahawk
IIA had a British radio, the Tomahawk IIB had US equipment.  A total
of 930 of these planes were produced in four lots.  RAF serials were
AH991/999, AK100/570 (36 of this batch were shipped to China and were
selected at random with no particular sequence), AM370/519 (64 were
shipped to China, selected at random), and AN218/517.  They were used
extensively by the RAF and the South African Air Force in North Africa
starting on June 16, 1941.

After the German invasion of the USSR in June 1941, one hundred and
ninety-five Tomahawk IIBs were shipped to the USSR, some from the USA,
others selected from the reserve forced based in the United Kingdom in
anticipation of the German invasion which never came.  These Russian
Tomahawks went into action on the Moscow and Leningrad fronts in
October 1941, and were the first US-built planes to be used by the
Russians in the new battle area.

An unspecified number of Tomahawk IIBs were sent to bolster Turkish
neutrality in November 1941.  Turkey was supplied with planes from
both the Allies and the Axis during World War II.

The Tomahawk IIs were active in the Middle East from October of 1941
onward.  They shared in the strafing of the retreating Axis troops.
The ability of the Tomahawk to absorb an incredible amount of
punishment became almost legendary.  They served with Nos 2, 26, 73,
112, 136, 168, 239, 241, 250, 403, 414, 430 and 616 Squadrons of the
RAF.  They also served with Nos 2 and 4 Squadrons of the South African
Air Force and No 3 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force.  At low
altitudes, the Tomahawk II was actually superior to the Bf 109, but
this advantage rapidly disappeared when combat took place at altitudes
above 15,000 feet.  The weight which handicapped the performance of
the Tomahawk did have one tangible benefit--the rugged structure could
absorb a terrific amount of battle damage and still allow the airplane
to return to base.  Although generally outclassed by the Bf 109, the
Tomahawk was a capable fighter in the hands of experienced pilots such
as Neville Duke.  Wing Commander Clive Caldwell of the RAAF scored
more than twenty victories while flying a Tomahawk in the Middle East.
However, much of the opposition to the Tomahawk was provided by
obsolescent fighter biplanes (e.g.  Fiat CR-42) and underpowered,
lightly armed fighter monoplanes such as the Fiat G-50 of the Regia
Aeronautica.  It had difficulty with the more advanced Macchi C-202
Folgore.

100 of the RAF Tomahawk IIBs were released to China and served with
the American Volunteer Group (AVG)--the famous "Flying Tigers".
Company records list them as Model H81-A3.  The Tomahawk IIB was
more-or-less equivalent to the P-40C, but some sources list the Flying
Tiger Tomahawks as being equivalent to the P-40B.  There is confusion
on this point.

It is with the Flying Tigers that the P-40 achieved immortality.
Newly-promoted to Brigadier General in the Chinese Army, Claire
Chennault went to the USA in November 1940 to recruit pilots for the
AVG.  The AVG came into existence in August 1941.  General Chennault
ordered 100 P-40s through a loan from the US government.  By the time
of Pearl Harbor, some 80 American pilots were serving with the AVG
based at Kunming and Mingaladon.  Contrary to popular understanding,
the AVG did not actually enter combat until AFTER Pearl Harbor.  The
famous "shark's teeth" marking did not originate with the Flying
Tigers, but was copied from the markings used by the Tomahawks of the
RAF's No.  112 Squadron in North Africa.

The AVG drew first blood on December 20, destroying six out of ten
attacking Japanese bombers.  When the AVG encountered the Japanese
Zero for the first time, they initially underestimated the
maneuverability of their opponent, and they lost two pilots on
December 23.  It was soon learned that it was wise not to mix it up
with the Zero on a one-to-one basis because of the inferior
maneuverability and climb rate of the Curtiss, but instead to use the
P-40's superior speed and diving ability to advantage.  The most
effective tactic against the Zero was a diving pass followed by a
rapid departure from the scene.  The P-40 gained a reputation for
ruggedness which enabled many an AVG pilot to return safely home after
his plane was damaged in combat.


  War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Four, William Green,
  Doubleday, 1964.

  The American Fighter, Enzo Anguluci and Peter Bowers, Orion Books, 1987.

  United States Military Aircraft since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter
  M. Bowers, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989.

  Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947, Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute Press,
  1979.

  The Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk, Ray Wagner, Aircraft in Profile, Volume 2,
  Doubleday, 1965.

Joe Baugher       AT&T Bell Laboratories    2000 North Naperville Road
          Naperville, Illinois 60566-7033.   [phone]