List of surviving Curtiss P-40s

Main article: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
P-40E-1CU 41-36084
RAAF Kittyhawk Ia ET730 Polly
Australian War Memorial

The Curtiss P-40 was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft. Flown by the air forces of 28 nations, when production of the P-40 ceased in November 1944, 13,738 had been built.

Background

By the fall of 1944, the United States Army Air Forces had already retired most of the early versions (P-40B/P-40L) and was in the midst of withdrawing the final variants from combat units. By VJ Day, the only remaining P-40 were in Operational Training Units (OTUs). These aircraft were struck-off charge and placed into storage. Most foreign users of the P-40 also quickly retired their P-40s as well – the Royal New Zealand Air Force stored their last P-40s in 1947 (scrapping them by 1962) and the last military to use the P-40 operationally was the Brazilian Air Force who used them until the late 1950s.

In 1947 the Royal Canadian Air Force auctioned off their surplus P-40s. Mr. Fred Dyson purchased 35 P-40E Ms and Ns for $50.00 each, and barged them from Vancouver to Seattle to resell. Other ex-RCAF P-40s were purchased to strip the aircraft of hardware, which was in short supply after the war. For the next 30 years the RCAF machines would make up the majority of the flying P-40s. The FAA classified P-40Es and Ms as experimental aircraft, restricting their operations. The P-40N was in the limited category typical for most warbirds, but to circumvent FAA regulations many P-40Es were licensed as P-40Ns.

The Korean War in 1950 delayed USAF plans to retire the P-51 Mustang, and the Canadian P-40s were the only high performance aircraft available. It was not until the late 1950s that the P-51 became available but by this time, the Kittyhawks/Warhawks had found a popular niche for airshows. Having an aircraft which could be painted in AVG markings made them popular.

From the mid 1970s to late 1980s, collectors from the United States started traveling to former South Pacific airfields and recovered a second generation of P-40 survivors. The majority of these were RNZAF and RAAF veterans. Examples are still being returned to airworthy status.

The fall of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s made a third generation of P-40s survivors available and numerous examples were recovered from former battlefields near Murmansk. Other examples also included airframes being recovered from Alaskan wartime crashes during this same time frame.

There are still numerous example of wrecked P-40s that have yet to be recovered in China, United States, Canada as well as Russia in addition to the South Pacific sites. Many governments regulate wreck site recoveries and have placed many off-limits so as to remain untouched as grave sites, somewhat limiting further recoveries.

Survivors

Hawk 87A-3 AK987
RCAF 1068 USAFM
Curtiss P-40B G-CDWH at Duxford 2008, the world's oldest airworthy type.[1]
P-40M-10CU 43-5802 in Aleutian Tiger markings.
P-40N-5-CU 42-105915 Little Jeanne
Hawk 81A-3 / Tomahawk IIb AK255, US National Museum of Naval
Hawk 87A-3 AK875
RCAF 1044 Lope's Hope
NASM
P-40N-15CU 42-106396 Parrot Head
Hawk 87A-3 AL135
RCAF 1076
Canada Aviation Museum
Curtiss P-40C at Flying Heritage Collection

Australia

Airworthy
P-40E
P-40F
P-40N
On display
P-40E
P-40N
Under restoration
P-40E
P-40N

Brazil

P-40N

Canada

Airworthy
P-40N
On display
P-40E

Egypt

P-40

France

Airworthy
P-40N
Wrecks

Italy

P-40L

New Zealand

Airworthy
P-40E
P-40N
On display
P-40E
P-40F
Stored
P-40E
P-40K
P-40N

Russia

P-40C

Thailand

P-40C

United Kingdom

Airworthy
P-40C
P-40F
P-40M
On display
P-40N

United States

P-40E 41-35918 Military Air Museum in Virginia Beach, Va.
Airworthy
P-40B
P-40C/Tomahawk IIB
P-40E/Kittyhawk IA
P-40K
P-40M
P-40N
TP-40N
On display
P-40C/Tomahawk IIB
P-40E/Kittyhawk IA
P-40K
P-40N
Under restoration or in storage
P-40E/Kittyhawk IA
P-40K
P-40N

Replicas

Notes

  1. "The Fighter Collection - Curtiss P-40B". The Fighter Collection. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  2. "CASA Registry: VH KTY" Civil Aviation Safety Authority Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  3. "P-40E Warhawk/41-25109" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  4. "CASA Registry: VH HWK" Civil Aviation Safety Authority Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  5. "P-40F Warhawk/41-14112" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  6. "CASA Registry: VH ZOC" Civil Aviation Safety Authority Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  7. "CASA Registry: VH MIK" Civil Aviation Safety Authority Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  8. "P-40E Warhawk/41-36084" Australian War Memorial Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  9. "P-40N Warhawk/42-104947" pacific wrecks Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  10. "CASA Registry: VH AJY" Civil Aviation Safety Authority Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  11. "P-40E Warhawk/41-5336" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  12. "P-40E Warhawk/41-5632" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  13. "P-40E Warhawk/41-13522" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  14. "P-40E Warhawk/41-35984" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  15. "P-40E Warhawk/41-36843" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  16. "P-40N Warhawk/42-104954" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  17. "P-40N Warhawk/42-105051" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  18. "P-40N Warhawk/42-105472" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  19. "P-40N Warhawk/44-7700" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  20. "P-40N Warhawk/42-104827" Vintage Wings Retrieved: 29 March 2012.
  21. "P-40E Warhawk/AL135" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  22. "P-40 Warhawk/ET574" MSNBC. Retrieved: 10 May 2012.
  23. "P-40N Warhawk/42-105915" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  24. "P-40 Warhawk/unknown" legallais.net Retrieved: 12 January 2015.
  25. "P-40L Warhawk/42-10857" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  26. "CAA Registry: ZH-RMH" Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  27. "P-40E Warhawk/41-25158" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  28. "CAA Registry: ZH-CAG" Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  29. "P-40N Warhawk/42-104730" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  30. "Maude P-40E Arrives At Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre For New WW2 Exhibit" WWII Aero Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  31. "P-40E Warhawk/AK803" RCAF Kittyhawk Retrieved: 29 March 2012.
  32. Classic Aircraft Sales Ltd Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  33. "P-40E Warhawk/41-36385" Museum of Transport and Technology Retrieved: 29 May 2014.
  34. "P-40F Warhawk/41-14205" RNZAF Museum. Retrieved: 29 May 2014.
  35. "P-40E Warhawk/41-36410" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 May 2014.
  36. "P-40K Warhawk/42-10178" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  37. "P-40N Warhawk/42-104818" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  38. "P-40N Warhawk/43-22962" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 May 2014.
  39. "P-40C Warhawk/unknown" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 15 November 2014.
  40. "P-40C Warhawk/AK498" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  41. "P-40C Warhawk/41-13357" The Fighter Collection Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  42. "P-40F Warhawk/41-19841" The Fighter Collection Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  43. "P-40M Warhawk/43-5802" Hangar 11 Collection Retrieved: 24 April 2012.
  44. "P-40N Warhawk/42-106101" RAFM London Record Retrieved: 9 March 2012.
  45. "FAA Registry: N284CF" FAA.gov Retrieved: 25 August 2014.
  46. "FAA Registry: N2689" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  47. "P-40C Warhawk/41-13390" Flying Heritage Collection Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  48. "FAA Registry: N295RL" FAA.gov Retrieved: 31 January 2012.
  49. "Tomahawk IIB/AK295" Lewis Air Legends Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  50. "FAA Registry: N440PE" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  51. "Kittyhawk IA/AK752" Stonehenge Air Museum Retrieved: 19 August 2014.
  52. "FAA Registry: N4420K" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  53. "Kittyhawk IA/AK753" Fagens Fighters WWII Museum Retrieved: 16 July 2014.
  54. "FAA Registry: N40245" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  55. "Kittyhawk IA/AK827" Yanks Air Museum Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  56. "FAA Registry: N40PE" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  57. "FAA Registry: N94466" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  58. "Kittyhawk IA/AK933" Warhawk Museum Retrieved: 10 July 2014.
  59. "FAA Registry: N940AK" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  60. "FAA Registry: N95JB" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  61. "Kittyhawk IA/AL152" War Eagles Air Museum Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  62. "FAA Registry: N1941P" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  63. "Kittyhawk IA/41-35927" Military Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 7 July 2014.
  64. "FAA Registry: N4436J" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  65. "FAA Registry: N402WH" FAA.gov Retrieved: 16 July 2014.
  66. "P-40 Warhawk/42-10083" Fagens Fighters WWII Museum Retrieved: 16 July 2014.
  67. "FAA Registry: N401WH" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  68. "P-40K Warhawk/42-10256" Texas Flying Legends Museum Retrieved: 10 July 2014.
  69. "FAA Registry: N1232N" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  70. "P-40M Warhawk/43-5795" American Airpower Museum Retrieved: 04 October 2013.
  71. "FAA Registry: N5813" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  72. "P-40M Warhawk/NZ3119" Tri-State Warbird Museum Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  73. "FAA Registry: N959FT" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  74. "FAA Registry: N85104"FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  75. "P-40N Warhawk/42-105192" Planes of Fame Retrieved: 23 October 2013
  76. "FAA Registry: N540TP" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  77. "FAA Registry: N49FG" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  78. "FAA Registry: N1226N" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  79. "P-40N Warhawk/42-105867" Commemorative Air Force Retrieved: 10 July 2014.
  80. "FAA Registry: N1195N" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  81. "P-40N Warhawk/42-106396" Warhawk Air Museum Retrieved: 10 July 2014.
  82. "FAA Registry: N999CD" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  83. "P-40N Warhawk/44-7084" Palm Springs Air Museum Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  84. "FAA Registry: N40PN" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  85. "P-40N Warhawk/44-7369" Cavanaugh Flight Museum Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  86. "FAA Registry: N9950" FAA.gov Retrieved: 25 August 2014.
  87. "FAA Registry: N923" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  88. "TP-40N Warhawk/44-47923" Fantasy of Flight Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  89. "Tomahawk IIB/AK255" National Museum of Naval Aviation Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  90. "Kittyhawk IA/AK875" National Air and Space Museum Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  91. "Kittyhawk IA/AK979" Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  92. "FAA Registry: N40FT" FAA.gov Retrieved: 25 August 2014.
  93. "Kittyhawk IA/AK987" National Museum of the USAF Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  94. "P-40K Warhawk/42-9749" Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  95. "FAA Registry: N293FR" FAA.gov Retrieved: 25 August 2014.
  96. "P-40N Warhawk/42-105270" Hill Aerospace Museum Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  97. "P-40N Warhawk/42-105927" Museum of Aviation Retrieved: 24 April 2012.
  98. "FAA Registry: N10626" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  99. "P-40N Warhawk/44-7192" Museum of Flight Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  100. "P-40N Warhawk/44-7619" Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum Retrieved: 01 October 2013.
  101. "FAA Registry: N95665" FAA.gov Retrieved: 25 August 2014.
  102. "FAA Registry: N7205A" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  103. "FAA Registry: N62435" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  104. "FAA Registry: N45946" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  105. "P-40K Warhawk/42-45984" Pima Air & Space Museum Retrieved: 7 April 2014.
  106. "FAA Registry: N692CK" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  107. "FAA Registry: N537BR." FAA.gov Retrieved: 11 February 2015.
  108. "P-40N Warhawk/42-104961" Pima Air & Space Museum Retrieved: 7 April 2014.
  109. "FAA Registry: N942KH" FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 May 2011.
  110. http://www.hanscom.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/382274/restoration-of-the-stump-jumper-a-team-effort

References

  • United States Air Force Museum. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation. 1975. 
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