Design:
Glen Curtis
Company:
Curtis
Curtis – Wright Corp
Developed from:
P 36
Wing Span:
37 ft 3 ½ in 11.37 M
Wing Area:
236 sq ft 21.90 Sq M
Length:
P 40 B
31 ft 8 ½ in 9.66 M
P 40 N
33 ft 4 in 10.6 M
Height:
12 ft 4 in 3.66 M
Ceiling:
P 40 B
32,400 ft 9,875 M
P 40 N
38,000 ft 11,582 M
Speed: at 15,000 ft
P 40 B
352 MPH 566 KPH
P 40 N
343 MPH 553 KPH
Range:
P 40 B
730 Miles 1,175 Km
P 40 N
750 Miles 1,207 Km
T/O Weight:
7,450 lb 3,424 Kg
Empty Weight:
P 40 B
5,590 lb 2,536 Kg
P 40 N
6,000 lb 2,722 Kg
Entered Service:
June 1941
Crew:
1 Pilot
Role:
Fighter
Fighter / Bomber
Total Manufactured:
13,738 All Marks
First Flight:
Oct 1938
Armament:
P40 B
4 x .30 in machine guns in wings
2 x .50 in machine guns in forward fuselage
P40 N
6 x .5 in machine guns in wings
Up to
1500 lb -680 Kg bombs external/under wing
Years Served:
1942 to 1948
Qty Served:
297
Tail Nos
P40 E NZ 3001 to NZ 3044
NZ 3091 to NZ 3107
NZ 3271
P40 K NZ 3045 to NZ 3065
NZ 3090 to NZ 3108
P40 L NZ 3074
P40 M NZ 3066 to NZ 3073
NZ 3075 to NZ 3089
NZ 3109 to NZ 3119
NZ 3180
P40 N NZ 3120 to NZ 3179
NZ 3181 to NZ 3270
NZ 3272 to NZ 3293
First flight on 14 Oct 1938, the radial engine of a P 38A Hawk was replaced
with an Allison V-1710 – 19 air-cooled in-line engine of 1,040 Hp
The Warhawk made its name in China with the American Volunteer Group
“ The Flying Tigers” where they began operations against the Japanese in late 1941.
The P 40 D had an engine change to the Allison V – 1710- 30,
the fuselage guns removed and the wing guns changed to .5 in,
These were known as “ Kittyhawk 1s”,
the E used a Roll Royce Merlin 28 engine to achieve a top speed of 373 MPH [600 KPH]
All Lend-Lease aircraft
Price $ US 77,706.00 ea
P40N also known as Warhawk
On the way to Norfolk Island
ENGINE
image source
Type:
P40 – E-K-M-N Allison
P40 – L Packard
P40 – E V1710 – 39 [F3R]
P40 – K V1790 – 73 [F4R]
P40 – M-N V1790 – 81
P40 – L V1650 – 1 [copy of R R Merlin 28]
12 cylinder, 60^ vee, in-line, liquid-cooled, single supercharger
Horse Power:
1390 HP 1.040 kW
Bore:
5.4 in 137.2 mm
Stroke:
6.0 in 152.4 mm
Volume:
1649 cu in 27.04 L
Compression Ratio:
6: 1
Max RPM:
Fuel:
100 octane
after mid 1944 130/150 octane
Length:
88.7 in 2,253 mm
Height:
40 in 1,016 mm
Width:
30.8 in 781 mm
Weight:
1645 lb 746 Kg
Power to Weight Ratio:
100 octane 0.80 hp/lb
130/150 octane 1.21 hp/lb
Flown By:
In South Pacific
15 Sqn Tonga
14 Sqn 15 Sqn 16 Sqn
17 Sqn 18 Sqn 19 Sqn
Not Flown in South Pacific
2 [F] OTU Ohakea Apr-Jun 1942
20 Sqn 21 Sqn 22 Sqn
4 [F] OTU Ardmore Mar 1944
Fighter Gunnery School Gisborne Apr 1944
2 FOCU Ohakea
OTU = Operational Training Unit
B O C = Brought On Charge
Dumbo = Usually a Catalina, rescue flight
RTP = Reduced To Produce, scrapped
U/C = Undercarriage
A/C = Aircraft
MOTAT = Museum Of Transport And Technology
Sqn = Squadron
FOCU = Fighter Operational Training Unit
RD = Repair Depot
Inst = Instructional Non-Flying Airframe
14 Sqn Code Letter HQ and AX at Ohakea
15 Sqn JZ
16 Sqn XO
17 Sqn
18 Sqn LV
19 Sqn
20 Sqn NH
NZ 3151
Mark: P40N-1
Constructors No.: 28608
USAAF No.: 42-104846
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 27 Jul 1943
Code letter / No.: 55
To 16 Sqn
Badly damaged during a fighter sweep
Over Rabaul
The U/C could not be lowered
Crash landed on the beach near
Torokina 17 Dec 1943
F/O P Bull uninjured
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3152
Mark: P40N-1
Constructors No.: 28609
USAAF No.: 42-104847
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 27 Jul 1943
Code letter / No.: 61
Hit in tail section by flak, suffered
Hydraulic failure
Crash landed at Green Island 6 May 1944
Sgt O Marshall uninjured
Written off at Bougainville
NZ 3153
Mark: P40N-1
Constructors No.: 28611
USAAF No.: 42-104849
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 27 Jul 1943
Code letter F
To RNZAF Fighter Wing Solomon Islands
Shot down by enemy fighter during a
Fighter sweep over Rabaul
Crashed near Hunter Point 17 Dec 1943
W/C Trevor Freeman killed
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3154
Mark: P40N-1
Constructors No.: 28612
USAAF No.: 42-104850
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 27 Jul 1943
Code letter / No.: 49
To 16 Sqn
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3176
Struck the underside of NZ 3176
They both crashed into the jungle near
Torokina 19 Dec 1943
F/O James Williams killed
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3155
Mark: P40N-1
Constructors No.: 28613
USAAF No.: 42-104851
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 27 Jul 1943
Code letter / No.: 50
Engine failure at 300 ft after taking off
From Torokina
A/C crashed into the sea
Leaving no trace 1715 on 19 Dec 1943
W/O Colin McDonald killed
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3156
Mark: P40N-1
Constructors No.: 28614
USAAF No.: 42-104852
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 27 Jul 1943
Code letter / No.: 56
To 18 Sqn
Engine problems on take off from Ondonga,
Crashed into jungle 300 yds
From the end of the airstrip 0535 on 21 Nov 1943
F/O John Brew killed
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3157
Mark: P40N-1
Constructors No.: 28615
USAAF No.: 42-104853
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 27 Jul 1943
Code letter/No.: 51
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3158
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29070
USAAF No.: 42-105308
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3159
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29071
USAAF No.: 42-105309
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sep 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3160
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29072
USAAF No.: 42-105310
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3161
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29073
USAAF No.: 42-105311
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
Crash landed at Green Islands 19 Mar 1944
Written off at Bougainville
NZ 3162
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29074
USAAF No.: 42-105312
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
Code letter / No.: 62
To 16 Sqn
Part of a 48 A/C fighter sweep over
Rabaul attacked by enemy fighters
NZ 3161 was 1 of 5 Kittyhawks that
Failed to return 24 Dec 1943
F/O Montague Dark killed
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3163
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29081
USAAF No.: 42-105319
B O C No1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
To 4 OTU Ardmore
Swung off the runway when landing at
Ardmore
Hit Harvard NZ 1059, killed the instructor
In the Harvard when the rear cockpit was hit
With the wingtip of NZ 3163 16 May 1944
Sgt L Long uninjured
Written off at Ardmore 23 May 1944
Converted to Inst 99 TTS Nelson
NZ 3164
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29082
USAAF No.: 42-105320
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sep 1944
Hit Harvard NZ 1059 when landing at
Ardmore
Repaired and returned to service
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3165
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29083
USAAF No.: 42-105321
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
Code letter/No.: 60
To 14 Sqn
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ ? during
Escort duty
The A/C crashed Into the Jungle
near Vaunakanau 13 Feb 1944
F/O Gordon Treweek killed
Written off at Bougainville 9 Mar 1944
The wreckage was found in the jungle in 1955
NZ 3166
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29084
USAAF No.: 42-105322
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
Code letter/No: 53
To 18 Sqn
Damaged by flak during a strafing run
Engine failure, crashed into sea near
Fauro Island 16 Nov 1943
F/O Lindsay Hutton killed
Written off 17 Dec 1943
NZ 3167
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29085
USAAF No.: 42-105323
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Aug 1943
Named: Gloria Lyons [2nd so named]
To 18 Sqn
Damaged by flak during a raid on a
Japanese airfield on Buka Island
Ditched into sea due to lack of control
For landing 23 Feb 1943
Sgt C Wood parachuted to safety uninjured
Written off at Bougainville 9 Mar 1944
NZ 3168
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 28783
USAAF No.: 42-105021
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 11 Aug 1943
Code letter / No.: 15
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3169
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 28784
USAAF No.: 42-105022
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 11 Aug 1943
Code letter / No.: 59
To 18 Sqn
Engine problems, ditched into sea near
Treasury Islands 0645 on 22 Nov 1943
F/O Peter Rishworth killed
Written off 17 Dec 1943
NZ 3170
Mark: P40N-5
Construction No.: 28786
USAF No.: 42-105024
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 11 Aug 1943
To 21 Sqn Ardmore
Low level aerobatics when the A/C
Stalled in a steep climb
Dived into the ground near Raglan 0900 on 5 May 1944
P/O John Sumner killed
Written off at 1RD Hamilton 18 May 1944
NZ 3171
Mark: P40N-1
Constructors No.: 28787
USAAF No.: 42-105025
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 11 Aug 1943
Code letter / No.: 18
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3172
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 28788
USAAF No.: 42-105026
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 11 Aug 1943
Crashed at New Georgia 18 Nov 1943
NZ 3173
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 28616
USAAF No.: 42-104854
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 16 Aug 1943
Code letter/No.: 66
Crashed on landing at Bougainville 27 Jan 1944
Written off at Bougainville 2 Feb 1944
NZ 3174
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 28617
USAAF No.: 42-104855
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 16 Aug 1943
Code letter Q
Ferried from Whenuapai to Espiritu Santos by Pat Tennent, departing 7 Oct 1943
To 14 Sqn
To 17 Sqn
Part of a 48 A/C sweep over Rabaul,
attacked by enemy fighters
NZ 3174 was 1 of 5 A/C that failed
To return 24 Dec 1943
Sgt Robert Covic killed
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3175
Mark: P40N-5
Construction No.: 28779
USAAF No.: 42-105017
B O C No1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 16 Aug 1943
Code letter / No.: 65
To 16 Sqn
Shot down by enemy fighters during a
fighter sweep over Rabaul
Crashed near Praed Point 17 Dec 1943
F/L John McFarlane killed
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3176
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 28778
USAAF No.: 42-105016
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 16 Aug 1943
Code letter/No.: 64
To 16 Sqn
Mid air with NZ 3154, hit from beneath
Both A/C crashed into the jungle near
Torokina 19 Dec 1943
F/S D Mulligan bailed out
And was picked up next day
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3177
Mark: P40N-5
Construction No.: 28777
USAAF No.: 42-105015
B O C No1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 16 Aug 1943
Code letter: A
Ferried to Espritu Santo departing Whenuapai 3 Nov 1943
Electrical and hydraulic failure,
Crash landing at Pallikulo Bay 3 May 1944
Written off at Espiritu Santo
NZ 3178
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 28781
USAAF No.: 42-105019
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 16 Aug 1943
Code letter: E
To 4 Support Unit Bougainville
Written off at Bougainville 15 Apr 1944
NZ 3179
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 28782
USAAF No.: 42-105020
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 16 Aug 1943
To 4 OTU Ohakea
Engine problems during a formation
Flying practice
Descended to 1,000 ft for a landing approach
Spun into ground near Sanson 1455 on 18 Jul 1944
Sgt Robert Stewart killed
Written off at Ohakea 2 Aug 1944
NZ 3180
Mark: P40M-5
Constructors No.: 27195
USAAF No.: 43-5507
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 1 Sep 1943
[Replacement A/C for P40L NZ 3074 returned to USA]
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Performing steep turns at low altitude
The A/C failed to recover from a dive
And crashed into the ground near Bulls 2115 on 27 Oct 1943
F/S John Sinclair killed
Written off at Ohakea 6 Nov 1944
NZ 3181
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29634
USAAF No.: 42-105872
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3182
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29635
USAAF No.: 42-105873
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
To 16 Sqn
Damaged after a belly landing caused by a
Tyre bursting on take off from Piva U
F/S G Luoni uninjured
Repaired and returned to service
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Engine failure, forced landing near Bulls 16 Feb 1945
Written off at Ohakea 28 Feb 1945
NZ 3183
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29636
USAAF No.: 42-105874
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
To 18 Sqn
Shot down by enemy fighter while doing
Escort duty
Crashed into sea near Cape Gazelle 27 Jan 1944
F/L Clive Highet killed
Written off at Bougainville 2 Feb 1944
NZ 3184
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29637
USAAF No.: 42-105875
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Code letter/No.: 75
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sep 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3185
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29638
USAAF No.: 42-105876
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3186
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29639
USAAF No.: 42-105877
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Code letter/No.: 81
To 15 Sqn
Code letter: G
Shot down by enemy fighter while doing
Escort duties
Crashed near Bitagalip 22 Jan 1944
Sgt Colin Grubb killed
Written off at Bougainville 2 Feb 1944
NZ 3187
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29641
USAAF No.: 42-105879
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Code letter: R
To 4 Support Unit Bougainville
Written off at Bougainville 9 Mar 1944
NZ 3188
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29643
USAAF No.: 42-105881
B O C No1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Code letter: B
To 17 Sqn
Strafing run on the Oamai River,
at tree top height
The A/C rolled over and crashed
Into the ground 1320 on 7 May 1944
F/O Stanley Broadbent killed
Written off at Bougainville
NZ 3189
Mark: P40N-5
Construction No.: 29645
USAAF No.: 42-105883
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Code letter/No.: 72
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sept 1944
While circling a house at low altitude
near Whangaehu stalled and crashed
into the ground 0940 on 22 May 1945
W/O Robert Halford killed
Written off at Ohakea 28 May 1945
NZ 3190
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29647
USAAF No.: 42-105885
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Code letter/No: 67
Missing on operations from Bougainville 16 Feb 1944
Written off at Bougainville 9 Mar 1944
NZ 3191
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29649
USAAF No.: 42-105887
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Forced landing at Ohakea 25 Aug 1944
Written off at Ohakea
NZ 3192
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29650
USAAF No.: 42-105888
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Crash landed while operating from
Bougainville 19 Feb 1944
Written off at Bougainville 9 Mar 1944
NZ 3193
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29651
USAAF No.: 42-105889
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Code letter/No.: 82
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3194
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29652
USAAF No.: 42-105890
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Code letter/No.: 74
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sep 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3195
Mark: P40N-5
Constructors No.: 29653
USAAF No.: 42-105891
B O C No1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Oct 1943
Attempted forced landing at Tauranga
During operational training 14 Jan 1944
Converted to Inst 95 at Tauranga 14 Mar 1944
RTP 2 May 1945
NZ 3196
Mark: P40N-15
Constructors No.:: 30151
USAAF No.: 42-106389
B O C No1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Code letter/No.: 76
To 16 Sqn
Part of a 48 A/C fighter sweep over Rabul,
Attacked by enemy fighters
NZ 3196 was 1 of 5 A/C that failed
To return 24 Dec 1943
F/O Denis Page killed
Written off 2 Feb 1944
NZ 3197
Mark: P40N-15
Constructors No.: 30153
USAAF No.: 42-106391
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Code letter: P
Crashed into the sea while operating from
Bougainville 8 Mar 1944
Written off at Bougainville
NZ 3198
Mark: P40N-15
Constructors No.: 30154
USAAF No.: 42-106392
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Crashed on landing at Norfolk Island
during ferry flight 16 Dec 1943
Written off at Hamilton 1 Aug 1944
NZ 3199
Mark: P40N-15
Constructors No.: 30156
USAAF No.: 42-106394
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Code letter/No.: 69
Badly damaged during a fighter sweep
Over Rabaul
Attacked by 10 Zekes [Zeros] 24 Dec 1943
On returning to Torokina the A/C became
Uncontrollable
Crash landed into sea 1 mile from shore
F/O K Starnes escaped the A/C and made
his way to shore
Written off at Bougainville 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3200
Mark: P40N-15
Constructors No.: 30157
USAAF No.: 42-106395
B O C No1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Code letter/No.: 70
To 18 Sqn
Shot down by enemy fighter while on
Escort duty
Crashed into sea near Cape Gazelle 27 Jan 1944
Sgt Clifford Knight killed
Written off at Bougainville 2 Feb 1944
Unsourced photos through the Ohakea Museum
with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner