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 3201
Mark: P40N-15
Constructors No.: 30163
USAAF No.: 42-106401
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3202
Mark: P40N-15
Constructors No.: 30165
USAAF No.: 42-106403
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Code letter/No.: 78
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3203
Mark: P40N-15
Constructors No.: 30166
USAAF No.: 42-106404
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sep4 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3204
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30168
USAAF No.: 42-106406
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
To 4 OTU Ohakea
Dived into ground during operational
Training sortie
Pilot parachuted to safety 5 Aug 1944
NZ 3205
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30169
USAAF No.: 42-106407
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3206
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30171
USAAF No.: 42-106409
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3207
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30172
USAAF No.: 42-106410
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
To 17 Sqn
Shot down by enemy flak and
Crashed into sea while operating
From Bougainville 8 Jun 1944
Written off at Bougainville
NZ 3208
Mark: P40N-20
Construction No.: 30183
USAAF No.: 42-106421
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3209
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30178
USAAF No.: 42-106416
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
To 4 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3210
Mark: P40N-20
Construction No.: 30180
USAAF No.: 42-106418
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3211
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30181
USAAF No.: 42-106422
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
To 2 Support Unit New Georgia
Taxing accident New Georgia 12 Jan 1944
Written off 31 Jan 1944
NZ 3212
Mark: P40N-20
Construction No.: 30184
USAAF No.: 42-106422
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
To 19 Sqn
Disappeared on ferry flight from Guadalcanal
To Espiritu Santo
This A/C was part of a flight of 18 A/C that
Entered a large cumulus cloud
The flight was split and this A/C was never
Seen again 24 Apr 1944
F/O Henry Veint missing presumed killed
Written off at Guadalcanal
NZ 3213
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No,: 30186
USAAF No.: 42-106424
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3214
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30187
USAAF No.: 42-106425
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sep 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3215
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30693
USAAF No.: 43-22954
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 24 Nov 1943
Code letter / No,: N
To 17 Sqn
Hit by flak during strafing run over
Cape St George
Crashed into sea 1 Jun 1944
W/O Bruce Mc Hardie killed
Written off at Bougainville
NZ 3216
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30895
USAAF No.: 43-22956
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3217
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30898
USAAF No.: 43-22959
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3218
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No: 30899
USAAF No.: 43-22960
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3219
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30900
USAAF No.: 43-22961
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
While at 4 S U
NZ 3220
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30901
USAAF No.: 43-22962
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Named: Gloria Lyons [3rd so named]
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
Sold to John Smith stored at Mapua
NZ 3221
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30902
USAAF No.: 43-22963
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Mid air with Kittyhawks NZ 3012 and
NZ 3061 during training flight 14 Nov 1944
Written off at Ohakea 22 Nov 1944
NZ 3222
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30903
USAAF NO.: 43-22964
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
During test flight the A/C was flying so
Low the propeller tip hit the sea.
The engine vibration caused the pilot to
Bailout with insufficient height for the
Parachute to deploy.The A/C crashed into
The sea near Waiheke Island 1045 on 1 Jan 1944
Sgt William Russell killed
Written off at Ardmore 25 Jan 1944
NZ 3223
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30904
USAAF No.: 43-22965
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3224
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30905
USAAF No.: 43-22966
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3225
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30906
USAAF No.: 43-22967
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3226
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30907
USAAF No.: 43-22968
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Mid-air with Kittyhawk NZ 3073 during
Formation flying practice
Hit NZ 3073s wing tip and fell out of control,
Into the ground near Bulls 1 Sep 1943
F/O Alexander Cruikshank killed
Written off at Ohakea
NZ 3227
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30908
USAAF No.: 43-22969
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Ferried from Whenuapai to Guadalcanal by Pat Tennent,
Departed 25 Jan 1944
To 14 Sqn
To 16 Sqn
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3228
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30909
USAAF No.: 43-22970
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3229
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30910
USAAF No.: 43-22971
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3230
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 30912
USAAF No.: 43-22973
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 Nov 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3231
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31592
USAAF No.: 43-23653
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
To 1 Support Unit Guadalcanal
Crash landed at Guadalcanal 4 Apr 1944
Written off at Guadalcanal
NZ 3232
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31589
USAAF No: 43-23650
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Crash Landed on Mt Stewart,
5 miles east of Ohakea 8 Feb 1945
Written off at Ohakea 19 Feb 1945
NZ 3233
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31590
USAAF No.: 43-23651
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
To 1 Support Unit Guadalcanal
Overturned while landing at Guadalcanal 15 Apr 1944
Written off at Guadalcanal
NZ 3234
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31664
USAAF No.: 43-23725
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3235
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31593
USAAF No.: 43-23654
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3236
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31661
USAAF No.: 43-23722
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3237
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31659
USAAF No.: 43-23720
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3238
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31658
USAAF No.: 43-23719
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3239
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31586
USAAF No.: 43-23647
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
To 16 Sqn
Hit by flak at Kieta, suffered engine failure
Pilot bailed out 10 miles East of Nussi Point
And was rescued by “Dumbo” Catalina
F/O A Tucker
Written off at Bougainville
NZ 3240
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31595
USAAF No.: 43-23656
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
Damaged during training flight at
Ardmore 10 Mar 1944
Converted to Inst 93 at Ardmore
Reverted back to NZ 3240 Dec 1944
NZ 3241
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31671
USAAF No.: 43-23732
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
U/C collapsed landing at Green Island 23 Apr 1944
F/L M Jones uninjured
Written off at Bougainville
NZ 3242
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31662
USAAF No.: 43-23623
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3243
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31584
USAAF No.: 43-23645
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sep 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3244
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31596
USAAF No.: 43-23657
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Engine fire in flight at Ohakea 25 Apr 1944
Written off at Ohakea 17 May 1944
NZ 3245
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31583
USAAF No.: 43-23644
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
Code letter/No.: 245
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Crash landing at Ohakea 30 Nov 1944
Repaired and returned to service
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3246
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31587
USAAF No.: 43-23648
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3247
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31139
USAAF No.: 43-23200
B O C Unit 36 No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3248
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31142
USAAF No.: 43-23203
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 3 Feb 1944
To 16 Sqn Ardmore
During low flying exercise the A/C
Struck the sea and was ditched in the
Hauraki Gulf
P/O J Gillam uninjured
Rescued by Walrus Amphibian 30 Jun 1944
Written off at Ardmore 6 Jul 1944
NZ 3249
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31169
USAAF No.: 43-23230
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3250
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31170
USAAF No.: 43-23231
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
Unsourced photos through the Ohakea Museum
with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner