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
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 3251
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31171
USAAF No.: 43-23232
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3252
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31173
USAAF No.: 43-23234
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3253
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31174
USAAF No.: 43-23235
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3254
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31184
USAAF No.: 43-23245
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3255
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31185
USAAF No.: 43-23246
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3256
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31186
USAAF No.: 43-23247
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3257
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31187
USAAF No.: 43-23248
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3258
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31188
USAAF No.: 43-23249
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3259
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31189
USAAF No.: 43-23250
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3260
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31190
USAAF No.: 43-23251
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3261
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31191
USAAF No.: 43-23252
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 Feb 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3262
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31845
USAAF No.: 43-23906
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 1 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3263
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31847
USAAF No.: 43-23908
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 1 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3264
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31852
USAAF No.: 43-23913
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 1 Mar 1944
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sep 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3265
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31853
USAAF No.: 43-23914
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 1 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3266
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31854
USAAF No.: 43-23915
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 1 Mar 1944
To 4 OTU Ohakea Sep 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3267
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31665
USAAF No.: 43-23726
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 11 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3268
Mark : P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31667
USAAF No.: 43-23728
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 11 Mar 1944
To 4 OTU Ohakea
A/C hit the ground after losing height
Following it’s bombing run at
Raumai bombing range 1215 on 14 Feb 1945
Sgt Wilson Alexander killed
Written off at Ohakea 28 Feb 1945
NZ 3269
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No,; 31668
USAAF No.:` 43-23729
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 11 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3270
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31670
USAAF No.: 43-23731
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 1 Mar 1944
To 4 OTU Ohakea
Badly damaged in a mid air 18 Aug 1944
Repaired and returned to service
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3271
Mark No.: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19641
USAAF No.: 41-25130
RAF No.: ET 454
Taken over from 68th Pursuit Group USAAF
At Fuamotu, Tonga 27 Oct 1942
Re – assembled, B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville Mar 1944
Only flew test flights
Converted to Inst 96 at Electrical & Wireless
School Wigram 3 May 1944
Transferred to Education Dept and shifted to
Christchurch Boys School 23 Apr 1948
NZ 3272
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No,: 32224
USAAF No: 43-24285
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 1 Mar 1944
Crashed on runway at Ohakea
Following a test flight 24 Sep 1945
Written Off at Ohakea 5 Oct 1945
NZ 3273
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32226
USAAF No.: 43-24287
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3274
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.; 32228
USAAF No.: 43-24289
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
To 19 Sqn Ardmore
Taxi Accident with Harvard NZ ? 29 May 1944
Written off at Ardmore 8 Jun 1944
NZ 3275
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32230
USAAF No.: 43-24291
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
Code letter/No.: 275
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3276
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32232
USAAF No.: 43-24293
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3277
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32234
USAAF No.: 43-24295
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3085
During formation flying training
At Ohakea 25 May 1945
Written off at Ohakea 6 Jun 1945
NZ 3278
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32236
USAAF No.: 43-24297
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
Code letter/No: OD 22
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3279
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32238
USAAF No.: 43-24299
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3280
Mark: P40N-25
Construction No.: 32240
USAF No.: 43-24301
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3281
Mark: P40N-25
Construction No.: 32242
USAAF No.: 43-24303
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3282
Mark: P40N-25
Construction No.: 32248
USSAF No.: 43-24309
B O C Unit 36 No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 4 May 1944
Code letter/No.: 282
Crash landing at Ohakea 26 Jun 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3283
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32250
USAAF No.: 43-24311
B O C Unit 36 No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 29 Mar 1944
To 4 OTU Ohakea
The A/C dived vertically through clouds and
Crashed into farmland near Hunterville 1155 on 13 Feb 1945
F/L Hillard Boucher killed
Written off at Ohakea 19 Feb 1945
NZ 3284
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32300
USAAF No.: 43-24361
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3285
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32302
USAAF No.: 43-24363
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3286
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32304
USAAF No.: 43-24365
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3287
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32308
USAAF No.: 43-24369
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Code letter: E
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3288
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32310
USAAF No.: 43-24371
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3289
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32312
USAAF No.: 43-24373
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3290
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors 32316
USAAF No.: 43-24377
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
To 2 O T U Ohakea
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3079 the
A/C spun into the ground near Sanson
With the remains of NZ 3079s tail
Caught on the propeller 0912 on 3 Aug 1945
F/L Wallace Mansill killed
Written off at Ohakea 22 Aug 1945
NZ 3291
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32318
USAAF No.: 43-24379
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3292
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32320
USAAF No.: 43-24381
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3292
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32324
USAAF No.: 43-24385
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
NZ 3293
Mark: P40N-25
Constructors No.: 32324
USAAF No.: 43-24385
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 9 May 1944
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
23907
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31846
USAAF No.: 43-23907
Allocated to NZ but destroyed in rail accident before shipment from USA
23910
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31849
USAAF No.: 43-23910
Allocated to NZ but destroyed in rail accident before shipment from USA
23912
Mark: P40N-20
Constructors No.: 31851
USAAF No.: 43-23912
Allocated to NZ but destroyed in rail accident before shipment from the USA
Repaired and re-issued to USAAF
Listed as involved in a mid-air with P40N-20 43-23838 near Tonopah, Arizona 12 Jun 1945
====================================================================================================
Enemy Action
NZ 3049 K NZ 3055 K NZ 3065 K NZ 3068 M NZ 3069 M
NZ 3070 M NZ 3076 M NZ 3086 M NZ 3088 M NZ 3111 M
NZ 3113 M NZ 3116 M NZ 3120 N NZ 3121 N NZ 3122 N
NZ 3123 N NZ 3126 N NZ 3127 N NZ 3129 N NZ 3130 N
NZ 3131 N NZ 3132 N NZ 3134 N NZ 3135 N NZ 3137 N
NZ 3143 N NZ 3144 N NZ 3151 N NZ 3152 N NZ 3153 N
NZ 3162 N NZ 3166 N NZ 3167 N NZ 3183 N NZ 3186 N
NZ 3188 N NZ 3190 N NZ 3196 N NZ 3197 N NZ 3199 N
NZ 3200 N NZ 3207 N NZ 3209 N NZ 3210 N NZ 3212 N
NZ 3215 N NZ 3239 N
Aero Manoeuvres / Formation Flying
NZ 3001 E NZ 3003 E NZ 3020 E NZ 3025 E NZ 3031 E
NZ 3033 E NZ 3101 E NZ 3104 E NZ 3115 M NZ 3170 N
NZ 3180 M NZ 3189 N NZ 3204 N NZ 3222 N NZ 3232 N
NZ 3248 N NZ 3268 N NZ 3283 N
25103 E
Mid Air
NZ 3010 E NZ 3014 E NZ 3018 E NZ 3021 E NZ 3024 E
NZ 3026 E NZ 3030 E NZ 3034 E NZ 3037 E NZ 3040 E
NZ 3047 K NZ 3072 M NZ 3079 M NZ 3085 M NZ 3100 K
NZ 3110 M NZ 3112 M NZ 3141 N NZ 3154 N NZ 3165 N
NZ 3176 N NZ 3221 N NZ 3226 N NZ 3270 N NZ 3277 N
NZ 3290 N
Crashed and Burned
NZ 3016 E NZ 3023 E NZ 3038 E
Landing / U/C / Take Off
NZ 3004 E NZ 3027 E NZ 3032 E NZ 3035 E NZ 3041 E
NZ 3045 K NZ 3053 K NZ 3062 K NZ 3064 K NZ 3078 M
NZ 3089 M NZ 3091 E NZ 3097 E NZ 3100 K NZ 3114 M
NZ 3117 M NZ 3148 N NZ 3150 N NZ 3161 N NZ 3173 N
NZ 3191 N NZ 3192 N NZ 3198 N NZ 3231 N NZ 3233 N
NZ 3241 N NZ 3245 N NZ 3272 N NZ 3275 N NZ 3282 N
Taxi
NZ 3017 E NZ 3133 N NZ 3149 N NZ 3163 N NZ 3211 N
NZ 3274 N NZ 3105 E
Eng failure / Problems
NZ 3015 E NZ 3036 E NZ 3050 K NZ 3075 M NZ 3098 E
NZ 3109 M NZ 3155 N NZ 3156 N NZ 3169 N NZ 3179 N
NZ 3182 N NZ 3244 N
Fuel / Ran out of fuel / Fuel fire
NZ 3006 E NZ 3011 E NZ 3022 E NZ 3051 K NZ 3054 K
NZ 3066 M
Written Off
NZ 3002 E NZ 3005 E NZ 3058 K NZ 3063 K NZ 3077 N
NZ 3092 N NZ 3099 N NZ 3138 M NZ 3139 N NZ 3145 N
NZ 3172 N NZ 3178 N NZ 3187 N
25137 E
Instrument Failure
NZ 3103 E
Electrical & Hydraulic Failure
NZ 3177 N
Hit By Bomb
NZ 3084 M
Test Flight
NZ 3056 M
Instructional Airframes
NZ 3195 E NZ 3240 N NZ 3271 E NZ 3008 E NZ 3059 K
Sold
NZ 3007 E NZ 3012 E NZ 3013 E NZ 3019 E NZ 3028 E
NZ 3029 E NZ 3039 E NZ 3042 E NZ 3043 E NZ 3044 E
NZ 3046 K NZ 3048 K NZ 3052 K NZ 3060 K NZ 3061 K
NZ 3067 M NZ 3071 M NZ 3073 M NZ 3081 N NZ 3082 N
NZ 3083 N NZ 3087 N NZ 3090 K NZ 3093 K NZ 3094 K
NZ 3095 K NZ 3096 K NZ 3102 K NZ 3118 M NZ 3119 M
NZ 3124 N NZ 3125 N NZ 3128 N NZ 3136 N NZ 3142 N
NZ 3143 N NZ 3146 N NZ 3147 N NZ 3157 N NZ 3158 N
NZ 3159 N NZ 3160 N NZ 3164 N NZ 3168 N NZ 3171 E
NZ 3174 N NZ 3175 N NZ 3181 N NZ 3184 N NZ 3185 N
NZ 3193 N NZ 3194 N NZ 3201 N NZ 3202 N NZ 3203 N
NZ 3205 N NZ 3206 N NZ 3208 N NZ 3213 N NZ 3214 N
NZ 3216 N NZ 3217 N NZ 3218 N NZ 3129 N NZ 3220 N
NZ 3223 N NZ 3224 N NZ 3225 N NZ 3227 N NZ 3228 N
NZ 3229 N NZ 3230 N NZ 3234 N NZ 3235 N NZ 3236 N
NZ 3237 N NZ 3238 N NZ 3242 N NZ 3243 N NZ 3246 N
NZ 3247 N NZ 3249 N NZ 3250 N NZ 3251 N NZ 3252 N
NZ 3253 N NZ 3254 N NZ 3255 N NZ 3256 N NZ 3257 N
NZ 3258 N NZ 3259 N NZ 3260 N NZ 3261 N NZ 3262 N
NZ 3263 N NZ 3264 N NZ 3265 N NZ 3266 N NZ 3267 N
NZ 3269 N NZ 3273 N NZ 3276 N NZ 3278 N NZ 3280 N
NZ 3281 N NZ 3284 N NZ 3285 N NZ 3286 N NZ 3287 N
NZ 3288 N NZ 3289 N NZ 3291 N NZ 3292 N NZ 3293 N
Restored
NZ 3009 E NZ 3094 E
Unsourced photos through the Ohakea Museum
with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner