Curtis P-40 Tomahawk In Eastern India WW2.

John Spiegel in WW2.
Pictures of the P-40 Warhawk in China
YellowAirplane.com

Most commonly known as the Flying Tiger from the famous Flying Tigers in China, this is the P-40 Tomahawk. 

The P-40 came in several versions, the P-40C - Tomahawk, the P-40F, Kittyhawk II, the P-40N, Kittyhawk IV, and the Warhawk.  These planes were manufactured by Curtiss Wright Corporation.  The engines varied from a 1040 hp Allison V-12 to a 1200 hp Allison V-12.  The maximum speed was 343 mph with an initial climb rate of 2,120 fpm for the N version.  the P40N weighed 6,700 lbs. empty and 11,400 lbs. max.  The length was 33' 4" Wingspan 37' 3.5" and the height was 12' 4"  The first flight of the P40 was January 1940,  the experimental version the P40 was first flown in October 1939   There are many versions of this plane, these specs cover only one version.

A P-40 Pilot and John Spiegel in Eastern India, WW2.

The pilot is on the left John is on the right



 

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The Flying Tigers shot down the enemy at a tremendous ratio of 23 to 1
With so many enemies in WW2, there's always time for friends

Photo from  Mary Spiegel


 Take a look at this P-40.  On the underside you can see the bomb rack which holds one bomb on the center of the fuselage.  Just in front of the bomb rack you can see what looks like a loose piece of metal.  This is the Cowl flap.  The Cowl flap changes the amount of air flowing through the cooling system.  When the engine is cool as in a normal high altitude cruise, the cowl flap is closed reducing the air flow and warming the engine.  Closing the cowl flap also reduces the drag on the airplane which gives it better speed and range.  John Spiegel is the man on the right.  He looks like a teenager here, back in WW2.  He doesn't recall the pilots name nor the squadron number, its been a long time.  John said they were stationed in India when the Tomahawks were replaced by the P-51 Mustang. 
Webmasters Note:  I still can't tell the Tomahawk from the Kitty Hawk and the Warhawk, but I'm learning.
7-2-2002
Just a comment on the dialog under the P40 picture submitted by "Mary Speigel." The fixtures under the fuse were not generally "single bomb holders," but were the fixtures for steadying and holding a spare fuel drop tank.
Pete Engel

 
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The P-40 blazed across the skies of China in the hands of the Flying Tigers, and this beauty captures all the excitement! From the shark-mouthed nose to the pilot figure,  this model has "authentic" written all over it. Features Flying Tiger markings with a  detailed cockpit. Skill level 2.6302320461Flying Tigers (1942)

The P-40 Warhawk is one of the best-known U.S. fighters of World War II. But despite its fame, the P-40  was not one of the company's best performers.  Outclassed in virtually every way by other aircraft of its time, it was usually the loser when pitted against a superior foe in air-to-air combat. Slow, lacking in maneuverability, and not well armed, it was nearly a decade behind the competition when it became the  most important U.S. fighter during the early stages of the war. 
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630325814XFlying Tigers (1942) 
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