Curtis Kittyhawk / Warhawk P40, NZ 3251 to NZ 3293, 1942 to 1948, Part 6

in #history7 years ago (edited)

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 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

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Unsourced photos through the Ohakea Museum

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner

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Comment by @shadowspub. This is a opt-in bot.Beep!Beep! @shadow3scalpel & listkeeper @chairborne have your six new veterans, retirees and military members on STEEM. We’ll be patrolling by to upvote your posts (because you are on the list) and we'll answer any questions you leave us.

Thanks for your post. You did good job >>> @len.george

Thank you for your kind comment,
we will move on to another aeroplane tomorrow.
The Catalina is the fourth aircraft of the series I got to work on sofar.
Lots more to come.

About 2,000 aircraft of this type were transferred to the Soviet Union during the Second World War.

Almost anything that could fly was shipped to Russia to try and help them defeat the Germans, some were better than others.
With the right Pilot, the P40 would have given the FW 109 an interesting time.
Thank you for your continued interest.

Keren! [Cool!]

Thanks for your kind comment and vote