Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, known as the Kittyhawk in British Commonwealth and Soviet service, was an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. It was used extensively by the Allied powers during World War II, and remained in frontline service until the end of the war. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk, retaining its robust construction and excellent handling characteristics while featuring a more powerful Allison V-1710 engine. Although it was often outclassed by newer fighter aircraft, particularly at high altitudes, the P-40 nevertheless served admirably in various theaters, including North Africa, the Southwest Pacific, and China. The aircraft gained fame through its use by the American Volunteer Group in China, better known as the "Flying Tigers," whose shark-mouth nose art became one of the most recognizable military aviation images of World War II.
