P-40E,
Kittyhawk IA
Only twenty-two P-40Ds were
produced. An order dated February 18, 1941 increased the armament
to six guns in the wings, and subsequent aircraft equipped with
this armament were designated P-40E (Model 87-B2). The cannon
mounts (which were never used in any case) were deleted. Serial
numbers of the USAAF P-40Es were 40-358 (c/n 13233), 40-382/681
(c/n 13257/13356), 41-5305/5744, and 41-13521/13599 (c/n 16737/16815).
The P-40E was powered by one
1150 hp Allison V-1710-39 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid cooled
engine. Maximum speed was 335 mph at 5000 feet, 345 mph at 10,000
feet, and 362 mph at 15,000 feet. Initial climb rate was 2100
feet per minute. An altitude of 20,000 feet could be attained
in 11.5 minutes. Service ceiling was 29,000 feet. Maximum range
was 650 miles (clean), 850 miles (with one 43 Imp gal drop tank),
1400 miles (with one 141.5 Imp gal drop tank). Weights were
6350 pounds empty, 8280 pounds normal loaded, and 9200 pounds
maximum. Dimensions were wingspan 27 feet 4inches, length 31
feet 2 inches, height 10 feet 7 inches, and wing area 236 square
feet.
The Kittyhawk IA was essentially
the export equivalent of the P-40E. 1500 were built, primarily
for the RAF, but many were diverted to Canada, Australia, and
New Zealand. Following the passage of the Lend-Lease Act, all
aircraft purchased with US funds had to have standard US designations
and had to be issued USAAF serial numbers, even though they
were never intended for service with the USAAF. Since the Kittyhawk
IA was built with some British equipment, it was not exactly
equivalent to the USAAF P-40E, and the Kittyhawk IA was assigned
the US designation P-40E-1 (Model 87A-4) to recognize the difference.
Serials of the Kittyhawk IA:
41-24776/25195 c/n 18795/19214
RAF ET100/ET519
41-35874/36953 c/n 19395/19474 RAF ET520/ET999, EV100/EV699
As mentioned above, many of
these Kittyhawk IAs were diverted to Canada, New Zealand, and
Australia. Australian serials were A29-1 through A29-163, RCAF
serials were 720/731, and New Zealand serials were NZ3001/3044,
NZ3091/3098, NZ3100/3180, and NZ3271. However, I don't have
any information correlating these serial numbers to RAF serial
numbers and back to the USAAF serial numbers.
Sources:
War Planes of the Second World
War, Fighters, Volume Four, William Green, Doubleday, 1964.
The American Fighter, Enzo Angeuluci
and Peter Bowers, Orion Books, 1987.
United States Military Aircraft
since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian
Institution Press, 1989.
Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947,
Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute Press, 1979.
The Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk, Ray
Wagner, Aircraft in Profile, Volume 2, Doubleday, 1965.
© Joseph
Baugher
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