P-40G
The designation P-40G was given
to 44 existing Army P-40s that were fitted with H81-A2 Tomahawk
IIA wings that carried four 0.30-inch machine guns. The first
such conversion was P-49 39-221, which was assigned the unofficial
designation XP-40G. The remaining 43 retrofits took place between
August and September 1941. Company records refer to these conversions
under the designation Model 81-AG. Serials of P-40s retrofitted
were as follows:
39-162,176,181,187,190,191,196,197,204,206,209,217,220,221,226,235,238,
248,257,263,267,275,276,279,288 and
40-292,297,299/301,303,309,315,318,320,323,331/333,335/338.
Some sources have at least some
of these P-40Gs being assigned new Army serial numbers after
these modifications were completed. These new serial numbers
included:
42-14261/14274 Curtiss P-40G
Warhawk
42-14277/14278 Curtiss P-40G Warhawk
42-14281 Curtiss P-40G Warhawk
However, these numbers conflict
with those assigned to an order for P-40L-30-CUs which was cancelled.
Sixteen of these P-40Gs were
shipped to the USSR starting in October 1941. All those examples
remaining in the USA were redesignated RP-40G in October 1942,
where the R meant "restricted from combat use".
39-221 was shipped to the USSR
in 1943.
For some reason, the designation
P-40H was never assigned. The designation P-40I was never assigned
in any case, lest the letter "I" be confused with
the number one.
Sources:
War Planes of the Second World
War, Fighters, Volume Four, William Green, Doubleday, 1964.
The American Fighter, Enzo Anguluci
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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