Wheel well canvas

[Andreas]

Hello!
What about the use of wheel well canvas on P-40`s? Were they used regulary, or only in desert terrain? Was the tail wheel well always covered with canvas?
Thanks in advance for any information!!!

Andreas

[Mark Joyce]

The book "P-40 Warhawk in Detail" mentions that the canvas covers were often removed, although there is no specific mention that they were always installed in the first place.  I don't think there was a hard and fast rule as to if, when, and were they were used or removed; if a specific airplane needed them to be removed to ease with maintenance, I'm guessing they were removed and not reinstalled.  I believe I've heard that they were a pain to work with, but I can't remember my source on this. 

This goes for both the main and tail wheels.  I'd be careful about using the words "always" and "never," for one can always find an exception!

HTH,

Mark