P-40N Oil Cooler inlet ???

[Vince_M]

Referring to the perforated grills on the nose of P-40Ns, just in front of the exhausts, what are they?
Most books call it an oil cooler inlet but I saw the P-40N down at Warner-Robins, GA, and it looked like a dust or sand filter to me (from what I could see through the holes).  Anyone have knowledge on this?

[Mark Joyce]

Hi Vince,

Bert Kinzey's book, "P-40 Warhawk in Detail," says that the grills "allowed carburetor bypass air to enter through metal filters."

HTH,

Mark