P-40 Tiger Shark in RAF...

[Maestro]

Greetings ladies and gentlemen.

I heard somewhere that the RAF used some P-40s during WW II. Is it true ? If yes, in wich teather and in wich role were they used ?

[evangilder]

The Brits did indeed have P-40s, but they were called the Tomahawk. They flew with the No. 112 squadron in the Desert Air Force in North Africa. It was the British that first used the sharks mouth on the P-40 also. Later versions in RAF service were called the Kittyhawk. I am not sure of the operational usage of the Kittyhawks, but doubt that they were used in the European Theater.

[Nonskimmer]

The RCAF flew some Kittyhawks too, but mostly for home defence duties in Canada.

[evangilder]

Yes, they also received some instructional airframes.

[Maestro]

Good. Thank you for your help.

[mosquitoman]

Try looking up Billy Drake of 112 Squadron RAF, that should give you quite a few shark mouths on P-40s

[BlackWolf3945]

The Tomahawk saw limited use by the RAF in low-level reconnaissance sorties over occupied Europe until 1943.

However, most of the Tomahawks and Kittyhawks operated by the RAF were used in the MTO, along with some Australian and South African units.

The following are Commonwealth squadrons which used the P-40 in the MTO:

94 Sqn RAF
112 Sqn RAF
250 Sqn RAF
260 Sqn RAF

3 Sqn RAAF
450 Sqn RAAF

2 Sqn SAAF
4 Sqn SAAF
5 Sqn SAAF


The P-40 was used by the Australians and New Zealanders in their own back yard:

75 Sqn RAAF
76 Sqn RAAF
77 Sqn RAAF
78 Sqn RAAF
80 Sqn RAAF
82 Sqn RAAF
84 Sqn RAAF
86 Sqn RAAF

14 Sqn RNZAF
15 Sqn RNZAF
16 Sqn RNZAF
17 Sqn RNZAF
18 Sqn RNZAF
19 Sqn RNZAF
20 Sqn RNZAF


An incomplete list of other non-US users...

Brazil

China:

American Volunteer Group

Canada:

12 Sqn RCAF
111 Sqn RCAF
118 Sqn RCAF
132 Sqn RCAF
133 Sqn RCAF
135 Sqn RCAF

France

Holland:

120 Sqn NEIAF (Netherlands East Indies Air Force)

Turkey

USSR:

126th IAP
154th IAP
159th IAP
964th IAP

For a good bit of info on P-40s in the Soviet VVS and PVO, look HERE.

The P-40 was captured in varying numbers by all of the the axis powers and one example, a Soviet P-40M, was also captured by Finland.


Fade to Black...

[Maestro]

Thanks for those informations, Black Wolf.

[KraziKanuK]

For a brief history of the RCAF squadrons listed visit http://www.rcaf.com/squadrons/index.php

These squadrons were used as home defense fighter squadrons(west coast). When they went overseas their designation changed.

[helmitsmit]

I think that the p40 was quite good and doesn't get enough credit. It was quite manuerable and with a speed of 363mph.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

you're right about her not getting enough credit but she was outclassed by many planes..........

[mosquitoman]

Definitley, after she was outclassed as a fighter she was an excellent fighter-bomber

[cheddar cheese]

The P-40 was outclassed, but vital in the early years of the Pacific.

[wmaxt]

Originally Posted by cheddar cheese

The P-40 was outclassed, but vital in the early years of the Pacific.

The P-40 wasn't a bad plane below about 15,000ft. It could mix it up with the German and italian fighters until about '43 when the airframe ran out of modifiability - even the Merlin wasn't quite enough to boost it's performance. Again a lack of a good supercharger hurt it when it was needed most.

[cheddar cheese]

I like to think of it as the USAAF's equivalent of the Hurricane.