Design:
Glen Curtis

Company:
Curtis
Curtis – Wright Corp

Developed from:
P 36

Wing Span:
37 ft 3 ½ in 11.37 M

Wing Area:
236 sq ft 21.90 Sq M

Length:

P 40 B
31 ft 8 ½ in 9.66 M

P 40 N
33 ft 4 in 10.6 M

Height:
12 ft 4 in 3.66 M

Ceiling:

P 40 B
32,400 ft 9,875 M

P 40 N
38,000 ft 11,582 M

Speed: at 15,000 ft

P 40 B
352 MPH 566 KPH

P 40 N
343 MPH 553 KPH

Range:

P 40 B
730 Miles 1,175 Km

P 40 N
750 Miles 1,207 Km

T/O Weight:
7,450 lb 3,424 Kg

Empty Weight:

P 40 B
5,590 lb 2,536 Kg

P 40 N
6,000 lb 2,722 Kg

Entered Service:
June 1941

Crew:
1 Pilot

Role:
Fighter
Fighter / Bomber

Total Manufactured:
13,738 All Marks

First Flight:
Oct 1938

Armament:

P40 B
4 x .30 in machine guns in wings
2 x .50 in machine guns in forward fuselage

P40 N
6 x .5” machine guns in wings
Up to
1500 lb 680 Kg bombs external/under wing

Years Served:
1942 to 1948

Qty Served:
297

Tail Nos

P40 E NZ 3001 to NZ 3044
NZ 3091 to NZ 3107
NZ 3271

P40 K NZ 3045 to NZ 3065
NZ 3090 to NZ 3108

P40 L NZ 3074

P40 M NZ 3066 to NZ 3073
NZ 3075 to NZ 3089
NZ 3109 to NZ 3119
NZ 3180

P40 N NZ 3120 to NZ 3179
NZ 3181 to NZ 3270
NZ 3272 to NZ 3293

First flight on 14 Oct 1938, the radial engine of a P 38A Hawk was replaced
with an Allison V-1710 – 19 air-cooled in-line engine, 1,040 Hp

The Warhawk made its name in China with the American Volunteer Group
“ The Flying Tigers” where they began operations against the Japanese in late 1941.

The P 40 D had an engine change to the Allison V – 1710- 30,
the fuselage guns removed and the wing guns changed to .5 in,

These were known as “ Kittyhawk 1s”,
the E used a Roll Royce Merlin 28 engine to achieve a top speed of 373 MPH [600 KPH]

All Lend-Lease aircraft

Price $ US 77,706.00 ea

P40N also known as Warhawk

On the way to Norfolk Island

ENGINE

image source

Type:

P40 – E-K-M-N Allison

P40 – L Packard

P40 – E V1710 – 39 [F3R]

P40 – K V1790 – 73 [F4R]

P40 – M-N V1790 – 81

P40 – L V1650 – 1 [copy of R R Merlin 28]

12 cylinder, 60^ vee, in-line, liquid cooled, single supercharger

Horse Power:
1390 HP 1.040 kW

Bore:
5.4 in 137.2 mm

Stroke:
6.0 in 152.4 mm

Volume:
1649 cu in 27.04 L

Compression Ratio:
6: 1

Fuel:
100 octane
after mid 1944 100/150 octane

Length:
88.7 in 2,253 mm

Height:
40 in 1,016 mm

Width:
30.8 in 781 mm

Weight:
1645 lb 746 Kg

Power to Weight Ratio:
100 octane 0.80 hp/lb
100/150 octane 1.21 hp/lb

Flown By:

In South Pacific

15 Sqn Tonga
14 Sqn 15 Sqn 16 Sqn
17 Sqn 18 Sqn 19 Sqn

Not Flown in South Pacific

2 [F] OTU Ohakea Apr - Jun 1942
20 Sqn 21 Sqn 22 Sqn
4 [F] OTU Ardmore Mar 1944
Fighter Gunnery School Gisborne Apr 1944
2 FOCU Ohakea

OTU = Operational Training Unit
B O C = Brought On Charge
Dumbo = Usually a Catalina, rescue flight
RTP = Reduced To Produce, scrapped
U/C = Undercarriage
A/C = Aircraft
MOTAT = Museum Of Transport And Technology
Sqn = Squadron
FOCU = Fighter Operational Training Unit
RD = Repair Depot
Inst = Instructional Non-Flying Airframe

14 Sqn Code Letter HQ and AX at Ohakea
15 Sqn JZ
16 Sqn XO
17 Sqn
18 Sqn LV
19 Sqn
20 Sqn NH

P40 E - 1

NZ 3001

Mark: P40 E-1
Constructors No.: 19658
USAAF No.: 41-25147
RAF No. ET 471
B O C 2 Apr 1942
To 11 OTU Ohakea
A/C spun into Ground from a steep turn,
crashed near Feilding 5 Aug 1942
Sgt Alfred Saul killed
Written off at Ohakea 21 Aug 1942

NZ 3002

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19659
USAAF No. 41-25148
RAF No.: ET 472
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Damaged at Ohakea
Written off at Ohakea 9 Jul 1942

NZ 3003

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19663
USAAF No.: 41-25152
RAF No. ET 476
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Crashed near Otaki beach
during formation flying exercise 29 Jan 1943
Sgt D Ayson killed
Written off at Ohakea 15 Feb 1943

NZ 3004

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19664
USAAF No.: 41-25153
RAF No.: ET 477
To 2 OTU Ohakea
A/C appeared to be making an
Emergency landing near Taihape
Undershot and crashed into trees 1040 on 12 Dec1942
Sgt Blake Scott killed
Written off at Ohakea 5 Jan 1943

NZ 3005

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19665
USAAF No.: 41-25154
RAF No.: ET 478
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Crashed on take off at Ohakea 1 Dec1943
Written off at Ohakea 4 Jan 1944

NZ 3006

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19666
USAAF No.: 41-25155
RAF No.: ET 479
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Returning to Ohakea for an
emergency landing
A fuel pipe had burst,
A/C caught fire and dived into ground
From a low altitude 1015 on 5 Jan 1943
Sgt Ronald Bell killed
Written off at Ohakea 19 Jan 1943

NZ 3007

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19667
USAAF No.: 41-25156
RAF No.: ET 480
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 2 Apr 1942
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 3008

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19668
USAAF No.: 41-25157
RAF No.: ET 481
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Damaged in a landing collision with
Kittyhawk NZ 3041 at Ohakea 5 Oct 1943
Converted to Inst 89 at TTS Nelson
Reduced To Produce 13 Apr 1945

NZ 3009

Mark: P40E-1
Construction No.: 19669
USAAF No.: 41-25158
RAF No.: ET 482
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 2 Apr 1942
To 14 Sqn
To 17 Sqn
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
Remains to MOTAT Auckland 1959
Restored to static condition using parts of many A/C
Including NZ 3039’s wings
Restoration commenced 1965
Exchanged for another static display A/C NZ 3039
Restored to flying condition
Registered ZK – RMH 4 Dec 1997
To Pacific Aircraft Ltd Auckland 4 Dec 1997
To Old Flying Machine Co NZ Ltd Auckland 5 May 1998
De registered
Exported to UK flown there for some years
De registered
Registered ZK - RMH
To Old Flying Machine Co NZ Ltd Auckland 18 Jun 2003

NZ 3010

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19670
USAAF No.: 41-25159
RAF No.: ET 483
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 2 Apr 1942
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Mid Air with Kittyhawk NZ 3024
During formation training 3 Apr 1944
F/O M Hancox uninjured
Written off at Ohakea 14 Apr 1944

NZ 3011

Mark: P40E-1
Construction No.: 19790
USAAF No: 41-35957
RAF No.: ET 603
B O C No1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 7 May 1942
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Caught fire landing at Ohakea 16 May 1944
Converted to Inst 100 Armament School Levin

NZ 3012

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19791
USAAF No.: 41-35958
RAF No.: ET 604
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 7 May 1942
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 3013

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19792
USAAF No: 41-35959
RAF No.: ET 605
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 7 May 1942
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 3014

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19793
USAAF No.: 41-35960
RAF No.: ET 606
To 17 Sqn Seagrove
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3018 over
Seagrove both A/C crashed out of control 1205 on 18 Jan 1943
Sgt Douglas Mc Master killed
Written off at Seagrove 9 Feb 1943

NZ 3015

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19794
USAAF No.: 41-35961
RAF No.: ET 607
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Struck Hudson NZ 2002 after it had
Landed at Ohakea 9 Sep 1943
Repaired and returned to service
Eng failure and fire
During formation flying practice 8 Apr 1944
Written off at Ohakea 3 May 1944

NZ 3016

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19795
USAAF No.: 41-35962
RAF No.: ET 608
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Crashed and burned at Marton
During a training flight 6 Nov 1942
Written off at Ohakea 28 Nov 1942

NZ 3017

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19796
USAAF No.: 41-35963
RAF No.: ET 609
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Taxi accident at Ohakea 26 Jun 1942
Written off at Ohakea 7 Aug 1942

NZ 3018

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19797
USAAF No.: 41-35964
RAF No.: ET 610
To 17 Sqn Seagrove
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3014
Over Seagrove both A/C
Crashed out of control 1205 on 18 Jan 1943
F/O J Reynolds Bailed Out Slightly injured
Written off at Seagrove 9 Feb 1943

NZ 3019

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19879
USAAF No.: 41-36046
RAF No.: ET 692
Sold to Mr Haigh Woodbourne 12 Apr 1947
Under restoration North Shore Airfield

NZ 3020

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19880
USAAF No.: 41-36047
RAF No.: ET 693
B O C Unit 13 Harewood 23 May 1942
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Engaged in dog fighting exercise,
Entered spin at 12,000 ft, did not recover
Crashed near Colyton 11 Aug 1944
P/O Derek Trolove killed
Written off at Ohakea

NZ 3021

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19941
USAAF No.: 41-36108
RAF No.: ET 754
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3061 14 Jun 1944
Written off at Ohakea 23 Jun 1944

NZ 3022

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19942
USAAF No.: 41-36109
RAF No.: ET 755
To 16 Sqn Woodbourne
A/C was formation flying,
Cockpit filled with petrol fumes,
Crashed and burned at Wairau 11 Nov 1942
Sgt C Ellingham injured
Written off at Woodbourne 28 Nov 1942

NZ 3023

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19943
USAAF No.: 41-36110
RAF No.: ET 756
To 17 Sqn Seagrove
Crashed and burned during Training flight 23 Dec 1942
Written off at Seagrove 9 Feb 1943

NZ 3024

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19944
USAAF No.: 41-36111
RAF No.: ET 757
B O C Unit 13 Harewood
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Code letters XO – F
Mid Air with Kittyhawk NZ 3010
during formation flying training 3 Apr 1944
Sgt W Hackshaw uninjured
Written off at Ohakea 14 Apr 1944

NZ 3025

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19950
USAAF No.: 41-36117
RAF No.: ET 763
To 14 Sqn Masterton
Entered spin on an operational Training flight
Failed to recover 22 Dec 1942
Pilot bailed out O K
Written off at Masterton 27 Jan 1943

NZ 3026

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19951
USAAF No.: 41-36118
RAF No.: ET 764
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3030 at 5,000ft
Over Rongotea
A/C dived into the ground 1440 on 2 Jun 1944
P/O B Riley bailed out injured
Written off at Ohakea 13 Jun 1944

NZ 3027

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19952
USAAF No.: 41-36119
RAF No.: ET 765
B O C Unit 13 Harewood
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Overshot on landing at Ohakea 10 Jan 1944
Written off at Ohakea 3 Feb 1944

NZ 3028

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19953
USAAF No.: 41-36120
RAF No.: ET 766
B O C Unit 13 Harewood
Sold from Woodbourne
To Mr Edwards 12 Dec 1947

NZ 3029

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19954
USAAF No.: 41-36121
RAF No.: ET 767
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Code letters XO – M
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 3030

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19956
USAAF No.: 41-36123
RAF No.: ET 769
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3026 at 5,000 ft
Over Rongotea
A/C dived into ground 1440 on 2 Jun 1944
Sgt Gordon Barnard killed
Written off at Ohakea 13 Jun 1944

NZ 3031

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19957
USAAF No.: 41-36124
RAF No.: ET 770
To 16 Sqn Woodbourne
Code letters XO – R
A/C was crossing a ridge
When caught in a down draft
Near Wainuiomata 1115 on 1 May 1943
Sgt Thomas Marchant killed
Parts of wreckage still on site of accident
Written off at Woodbourne 25 May 1943

NZ 3032

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19958
USAAF No.: 41-36125
RAF No.: ET 771
To 15 Sqn Woodbourne
U/C retracted prematurely
During a scramble take off
Practice at Woodbourne 27 Feb 1943
P/O D Jones uninjured
Sold from Woodbourne
To Mr Edwards 12 Dec 1947

NZ 3033

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19960
USAAF No.: 41-36127
RAF No.: ET 773
To 14 Sqn Masterton
Failed to recover from a dive,
Crashed near Greytown 0925 on 15 Nov 1942
Sgt Arthur Law killed
Written off at Masterton 9 Dec 1942

NZ 3034

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19962
USAAF No.: 41-36129
RAF No.: ET 775
To 17 Sqn Whenuapai
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3037 at 20,000 ft
Over Weeks Island 25 Jul 1943
Sgt John Dickie killed
Written Off at Whenuapai 6 Aug 1944

NZ 3035

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19963
USAAF No.: 41-36130
RAF No.: ET 776
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 2 Apr 1942
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Forced landing during training flight
From Ohakea 2 Oct 1943
Converted to Inst 98 Ohakea

NZ 3036

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19964
USAAF No.: 41-36131
RAF No.: ET 777
B O C Harewood 23 May 1942
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Engine connecting rod failure,
Caught fire in air during training flight 25 Jul 1944
P/O Derek Trolove bailed out uninjured
Written off at Ohakea 2 Aug 1944

image source

NZ 3037

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19968
USAAF No.: 41-36135
RAF No.: ET 781
To 17 Sqn Whenuapai
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3037 at 20,000 ft
Over Weeks Island 25 Jul 1943
F/O J Mills bailed out uninjured
Written off at Whenuapai 6 Aug 1943

image source

NZ 3038

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19971
USAAF No.: 41-36138
RAF No.: ET 784
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Crashed and burned at Manakau
During training flight 14 Oct 1943
Written off at Ohakea 8 Nov 1943

NZ 3039

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 20218
USAAF No.: 41-36385
RAF No.: EV 131
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
Exchanged for NZ 3009 and on permanent
display at MOTAT,rebuilt from parts of
many other A/C

image source

NZ 3040

Mark: P40E-1
Constryctors No.: 20225
USAAF No.: 41-36392
RAF No.: EV 138
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Code letters FE – A
Mid air with Hind NZ 1540
during formation practice over Foxton 23 Oct 1942
Pilot bailed out uninjured
Written off at Ohakea 26 Nov 1942

NZ 3041

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 20228
USAAF No.: 41-36395
RAF No.: EV 141
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Damaged during landing accident with
Kittyhawk NZ 3008 at Ohakea 5 Oct 1943
Written off at Ohakea

NZ 3042

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 20239
USAAF No.: 41-36406
RAF No.: EV 152
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 3043

Mark: P40E-1
Construction No.: 20243
USAAF No.: 41-36410
RAF No.: EV 156
To 17 Sqn
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Code letter FE - B
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948
1 of last 4 Kittyhawks to be melted down
Still at Rukuhia Mar 1967
To John Smith Mapua for storage

NZ 3044

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 20248
USAAF No.: 41-36415
RAF No.: EV 161
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

25100

Mark: P40E-1
USAAF No.: 41-25100
RAF No.: ET 424
Taken over from 68 th Pursuit group USAAF
At Fuamotu, Tonga 27 Oct 1942
Code letter / No.: 12
To 15 Sqn
Mid air with US Navy SDB-3 Dauntless
US Navy No.: Bu No 06589
From VB – 11 Squadron 0945 on 25 Mar 1943
The A/C collided at 10,000 ft during an
escort duty while avoiding a diving attack
by US Navy Corsair F4 F
Both A/C spun into the sea about 20 Miles
from Nadi, Fiji
S/L Allan Crichton killed

25103

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19614
USAAF No.: 41-25103
RAF No.: ET 427
Taken over from 68 th Pursuit group USAAF
At Fuamotu,Tonga 27 Oct 1942
Code letter / No.: 8
To: 15 Sqn
Stalled off a steep turn, crashed into the
ground at Tongatapu
Sgt Donald Chrystall killed 1625 on 7 Nov 1942

25137

Mark: P40E-1
Constructors No.: 19648
USAAF No.: 41-25137
RAF No.: ET 461
Taken over from 68 th Pursuit group USAAF
At Fuamotu, Tonga 27 Oct 1942
Written off before the allocation of
NZ numbers

===========================================================================================================================

P40K-10 & -15

NZ 3045

Mark: P40K-10
Constructors No.: 21537
USAAF No.: 42-10153
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 30 Jan 1943
Landing accident, struck by
Kittyhawk NZ 3046
While landing at Ohakea 24 Jun 1944
Written off at Ohakea 2 Aug 1944

NZ 3046

Mark: P40K-10
Constructors No.: 21538
USAAF No.: 42-10154
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 30 Jan 1943
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 3047

Mark: P40K-10
Constructors No.: 21539
USAAF No.: 42-10155
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 30 Jan 1943
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Mid air with Kittyhawk NZ 3104
North of Foxton 6 Sep 1944
Written off

NZ 3048

Mark: P40K-10
Constructors No.: 21540
USAAF No.: 42-10156
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 30 Jan 1943
To 14 Sqn as part of first ferry flight from NZ
Departed Whenuapai 26 Mar 1943
Flown by F/O Geoff Fisken
To 2 OTU Ohakea
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 3049

Mark: P40K-10
Constructors No.: 21541
USAAF No.: 42-10157
B O C No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville 30 Jan 1943
To 14 Sqn as part of first ferry flight from NZ
Code letter/No.: 3
Departed Whenuapai 26 Mar 1943
Flown by Sgt Noel Hanna
Force landed on beach near Noumea
During ferry flight to Guadalcanal
After being caught in thunderstorm
And running out of fuel 30 Mar 1943
Salvaged and returned to service
Shot down by Japanese A/C
Near Munda Point
The A/C dived into the sea
From 5,000 ft 1125 on 1 Jul 1943
P/O John Burton killed
Written off at Guadalcanal 12 Jul 1943

Unsourced photos through the Ohakea museum

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner