I encourage anyone that has more information (Flight Log Book entries) or photos on 112 Squadron please send an e-mail to raf_112_sqdn@yahoo.com before the history is lost.
This is Tomahawk Mk. I, modified to the RAF specification with four wing-mounted 0.303" Browning. Installation of British radio equipment resulted in a radio mast halfway down the rear fuselage.
P-40 VARIANTS
| 1940 | Hawk 81A-1 | P-40 | 200 | |
| 1940 | Hawk 81A-1 | Tomahawk Mk. I | 140 | Total: 00340 |
| 1941 | Hawk 81A-2 | P-40B | 131 | |
| 1941 | Hawk 81A-2 | Tomahawk Mk. IIA | 110 | Total: 00241 |
| 1941 | Hawk 81A-3 | P-40C | 193 | |
| 1941 | Hawk 81A-3 | Tomahawk Mk. IIB | 930 | Total: 01123 |
| 1940 | Hawk 87A-2 | P-40D | 23 | |
| 1941 | Hawk 87A-3/B-2 | P-40E | 820 | |
| 1941 | Hawk 87A-1/-2 | Kittyhawk Mk. I | 560 | |
| 1941 | Hawk 87A-3/-4 | Kittyhawk Mk. IA, 24915/24921 (ET239/ET245) to RAF Desert Air Force | 1500 | Total: 02903 |
| 1941 | Hawk 87B-3 | P-40F | 1082 | |
| 1942 | Hawk 87 | P-40K | 1108 | |
| 1942 | Hawk 87B-4 | P-40L | 700 | |
| 1942 | Hawk 87 | P-40M | 336 | |
| 1942 | Hawk 87 | Kittyhawk Mk. II / IIA | 330 | |
| 1942 | Hawk 87 | Kittyhawk Mk. III | 616 | Total: 04172 |
| 1943 | Hawk 87W | P-40N | 5220 | |
| 1943 | Hawk 87V | Kittyhawk Mk. IV | 588 | Total: 05808 |
|
Grand Total: 14587 |
Tomahawk Mk. I
RAF version of the P-40, 4 wing guns, 2 nose guns.
Redesignated as Tomahawk Mk. II after modifications.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)
| (RAF) AH741 / AH840
This was in the days before Lend-Lease, and so the aircraft had only RAF serial numbers and markings, and were not issued USAAC serials or designations. The Curtiss construction numbers were 14446/14545 and 14091/14130. RAF serials were AH741/AH880. At least three (AH774, AH793, and AH840) were retained in Canada but still retaining their RAF serials. However, Britain quickly concluded that these planes were not suitable for combat, since they lacked armor protection for the pilot, armor-glass windshields, or self-sealing fuel tanks. Nevertheless, since a German invasion was feared to be imminent, they were actually issued to several operational squadrons |
14446 / 14545 | , |
| (RAF) AH841 / AH880,
However, the Hun never invaded England, and so the Tomahawk Is were used only for training roles within Britain. Overseas, the first Desert Air Force squadron to be equipped with Tomahawks was No. 112 which exchanged its Gloster Gladiators for the Curtiss fighter. No 112 Squadron became famous for its "shark's tooth" insignia on the engine cowling, and this scheme was later adopted by the American Volunteer Group in China Tomahawk II was the designation given to a new and improved export Tomahawk, one which was better equipped for combat. It was functionally equivalent to the P-40B and P-40C then being issued to USAAC units. Unfortunately, some discrepancies exist in Curtiss records matching Tomahawk designations to RAF serial numbers and correlations to P-40s.
|
14091 / 14130
AH851 P Lydda base late June 1941. this might have been the aircraft of Flt Lt
Knowles of 3 Sqn RAAF |
Total: |
Tomahawk Mk IIA RAF #AH925
Tomahawk Mk. IIA (Model H81-A2).
RAF version of the P-40B-CU Allison, V-1710-33, 1040 Horse
Power, Guns 2-.50 N, 4-.30 W. Model 81A-2 as P-40 with armored windscreen, pilot
armor, self-sealing fuel tanks, and increased armament.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)
The Tomahawk IIA (Model H81A-2) was generally equivalent to the US P-40B. It had protective armor and externally-covered self-sealing tanks. 110 were built for the RAF under a direct-purchase contract. . RAF serials were AH881/990, with Curtiss construction numbers being 14131/14220 and 14582/14601. It carried two 0.30-inch machine guns in the wings in addition to the two 0.50-in guns in the fuselage. A British radio was fitted. Tomahawk IIA AH938 was transferred to Canada as an instructional airframe. AH936, 952, 965/971, 974/895, 987, 989, and 990 were delivered to the Soviet Union.
| (RAF) AH881 / AH970 | 14131 / 14220 | . |
| (RAF) AH971 / AH990 | 14582 / 14601 |
Total: 00110 |
|
1 to Canada, 23 to Russia. |
||
P-40C Tomahawk Mk IIB
112 Sqn had approximately 67 (later count now takes this to at least 83) Tomahawks few of the code letters have been identified the Sqn operated the Tomahawk IIB from July to December 1941. During this period, the use of squadron code letters had been discontinued in North Africa, aircraft carrying only individual identity letters in light gray or white, this practice only lasted from September to end of November and that by October 1941 the GA had started to appear on the aircraft still in gray letters
Tomahawk Mk. IIB
RAF version of the P-40C-CU, Model 81A-3, as P-40B with revised
equipment and fuel tanks. Allison V-1710-33 , 1040 Horse Power, B
models and Tomahawk IIBs ran into the C-model batch. There was very little
difference between these models and parts certainly just ran through.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)
Tomahawk Mk. IIB - export equivalent of the P-40C. 930 were built. 100 of these planes were transferred to China for the "Flying Tigers", and 195 were sent to Russia. Mk. IIB was also extensively used by RAF and SAAF in Africa - as much as sixteen squadrons were equipped with the type. Armament was again increased to four (some sources state six) wing-mounted 0.303" guns in addition to two 0.50" guns in the fuselage. The US radio equipment was retained on this model. The Tomahawk IIB (Model H81-A3) was generally equivalent to the US P-40C. It had four 0.303-inch Browning machine guns in the wings in addition to the two nose-mounted 0.50-in guns. Whereas the Tomahawk IIA had a British radio, the Tomahawk IIB had US equipment. The British did not like the externally sealed tanks of the Tomahawk IIA, so these were replaced by internally-sealed tanks on the Tomahawk IIB. A total of 930 of these planes were produced in four lots. RAF serials were AH991/999 (c/n 14658/14666), AK100/570 (c/n 14582/14951, 15243,/15522), AM370/519 (c/n 15823/15972), and AN218/517 (c/n 17817/18116). AK210/224 and AK226/241 were lost at sea in transit.AK254, 434, 40, 448, 470, and 561 were transferred from the RAF to the Royal Egyptian Air Force
Why serial numbers are hard to trace:
Dear
Mr. Brown:
We
received your e-mail communication of December 28, 2005, requesting
Individual Aircraft Record Cards for two groups of Curtiss Tomahawk
and Kittyhawk
series aircraft that you believe were provided to
The
14 aircraft that you listed were acquired by the
15243
was H87A-3 AK862
15522
was H81A-2 AK570 which went on to
15823
was H81A-2 ‘1’ for
15972
was H81A-2 AM519 and went on to
17817
was H81A-2 AN218
18116
was H8
14972 was H87A-3 AK591
15251
was H87A-3 AK870
15342
was H87A-3 AK871
15421
was not found in Curtiss records and may be an error
18695
was H87A-3 AK951
18743
was H87A-3 AK999
18744
was H87A-3 AL100
18874
was H87A-3 AK571
We
do not have Individual Aircraft History Cards for these aircraft, as the
USAAC/USAAF either (a) did not operate them with their RAF serials or (b)
because they were not acquired with USAAC/USAAF funds and thus had no USAAC/USAAF
serial numbers issued to them. The solitary source for individual aircraft
histories of the aircraft that actually reached Commonwealth service would
probably be the
Sincerely,
Dan
Hagedorn
Research
Team Leader
Archives
Division, NASM MRC-322
To Russia, The regiment was reformed on 2 November into a 2-squadron composition (TOE 105/177) and on 27 December 1941 it had 15 Tomahawk IIBs (AN974, 978, AK172, 197, 243, 247, 250, 258, 321, 327, 342, 345, 363, 388, and 493), Over the 14 months of its intensive exploitation, only five aircraft (AN974, AK316, 196, 243, and 321) were written off. But around New Years Day Soviet PVO outdid itself: five I-16s, and later antiaircraft gunners, attacked the Tomahawk AN507 of Junior Lieutenant P. G. Maz. He made a forced landing, resulting in heavy damage to the engine, and the aircraft was sent off for repairs. On 17 February 1942, one of the best pilots of the regiment, HSU Senior Lieutenant S. G. Ridnyy (Tomahawk AK325) suffered an engine failure on takeoff and was killed in crash. Despite this abundance of accidents and incidents, the general impression of the pilots of 126th IAP regarding this aircraft remained good. The Tomahawk had qualities that were lacking in aircraft of Soviet production.Therefore a majority of the victories in the 126th IAP were group victories: HSU S. G. Ridnyy (AN965)-9 personal plus 17 in group; HSU V. G. Kamenshchikov-7 + 10; and regiment commander V. M. Naydenko-5 + 11 [9]. Twelve pilots became aces (five or more victories), and 31 pilots of the regiment were awarded orders and medals for the battle for Moscow.
The first regiment in the north
to receive Tomahawks was 147th IAP. Because the combat in this zone was of a
positional nature, transition training was conducted in the operational zone.
The regiment continued to fight in its I-153s and trained on the Tomahawk IIB
and Hurricane IIB during breaks in combat. The first Tomahawks arrived in early
December 1941 (AK295, 296, and 318) and transition training was completed
by the end of January 1942. By mid-April the regiment was fighting in two types
of fighters, with flights I and III in II Squadron equipped with two Tomahawks
and two Hurricanes.
The regiment became the 20th Guards IAP on 1 April 1942 and was reformed on the new TOE 015/134. By 1 May it had given up its Hurricanes and added to its on-hand Tomahawk IIBs (AK170, 180, 194, 202, 205, 263, 267, 306, 339, 344, 473, and 483) a number of P-40Es (583, 586, 600, 664, 787, 789, 796, 810 - 814, 823, 824, 849, 860, 1101, and 1108 )[18]. Despite the good flying characteristics of the Tomahawk, the transition to it did not occur without incident. Two aircraft were destroyed in December: AK318 caught fire in the air and AK296 was destroyed in a spin. The first combat loss in the north was AK295, which was shot down in aerial combat on 1 February 1942
There was an Amendment No. 3 to the Directorate of Technical Developments
Circular No. 144 dated 10 April 1942 ( note the date ) which formalised Middle
Eastern camouflage as Dark Earth/ Mid-Stone/ Azure Blue but specifically noted
that spinners (on day fighters that is) were to be Dark Earth ie. camouflage.
This would suggest that prior use of red was unofficial, and it's early
application (probably first by 112 Sqdn. alongside their "sharkmouths"
in 1941) was an individualistic feature soon copied by others---250 RAF and 3
RAAF. on their Tomahawks.
http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/articles/romanenko/p-40/index.htm
| (RAF) Tomahawk IIB AH991 / AH999 | 14658/14666 | . |
| (RAF) Tomahawk IIB AK100 / AK290 | 14761 / 14951 (36 to American
Volunteer Group)
AK283 noted in his log book as Flown by Sgt Houston 20 Nov 1941 Please note the following:
Rob
I have checked the files I have and this
aircraft (AK283) was sent to Russia during Sept 1941, and flew with
1./147IAP and was noted being damaged whilst with that Unit 12 Dec
1941.
I suggest that the aircraft is actually
AN283 which was noted being shipped to the Middle East during Jun 1941
and active with 112 Sqdn between 3rd Nov 1941 to 27th Dec 1941.
Aircraft was noted having suffered damage on operations being piloted
by Flg Off Humphreys (again with 112 Sqdn).
I suggest that the mistake is what
normally happens and that is that the aircraft was mixed up in the
serial numbers (AK, AM and AN serials make it quite hard), this
is a very common mistake, not just seen in logbooks but ORB's, reports
etc. Many people have told me in good faith which aircraft was flown,
but only a detailed check of the records (be they ORB, AM1170 or AM78
cards) will give the full answer.
Further looking at the date flown, I
believe that it would fit well with AN283. being on the Sqdn during
the reported period. If you want I can check and confirm
with the ORB as well.
Buz
|
. |
| (RAF) Tomahawk IIB AK291 / AK570 (38) |
15243 / 15522 AK327, AK330 Westerna claimed 3 victories in this aircraft (AK354, GA L, c/n 41-14865) served with 3 Sqdn RAAF under RAF control; delivered 21/5/41; on 8/6/41 it was flown by John Saunders on 3 Sqdn's first operational Tomahawk flight; on 19/6/41 Sgt M P A Randall (407080) crashed on landing at Lydda when oil obscured his vision; it was repaired then later transferred 112 Sqdn flown by Neville Duke December 1941 (AK367 ,41-14878 S or C unknown) (AK377,GA V), 41-14888 AK382 Code N/A, 41-14893, Flown by "Bowks" Bowker RAF 112 Sqdn 27/8/1941. Served with 3 Sqdn RAAF under RAF control was coded 'V' with 'Tindian' a contraction of 'Tim Indian' on the port cowl and was usually flown by F/O Thomas Hamilton Trimble (260652); it was supplied from 112 Sqdn; on 22/11/41 it was flown by F/O Trimble when on a wing op and they were formed into a defensive circle (contrary to accepted practice) losing 6 a/c; on 29/11/41 it was damaged on take-off with F/O Geoffrey Talbot Chinchen (250704) being ok. (AK390, W, 41-14901, served with 3 Sqdn RAAF under RAF control; delivered from 112 Sqdn; on 22/11/41 it was shot down by a Bf109 near El Adem with pilot being F/O W Kloster (650) who survived (AK402 GA F , 41-14913 lost 30/11/41 flown by Neville Duke) served with 3 Sqdn RAAF under RAF control; 19/10/41 flown out to 107 MU for 180 hour inspection; transferred to 112 Sqdn. The plane P/O Neville Duke was shot down in by Otto Schulz (4/JG27)on 30 Nov 1941 AK405, GA A 41-14916 AK 413,GA K, 41 14923 transferred in from 3 Sqdn RAAF flown by Neville Duke November 1941) (AK417,K "NAN", 41- 14927 P/O Jack Bartle, Australian Ace, 112 Sqdn. RAF, El Adem - Egypt, October 1941. 6,5 victories.) AK418, 41- 14928 lost 20/12/41 flown by Sgt Archibald Henry "Fergie" Ferguson, 404542, RAAF, while with RAF 112 Sqdn AK426, 41-14937 AK448, 41-14954 AK451, 41-15322 AK457,GA O, 41-15328 lost 12/12/41, Sgt Houston AK461,A 41-15332 lost 25/11/41, Flown by "Bowks" Bowker 2 Sept 1941 AK463 Flown to the Sqdn by Fg Off Cockrane 5 August 1941, from Takoradi, Ghana, Africa, on 16 July 1941 he and 8 other pilots flew there in a captured JU52 AK762 was destroyed 7th MAY 1942. No mention of the accident in the ORB.AK762 was destroyed by fire whilst on strength 112Sqdn when a electrical short in the guns caused the aircraft to burn AK474, was flown by Neville Bowker 16 August 1941, was not a 112 Sqn plane, 41-15426 of 3 Sqdn hit AK365 41-14876 a 3 Sqdn plane which was Delivered 19/5/41 to RAF, served with 3 Sqdn RAAF, under RAF control; was in a collision with AK365 26/5/41.This shows how early 3 Sqdn was supplied with Tomahawks. (AK475.GA J, 41- 15427 see photo page one) AK476 41- 15428, lost 12/12/41, AK481, 41-15433, this one is also claimed to have gone to the AVG AK495, 41- 15447 lost 25/09/41 AK499 Code N/A, 41-15451 served with 3 Sqn RAAF under RAF control; delivered from 112 Sqdn; on 9/12/41 it went missing in action on sweep s of El Adem with Sgt Alan Cecil Cameron (404085) who evaded capture and walked back in 3 days. AK502 41- 15454 lost 3/10/41, AK503, 41-15455 (AK509 GA N later T ), 41- 15461, lost 09/12/41, AK531, 41-15483 AK533, 41-15485 AK534, 41-15486 AK538, 41-15490 (AK541,Q) 41-15493 AK544, 41-15496 AK547 . 41-15499, Code N/A photographed at Bengasi 1941 AK561, 41-15513 AK565, 41-15515 |
|
| (RAF) Tomahawk IIB AM370 / AM519 (13) |
15823 / 15972 (64 went to American Volunteer Group)
AM384, 41-15837, served with 3 Sqdn RAAF under RAF control; supplied from 112 Sqdn; on 30/11/41 in this a/c F/O Tom Trimble shot down 2 Macchi MC200 and damaged 3 Junkers Ju87s; on 13/12/41 he was shot down in this a/c near Martuba probably by Marseille (AM390, W), 41-15843, flown by Neville Duke November 1941 lost 23/11/41) AM396 41-15849, lost 12/10/41, AM403, 41-15856 (AM406, 41- 15859, served with 3 Sqdn RAAF under RAF control; from 112 Sqdn; on 25/11/41 P/O Ed H Jackson shot down a Bf110; transferred to 4 Sqdn SAAF, AM410,41-15863, served with 3 Sqdn RAAF, under RAF control. From 112 Sqdn; Transferred 5 Sqdn SA AM432, 41-15885 AM436 Flown to the Sqdn by Fg Off Harrison 5 August 1941, from Takoradi, Ghana, Africa, on 16 July 1941 he and 8 other pilots flew there in a captured JU52 AM438, 41-15891 AM442 , 41- 15895 AM444 , 41-15897, lost 12/10/41, AM448, 41-15901 AM481, 41- 15934 |
. |
| (RAF) Tomahawk IIB AN218 / AN517 (32) | 17817 / 18116
(AN218,B, Menace serial number 17817)Sept 1941 Bowker flew this one on occasion, 17817 was H81A-2 AN218 AN220 serial number 17819, lost12/10/41 AN231, AN242 AN263, AN265, AN274, 41- 17873, served with 3 Sqdn RAAF under RAF control; 13/12/41 Sgt Alan Cecil Cameron (404085) was shot down by a Bf109; 17/12/41 was transferred to 112 Sqdn. AN283 lost 27/12/41 AN289, (AN303,E, Westerna flew this one on occasion) AN309, AN326 AN327 AN330 lost 22/11/41 AN336 Code N/A served with 3 Sqdn RAAF, under RAF control; was coded N while with them; F/O Nicky Barr shot down a Bf110 on 12/12/41 and then the next day he destroyed a Bf109 and a Ju88; on 17/12/41 it was transferred to 112 Sqdn. (AN337,GA F, flown by Neville Duke December 1941, lost 05/12/41) (AN338,
N lost 30/11/41 AN354, AN381, AN413 lost 12/12/41, GA K , served with 112 Sqdn RAF, under RAF control; was coded 'K' and had 'Nan' in outline under the cockpit and forward of that a Kangaroo also in outline while with 112 Sqdn AN414, AN415, GA M, another Bowker flew, AN417, AN418, GA P AN436, AN439, AN442, AN446, (AN509,T, Bowker flew this one as well)
|
. |
| 100 to China
for "Flying Tigers" all from the AK / AM allotment, 195 to Russia. Aircraft also sent to Australia, Egypt, South Africa, Turkey |
||
P-40D
P-40D-CU, allocated
registrations AK571 to AL230. The first 20 aircraft were fitted with 4 machine
guns in the wings, the remaining 540 had 6 wing guns, and had the company
designation H87A-2.
Redesigned fuselage, chin intake, cockpit windows,
engine upgrade, 4 wing guns only.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)
P-40D - delivered from May 1941. The engine was
finally upgraded to V-1710-39, which produced more power and had better high
altitude performance. The engine was now 18 inches shorter, and the prop thrust
line 8 inches higher. The airframe adaptation was therefore extensive, and
prompted a new internal Curtiss designation of Model 87. The
aircraft received an entirely new fuselage with shorter nose, enlarged chin
intake and sleeker cross-section that we today associate with the P-40. The
fuselage guns were deleted, four 0.50" guns being installed in the wings.
Armour protection was improved, and wing hardpoints introduced to carry bombs.
Only 22 Ds were produced before the order was changed to accommodate six guns.
Curtiss promptly responded to this request, but the modified aircraft received
the designation P-40E.
P-40E Kittyhawk Mk I
P-40E
As P-40D, 6 wing guns.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)
The Squadron re-equipped with Kittyhawks in
December 1941 the new code letters "GA" were used. The propeller
spinner is painted the normal red recognition colour used on fighters right
through the war in the Mediterranean Theatre..
112
Sqn
used approx. 182 Kittyhawk I and Ia's, of these they lost 43 to Operational
accidents and training, and another 71 as combat losses.
According to the official requirements, Curtiss applied USAAF
stars to all P-40E-1s that left the factory in “flyaway” condition. In other
words, if a pilot climbed into the cockpit and flew the plane away from the
Curtiss factory, it had USAAF markings already applied. Since most or all of
these planes were going to the USAAF anyway, this makes sense. This would have
applied to P-40E-1s in British camouflage that were earmarked directly to USAAF
units.
The second fact Dana
Bell discovered clears up decades of confusion and argument. If the P-40E-1
left the factory in crates, NO INSIGNIA was to be applied! Rather, decals for
Nationalist Chinese, USAAF, and RAF markings were to be included in the crates
for EACH airframe, along with a quart of decal lacquer. The appropriate markings
were to be applied only when the aircraft was assembled in the combat theater.
Kittyhawk Mk. I
RAF version of the P-40D / E.
Produced
Curtiss Buffalo, New York (CU)
The first 20 were delivered to P-40D specifications, remaining ones being identical to P-40Es with exception of British equipment such as radio installation.
| Based on the 4-gun Model 87A-2 P-40D: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (RAF) Kittyhawk Mk. I,
AK571 / AK591, would have been 4 gun models before switching to the six gun aircraft
for the remainder of its purchase of 560 (serially between AK592 and
AL230).
(10 listed as per above information these would have been 4 gun models) |
14952 / 14971 (AK578, GA-V, 112 Squadron, Egypt, September 1942 flown by Neville Duke January 1942) (AK578,GAV, was the plane Butch Jeffries posed with, this aircraft was the regular mount of Flight Officer Neville Duke during the first months of 1942. On the 14th February he shared in No.112 Squadron's achievements when the unit enjoyed considerable success near Tobruk - Duke sent a C.200 crashing into the ground and shared in the destruction of a second. These were his final claims in the Curtis and his only ones in a Kittyhawk. AK578 saw further action with Nos 4 and 5 Sqns SAAF before going on to No.73 OTU. It was listed as missing during a training flight with this unit in March 1944) AK585, The RAF only took delivery of 20 of the four gun aircraft AK582. 4/1/42, engine cut on take-off, crash landed Msus, Libya (AK583,GA H later X) AK584, Flown by Knapik 12/2/42 AK585, AK586, AK590 GA E |
20 | . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Based on the 6-gun Model 87A-3 P-40E: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (RAF) Kittyhawk Mk. I, AK591 / AK870 (60 listed so far) |
14972 / 15251 AK593 (AK595,GA Y) AK601 AK602, 14983 AK603. 14984, shot down and abandoned 24/7/42, SOC 28/7/42, it had only been with the unit for 1 day when lost
( note
from 450 Sqdn, Chapter 5 War in the Western Desert, 27th December
1941,Kittyhawk I's (H-87A2) 'A', AK603; 'B' (While on 450 Sqdn
strength), AK606; 'C', AK609; 'D', AK618 and 'J', AK670 were ferried
to the unit (450 Sqdn). Flying training for the new pilots continued. AK630, 15011 AK632, 15013 AK634 GA F AK637, 15018 AK639 (AK651,GA Z) (AK652,GA D) AK 653, GA G, Flown by Sgt Simonsen 26 Jan 1942 AK654 GA Y (AK658,GA Z Later X ) Caldwell's A/C name Grim Jester Yellow Script, in similar position to London Pride AK664, AK667, GA L AK672 (AH673,GA F) AK675, (AK677,GA L later G, by 26th Jun1942) AK 678 GA X (AK682,GA U) , 15063 AK685, AK687 (AK690 GAE) AK692, Flown by Knapik 22/2/42 (AK694.GAY) AK697,
1/1/1942 - hit telegraph lines in dust (AK700,GAB, usually flown by Plt Off Bartle) (AK701,GA T later F) AK702, GA P AK703. GA X, usually flown by Plt Off Westenra AK703 had been on 450 Sqdn strength on, 28 Dec 1941 (Max Jenkins logbook: Experience on type. 1.00hr. (AK703) AK705 (AK707,GA Y damaged in strafe), AK716 AK728, AK740 (AK743, GAL) AK744, AK746, AK761, AK762, AK763, AK766, (AK770, GA J, Taken On Strength May 1942, crash landed in June 1942, captured by the Italians during the June retreat) (AK772,GA Y "London Pride" P/O Burney, shot down 30 May 1942 this plane was also flown by the Polish pilots) AK777, AK781, AK782, AK784, SOC, Air Britain has for 13-1-1943 AK787, (AK788, GAN) AK802, Flown by Knapik 18/2/42 AK804, AK808, AK814, AK829, Prior service with 250 Sqdn coded LD-U (AK832, GAB ) AK834, AK847 - Coded GA-V AK852, (AK865, GAB) (AK866 GAZ) |
. |
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| (RAF) Kittyhawk Mk. I, AK871 / AK950 (22 listed so far) |
15342 / 15421 (AK874,GAF) AK878, (AK882,GAH) AK886 AK890 GAM (AK892,GAD shot down 10/7/42, Flying Officer Knoll, plane had been Coded GA-T on 7 July 1942) AK894, (AK900,GAA on 10 March 1941 Caldwell made his first ever bomb drop tests in this Kittyhawk Mk I) (AK901 GAW) AK905, This is Kittyhawk I AK905 (civil reg. CF-OGZ) which is currently owned and flown by Rudy Frasca. AK906, (AK907 GA M) , AK909, according to the report the aircraft was to take off as part of formation heading to LG106 whilst dark. Aircraft swung on take off and Collided with another taxing aircraft at LG102. 26 Jun 1942 (Aircraft had been on strength for approx 1 month at the time of the accident) J. A. Milne broke his spine in this aircraft. AK910, (AK920,GA-?) AK924 AK936 AK937, 15408 AK944 AK945 AK949 |
. |
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| (RAF) Kittyhawk Mk. I, AK951 / AK999 (8 listed to date) |
18695 / 18743 . (AK957,GAD) 18701 AK959, 18703 AK960 GA J AK988, AK994, 18738 (AK995 GAD) AK985, 18739 AK999 18743 |
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| (RAF) Kittyhawk Mk. I, AL100 / AL230 (24 ? ) |
18744 / 18874 AL105, AL107 AL108 AL121, AL122, AL127, AL128 GA D (AL149,GA U), AL156 (AL161,GA ?, Billy Drakes personal plane for a time) AL175, 18819 AL178 GA C AL182 AL185, AL192,RAE,
GEORGE, 111, Northfield Road. 1179958,
Flight Sergeant, Pilot, 112 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Died 2nd October 1942, aged 20. Buried in Alamein war Cemetery, Egypt.
Grave reference: XXXIII. D. 7. AL196, AL201 AL204 GA A (AL209,GAF) , 18852 AL211, 18855 AL218 belonged to a Kittyhawk I on charge with 112 Squadron, 3 Squadron RAAF and MECCU ( Middle East Central Gunnery School) the aircraft was struck off charge 20 November 1944 AL219, 18861 (AL225, GAT), 18867, 112 SQDN On 21 Jun.1942 Fl/Lt. R.M.Leu (Australia) force landed near Sidi Azeiz and the aircraft was captured, he became POW) AL228 GA H (AL492,GAB) |
540 |
Total: 00560 |
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| 72 to RCAF,
some to Turkey.
The US firm
Curtiss-Wright Corp. was working on a new model of P-40 equipped with an
1150HP Allison V-1710-39 engine. The plane which had the H87A-2 factory
designation would later be called P-40D “Kittyhawk-1” Even before
the first prototype flight RAF ordered 560 of this model. Later some of
the planes were transferred to Canada and 24 were leased to Turkey under
the “Lend-Lease Agreement”. The planes were deployed at the 3rd
& 4th Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Regiment. The planes were
already in poor conditions at the time of arrival and starting in 1944
they were started to be replaced by Spitfire Mk.Vs. 9 of them which were
stil flyable were used as trainers for Spitfires.
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