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Squadron/Signal Aircraft in Action #1026
Curtiss P-40 in Action - Aircraft No. 26
Few aircraft designs have had as odd or complex a background as the P-40 series. In fact one wonders why the Air Corps elected to give the H-75P a designation other than a dash number in the P-36 series since it was basically a re-engined P-36A. Spin-offs from the P-36 design would result not only in the P-40 but the XP-37, XP-42, XP-46, XP-53, XP-60, and XP-62 plus the ones given Y designations and various dash numbers.
Ignoring the Curtiss Hawk biplanes, the family tree of the P-40 would seem to have its tap roots in the XP-934 Curtiss Swift of 1932 vintage. Although some experience in the low-wing monoplane type was gained when the company produced its famed Shrike series of attack planes, the Swift, or XP-31 as it was designated by the Air Corps, was their first low-wing pursuit design. By one of those odd quirks, the Swift initially was powered by an in-line engine which gave way to a more powerful radial, just the reverse of the P-36 to P-40 design development. The XP-31 was not successful with either engine and the design was soon abandoned (It did earn the dubious distinction of being the last U.S. pursuit plane with a fixed landing gear). The Curtiss Company's fortunes took a downward turn in the pursuit field when the Boeing P-26A was selected by the Air Corps over the XP-31.
Ignoring the Curtiss Hawk biplanes, the family tree of the P-40 would seem to have its tap roots in the XP-934 Curtiss Swift of 1932 vintage. Although some experience in the low-wing monoplane type was gained when the company produced its famed Shrike series of attack planes, the Swift, or XP-31 as it was designated by the Air Corps, was their first low-wing pursuit design. By one of those odd quirks, the Swift initially was powered by an in-line engine which gave way to a more powerful radial, just the reverse of the P-36 to P-40 design development. The XP-31 was not successful with either engine and the design was soon abandoned (It did earn the dubious distinction of being the last U.S. pursuit plane with a fixed landing gear). The Curtiss Company's fortunes took a downward turn in the pursuit field when the Boeing P-26A was selected by the Air Corps over the XP-31.
- GenresAviation HistoryHistory
58 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 24, 2025
Luckily for me, my father made a model of a P-36 before we got around to the Iconic P-40 kit. So he explained how the P-40 is basically a P-36 with the radial engine replaced by a bigger Allison watercooled inline engine. Then the engines got bigger and better as the versions of the P-40 kept coming throughout WWII. Ernest R McDowell is another one of Squadron/Signal Publication's stable of aviation writers who brings expertise on WWII in particular. This book is mainly a curated selection of photos - with great captions and line drawings- but the narrative sections are informative as well. Then in the center is a great colour section with silhouette schemes of USAAF, RAAF, and Red Air Force P-40s. This is the book my dad and I probably aspired to read before we made that model in the 1970s...
The Iconography of the P-40 is different from that of the P-51. The P-51 was iconic for long distance excellence. It- and the pilots who flew it- were mostly superior to their enemy- a combination of industrial attainment and excellent training regimen. The P-40 was not as good a dogfighter as the Bf 109s and Zeros it fought in the early years of the war- but it could dive out of danger- and it could take punishment- so it gave Allied Pilots confidence they could fight back. Later, when other newer airframes took over the Air Superiority/ Pursuit/Fighter role- the P-40 was to prove a good Close Air Support aircraft in the Pacific. It has to be said that the trend -started by the AVG in China of painting the nose with a toothsome shark mouth at the jutting air intake helped the iconography side a great deal. I found the most interesting paint jobs are the ones with silhouette Human skulls(89th Fs 80th FG-Karachi 1943) - you will find a lot of cool paint schemes in this book.
There are few adult themes and no graphic injury/violence passages, so this is a good read for the Junior Reader over 9/10 years with an aviation interest. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, this is a good resource- but a little bit dated with so little colour. The gamer gets those silhouette schemes- and those they can glean from the b/w photos- but may now seek a source with more colour. The Modeler, too will appreciate the development narrative and the line drawings- but will probably be unsatisfied with 10 Silhouette schemes these days. the Military Enthusiast gets the life of a classic WWII aircraft in a nicely digestible form. General audience readers will just like lots of cool pics of a WWII stalwart.
The Iconography of the P-40 is different from that of the P-51. The P-51 was iconic for long distance excellence. It- and the pilots who flew it- were mostly superior to their enemy- a combination of industrial attainment and excellent training regimen. The P-40 was not as good a dogfighter as the Bf 109s and Zeros it fought in the early years of the war- but it could dive out of danger- and it could take punishment- so it gave Allied Pilots confidence they could fight back. Later, when other newer airframes took over the Air Superiority/ Pursuit/Fighter role- the P-40 was to prove a good Close Air Support aircraft in the Pacific. It has to be said that the trend -started by the AVG in China of painting the nose with a toothsome shark mouth at the jutting air intake helped the iconography side a great deal. I found the most interesting paint jobs are the ones with silhouette Human skulls(89th Fs 80th FG-Karachi 1943) - you will find a lot of cool paint schemes in this book.
There are few adult themes and no graphic injury/violence passages, so this is a good read for the Junior Reader over 9/10 years with an aviation interest. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, this is a good resource- but a little bit dated with so little colour. The gamer gets those silhouette schemes- and those they can glean from the b/w photos- but may now seek a source with more colour. The Modeler, too will appreciate the development narrative and the line drawings- but will probably be unsatisfied with 10 Silhouette schemes these days. the Military Enthusiast gets the life of a classic WWII aircraft in a nicely digestible form. General audience readers will just like lots of cool pics of a WWII stalwart.
June 20, 2017
Great resource for the development of the P-40 variations.
May 16, 2021
This is a typical volume in the long running Squadron Signal pictorials which is geared toward modellers. This 1976 volume includes the developmental history of the Curtiss P-40 fighter. No operational history is included. The volume is divided into sections which feature the following:
P-40 to P-40C
P-40D-E, Kittyhawk I-IA
P-40F Kittyhawk II
P-40K Kittyhawk III
P-40L Kittyhawk II
P-40M Kittyhawk III
P-40N Kittyhawk IV
Line drawings of various models are featured as are tables of specifications. A centre section of colour profiles of various types are also featured.
P-40 to P-40C
P-40D-E, Kittyhawk I-IA
P-40F Kittyhawk II
P-40K Kittyhawk III
P-40L Kittyhawk II
P-40M Kittyhawk III
P-40N Kittyhawk IV
Line drawings of various models are featured as are tables of specifications. A centre section of colour profiles of various types are also featured.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews