Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

Used extensively in the early part of the war and continually updated, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk became legendary at the hands of the American Volunteer Group, better known as the Flying Tigers. The P-40 was used by the 7th Air Force fighter squadrons in defense of the Hawaiian Islands, as well as in the Gilbert Islands campaign. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, The Hawiian Air Force had 99 P-40B and C models spread throughout the 15th and 18th Pursuit Groups. Several of these P-40’s did get airborne and shot down several Japanese enemy aircraft on December 7th during the attack. The P-40 was flown continually for training/flight hours and defense of the island, with the squadrons receiving the E model. The P-40E was then deployed and sent to defend the encroaching Japanese forces perimeter, when K models replaced them with a different squadron. Finally, the N model was used in the Gilbert Island campaign, most noteable due to change of using a sand color for their top sides.