HansReggelsen Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Hi all! I have figured out which P-40 type is called what in RAF service: P-40 B/C = Tomahawk P-40E (4 guns) = Kittyhawk Mk. I P-40E (6 guns) = Kittyhawk Mk. IA P-40F (shorttailed/Merlin-engined) = Kittyhawk II P-40L (longtailed/Merlin-engined) = Kittyhawk II P-40K = Kittyhawk III P-40M = Kittyhawk III P-40N = Kittyhawk IV So far - so good. I also understand that there weren't many Kittyhawk II (P-40F/L) delivered to th RAF. Now here's my question: Would a P-40F/L delivered to the RAAF be called a Kittyhawk II? Or was it still a P-40F/L Cheers Hans J 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 The answer is in your post. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFlint Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 P-40D is 4 wing guns Kittyhawk Mk 1 P-40E is 6 wing guns Kittyhawk Mk 1A ( just pointing out a typo) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles81 Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 The P-40F/Ls delivered to the RAAF were used in the Middle East principally by 3 Sqn and were generally known by their RAF nomenclature of Kittyhawk II. None were used in the SWPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpie22 Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 It is as Biggles says. Strictly speaking, the Kittyhawk II aircraft operated by No. 3 Sqn RAAF were not delivered to the RAAF, and never entered the RAAF stores system. They were RAF aircraft. In the SWPA the RAAF tended to use the designations P-40E, P-40E-1, P-40K, P-40M and P-40N, but still called them all Kittyhawks. Peter M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles81 Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 You are of course correct Peter, the P-40F/Ls were on RAF charge and were not taken on RAAF charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpie22 Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 Sorry Biggles, Just couldn't resist making a comment. Not often I can 'catch out' someone with your knowledge! Cheers, Peter M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornet133 Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 There are a couple of things not entirely correct with the original listing. The P-40Es purchased directly by the UK were designated P-40E-1 by the Mfr and Kittyhawk Mk.1 by the RAF (same as the 20 P-40D models received). These had British equipment (Radios, Batteries, Electrical Systems - different voltage to the US ones, etc) because they were direct purchase by the UK. The ones built at that time for the USAAC were designated P-40E by the Mfr and had US Equipment. When Lend Lease was introduced the UK then had to accept the airframes built to U.S standard (Radios, Batteries, Electrical Systems etc) and they were designated P-40E-1a by the Mfr and Kittyhawk 1a by the RAF (they had to be designated different to the direct purchase airframes due to the Equipment differences). P-40L (longtailed/Merlin-engined) were designated Kittyhawk IIa by the RAF (not Kittyhawk II). Steve Mackenzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansReggelsen Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share Posted February 1, 2017 Thank you all for your wise words! I knew I could count on you guys to help me out! Cheers Hans J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 7 hours ago, Hornet133 said: When Lend Lease was introduced the UK then had to accept the airframes built to U.S standard (Radios, Batteries, Electrical Systems etc) and they were designated P-40E-1a by the Mfr and Kittyhawk 1a by the RAF (they had to be designated different to the direct purchase airframes due to the Equipment differences). Steve Mackenzie Though, when received by RAF/Commonwealth countries (RAAF/RNZAF) the airframes were fitted with the Sutton Harness. P40E-1's ("a" in your parlance) flown in USAAF in the Pacific service would have had a US style harness fitted instead. Radio systems like the SCR274 as installed, were more suitable in the SWP theatre where Commonwealth Air Forces were serving alongside USAAF/USN units. Cockpit colours were RAF spec. Regards Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Bell Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 8 hours ago, Hornet133 said: There are a couple of things not entirely correct with the original listing. The P-40Es purchased directly by the UK were designated P-40E-1 by the Mfr and Kittyhawk Mk.1 by the RAF (same as the 20 P-40D models received). These had British equipment (Radios, Batteries, Electrical Systems - different voltage to the US ones, etc) because they were direct purchase by the UK. The ones built at that time for the USAAC were designated P-40E by the Mfr and had US Equipment. When Lend Lease was introduced the UK then had to accept the airframes built to U.S standard (Radios, Batteries, Electrical Systems etc) and they were designated P-40E-1a by the Mfr and Kittyhawk 1a by the RAF (they had to be designated different to the direct purchase airframes due to the Equipment differences). P-40L (longtailed/Merlin-engined) were designated Kittyhawk IIa by the RAF (not Kittyhawk II). Steve Mackenzie Hi Steve, Are you sure of your sources on this? What I've found at the Archives suggests that all P-40E-1s were paid for through Lend-Lease funds and built to British standards. From the records of the joint standardization committee, there was a list of differences agreed to by the Brits and Americans to minimize distinctions between the E and the E-1. (BTW, the six-fifties armament was a Brit request that the Yanks thought sounded pretty good!) I'm still in the early stages of my digging, but I've not yet found any mention of the E-1a, nor have I yet turned up the records for changes to the E-1 when they were transferred to AAF units. Cheers, Dana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS_w Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 (edited) For the fluids lines, I read that P40E-1 used US line color code and H87 British line color code. For this reason, was it possible that british received P40E-1 instead H87? Edited February 1, 2017 by BS_w Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRK4m Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 On 1.02.2017 at 1:26 PM, Hornet133 said: There are a couple of things not entirely correct with the original listing. P-40L (longtailed/Merlin-engined) were designated Kittyhawk IIa by the RAF (not Kittyhawk II). OK, so what about the long-tailed 6-gunned P-40Fs (some 105-110 for the RAF) and (very few, perhaps seven or so for the RAF) short-tailed 4-gunned P-40Ls? Were they called accordingly to the manufacturer/USAAF variant or to the fuselage length? Cheers Michael 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 (edited) Just a quick one to clean this up, the list should read (based on Mfr records): H-81A Tomahawk I H-81A-1 Tomahawk IIa H-81A-2 Tomahawk IIb H-87A-2 Kittyhawk I H-87A-3 Kittyhawk I P-40E-1 Kittyhawk Ia P-40F-1 Kittyhawk II (all F models used by RAF were F-1, no later models delivered to RAF) P-40K (numerous subtypes) Kittyhawk III P-40L Kittyhawk IIa P-40M (numerous subtypes) Kittyhawk III P-40N-1 Kittyhawk IV P-40N-5 above Kittyhawk IV (Some documents refer to as Kittyhawk IV series 1 but not called so in service) The RAF did receive about 10 P-40C, but never formally taken on charge before being sent to Russia. As for the P-40E-1, these were built to British standards and were a continuation of British Line numbers according to the Mfr. Buz Edited August 16, 2017 by Buz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansReggelsen Posted August 16, 2017 Author Share Posted August 16, 2017 Thanks, Buz, for the update.! Cheers Hans J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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