Curtiss P-40L-5-CU Warhawk
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"P-40 squadrons played a key role in the air war over North Africa, Sicily and Italy during 1942-43. But shooting down enemy aircraft was not the primary task of these Warhawk pilots. Some days their assignments were direct bombing and strafing attacks, and on other occasions they would provide fighter escort for medium bombers. If enemy aircraft attempted to intervene, the P-40 pilots were expected to fight them off and then complete their primary bombing mission. Despite its shortcomings, the Curtiss P-40 was an excellent weapon for this type of air combat. It was never the fastest nor highest climbing aeroplane in the sky, but it was tough, reliable, well armed, and capable of carrying a substantial bomb load over a respectable range. And unlike in China and the Pacific, it was more manoeuvrable than were the enemy fighters it encountered. P-40 pilots in the MTO may have wished they were flying more modern Lightnings, Thunderbolts or Mustangs, but the Warhawk was the only American fighter available to them at the time, so they made the best of it." (Carl Molesworth, P-40 Warhawk Aces of the MTO) The model is P-40L-5-CU WARHAWK s/n42-10664 "Lighthouse Louie" of Lt Col Gordon H Austin, CO of the 325th FG, Tunisia, June 1943. |