Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawk
Curtiss · US · first flew 1940 · fighter
The P-40B Tomahawk was the first combat-capable P-40 variant, used by the American Volunteer Group's 'Flying Tigers' in China-Burma-India and by RAF and Commonwealth units in North Africa.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Early-style framed canopy without the cut-down rear fuselage of later marks |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Allison V-1710 inline engine with a distinctive shallow radiator bath under the nose — less prominent than later P-40 marks
- Two .50 cal nose guns and two .30 cal wing guns — the lightest armament of any production P-40
- Early-style framed canopy without the cut-down rear fuselage of later marks
The early framed canopy is the most accessible cue against later marks. The relatively light nose armament (two cowl guns, no wing cannon) distinguishes it from the heavier P-40E and later. The shallower radiator bath gives a slightly cleaner nose profile than the Kittyhawk.
Specifications
- The Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawk has a length of 9.68 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.38 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 571 km/h (355 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Around 131 P-40Bs (plus 110 P-40Cs) delivered to the USAAC and export customers. The AVG's famous shark-mouth Tomahawks operated over Burma and China from December 1941, achieving a remarkable combat record against the Japanese.
Variants
P-40B (two .50 + two .30 guns), P-40C (self-sealing tanks added). British designations: Tomahawk Mk I (P-40) and Mk IIA (P-40B).
Where you'll see it
USAAC, AVG Flying Tigers, RAF Desert Air Force, RCAF. The shark-mouth markings of the AVG make this the most recognisable P-40 mark culturally. No confirmed airworthy P-40Bs survive; most flying P-40s are later marks.
Related aircraft
- Curtiss SNC-1 Falcon
- Curtiss P-40 E Kittyhawk
- Curtiss P-40 F Warhawk
- Curtiss P-40 N Warhawk
- Arado Ar 240
- Bell XFL-1 Airabonita
- Bloch MB.700
- CANSA FC.12
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