Wikipedia

List of surviving Curtiss P-40s

(Redirected from List of Curtiss P-40 survivors)

Main article: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

The Curtiss P-40 was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft. Flown by the air forces of 28 nations, when production of the P-40 ceased in November 1944, 13,738 had been built.

P-40E-1CU 41-36084
RAAF P-40E Kittyhawk A29-133 Polly
Australian War Memorial

Background

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By the fall of 1944, the United States Army Air Forces had already retired most of the early versions (P-40B/P-40L) and was in the midst of withdrawing the final variants from combat units. By VJ Day, the only remaining P-40 were in Operational Training Units (OTUs). These aircraft were struck-off charge and placed into storage. Most foreign users of the P-40 also quickly retired their P-40s as well – the Royal New Zealand Air Force stored their last P-40s in 1947 (scrapping them by 1962) and the last military to use the P-40 operationally was the Brazilian Air Force who used them until the late 1950s.

In 1947 the Royal Canadian Air Force auctioned off their surplus P-40s. Mr. Fred Dyson purchased 35 P-40Es, Ms and Ns for $50.00 each, and barged them from Vancouver to Seattle to resell. Other ex-RCAF P-40s were purchased to strip the aircraft of hardware, which was in short supply after the war. For the next 30 years the RCAF machines would make up the majority of the flying P-40s. The FAA classified P-40Es and Ms as experimental aircraft, restricting their operations. The P-40N was in the limited category typical for most warbirds, but to circumvent FAA regulations many P-40Es were licensed as P-40Ns.

The Korean War in 1950 delayed USAF plans to retire the P-51 Mustang, and the Canadian P-40s were the only high performance aircraft available. It was not until the late 1950s that the P-51 became available but by this time, the Kittyhawks/Warhawks had found a popular niche for airshows. Having an aircraft which could be painted in AVG markings made them popular.

From the mid 1970s to late 1980s, collectors from the United States started traveling to former South Pacific airfields and recovered a second generation of P-40 survivors. The majority of these were RNZAF and RAAF veterans. Examples are still being returned to airworthy status.

The fall of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s made a third generation of P-40s survivors available and numerous examples were recovered from former battlefields near Murmansk. Other examples also included airframes being recovered from Alaskan wartime crashes during this same time frame.

There are still numerous example of wrecked P-40s that have yet to be recovered in China, United States, Canada as well as Russia in addition to the South Pacific sites. Many governments regulate wreck site recoveries and have placed many off-limits so as to remain untouched as grave sites, somewhat limiting further recoveries.

Survivors

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Curtiss P-40B G-CDWH at Duxford 2008, the world's oldest airworthy type.[1]
 
Hawk 81A-3 / Tomahawk IIb AK255, National Naval Aviation Museum
 
Curtiss P-40C at Flying Heritage Collection
 
Hawk 87A-3 AK987
RCAF 1068 USAFM
 
P-40M-10CU 43-5802 in Aleutian Tiger markings.
 
P-40N-5-CU 42-105915 Little Jeanne
 
Hawk 87A-3 AK875
RCAF 1044 Lope's Hope
NASM
 
P-40N-15CU 42-106396 Parrot Head
 
Hawk 87A-3 AL135
RCAF 1076
Canada Aviation Museum

Australia

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Airworthy
P-40E
  • 41-25158/VH-AK4 - owned by Andrew Kennedy in Gunnedah, New South Wales. This p40 was NZ3009 with RNZAF. It was famously owned by the Old Flying Machine company from 1994 to 2002 and flown by Ray Hanna. The aircraft made its first flight in Australia on April 24th 2024 in the hands of Kennedy. [4]
P-40F
P-40N
  • 42-104687/VH-ZOC - owned by Arthur Pipe & Steel Australia PTY LTD in East Albury, New South Wales. Was NZ3125 in RNZAF service.[7]
  • 42-104986/VH-PFO- owned by the P40N PTY LTD in Caboolture, Queensland. This P40 is a combat veteran having seen service over New Guinea. On February 14th 1944 the aircraft shot down a KI 61 but was forced to crash land because of damage sustained during the battle. Pilot Nelson D. Flack, Jr survived the crash and made it back to allied lines after 17 days in the jungle. His plane was discovered in 2004 and brought to Australia for restoration. The aircraft took flight on March 3rd 2016 in the hands of then owner Doug Hamilton.[8][9][10]
On display
P-40E
P-40N
Under restoration
P-40E
P-40N

Brazil

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P-40N

Canada

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On display
P-40E

Egypt

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P-40
  • ET574 - Found in the desert in 2012. As of 2018, displayed at a museum in El Alamein in a faux paint scheme.

France

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Airworthy
P-40N
Wrecks
  • s/n unknown - A fairly complete wreck of a P-40 is immersed in 18 feet of water near the semi-decommissioned French fleet air arm station of Aspretto, Ajaccio, Corsica. It was found in much deeper waters by military divers and moved in present time location for training purposes. It is theoretically off limits but has been much dived in the past 30 years, images and video footage are visible on internet.[25]

Italy

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P-40L
  • 42-10857 - on display in its recovered condition at the Piana delle Orme near Latina, Lazio.[26]

New Zealand

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Airworthy
P-40E
  • 41-13570 - restored for Pioneer Aero Ltd, Ardmore, Auckland for Italian owner Claudio Coltri. Equipped with two seats and dual control.[27] Recovered from a lake in Russia in August 1997.[28]
P-40N
On display
P-40E
P-40F
 
P-40F 41-14205
  • 41-14205 - restored to E-model status and on display at the RNZAF Museum in represented RNZAF colours as "NZ3000".[32]
  • 43-22962/NZ3220 - on display at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre on loan from the Smith family, Blenheim, New Zealand.[33]
Under restoration
P-40E
  • 41-35916 - under restoration to fly for John Saunders at Omaka using some ex-RNZAF parts.[34] Will be dual control.[35]
  • 41-36410/NZ3043 - restoration to airworthy by Mike Nicholls and John Saunders at Omaka Airfield in Blenheim, New Zealand.[36]
P-40N
  • 42-104751/NZ3147 - restoration to flying with Pioneer Aero Ltd, Ardmore Airfield for Brett Nicholls. Rebuild will include rear seat and dual controls[citation needed]
  • 42-104746/NZ3143 - restoration to airworthy by Chris Evans at Napier, New Zealand.
Stored
P-40K
  • 42-10178/A29-183 - stored pending restoration by Graham Orphan in Blenheim.[37]

Thailand

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P-40C

United Kingdom

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P-40C 41-13357 seen during 2016 Flying Legends Airshow at Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire, UK
Airworthy
P-40C
P-40F
P-40M
On display
P-40N
Under Restoration
P-40N
  • 42-104949 Kathleen II - to airworthiness by Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc. Trustee in Bungay, Suffolk. Flown by the comedian Dan Rowan in World War II.[43]

United States

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P-40E 41-35918 Military Air Museum in Virginia Beach, Va.
Airworthy
P-40B
P-40C/Tomahawk IIB
P-40D/Kittyhawk I
 
P-40D at the Fagen Fighter Museum
P-40E/Kittyhawk IA
P-40K
 
P-40K at the Fagen Fighter Museum
P-40M
P-40N
 
P-40N at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum
TP-40N
  • 44-47923 - based at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.[92][93] Operated by museum owner Kermit Weeks and registered N923, it is the world's only airworthy trainer-variant P-40. Additionally, the aircraft was briefly featured at the beginning of the 1973 CBS made-for-television movie Birds of Prey, starring David Janssen and Ralph Meeker.
  • 42-104721 - based at Collings Foundation in Stow, Massachusetts. This is a rebuild of the same aircraft that originally was at Evergreen, which was based on the wreck of P-40K 42-9749, recovered from Alaska where it had originally served in the Aleutians, and originally restored as a P-40K. Now the airframe has been rebuilt as a factory-built TP-40N with the serial number 42-104721 newly assigned, an identity from a wrecked and parceled-out P-40N that was recovered from New Guinea where it had originally served with the RAAF as A29-499.[94][95]
On display
P-40C/Tomahawk IIB
P-40D/Kittyhawk I
P-40E/Kittyhawk IA
P-40N
 
P-40N on display at the Museum of Aviation
 
Sue Parish's P-40 on display at the Air Zoo
Under restoration or in storage
P-40D/Kittyhawk I
P-40E/Kittyhawk IA
P-40K
P-40N

Replicas

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P-40 replicas at (from left) Peterson Air and Space Museum, Wheeler AAF, and Hanscom AFB

Notes

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  1. ^ "The Fighter Collection - Curtiss P-40B". The Fighter Collection. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  2. ^ "CASA Registry: VH KTY" Archived 23 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Civil Aviation Safety Authority Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  3. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-25109" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  4. ^ "NEW WARBIRD FLYING IN AUSTRALIA – P-40E-1 KITTYHAWK 41-25158". Down Under Aviation News. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  5. ^ "CASA Registry: VH HWK" Archived 23 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Civil Aviation Safety Authority Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  6. ^ "P-40F Warhawk/41-14112" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  7. ^ "CASA Registry: VH ZOC" Archived 23 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Civil Aviation Safety Authority Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Curtiss Kittyhawk P40N VH-PFO – Pacific Survivor | Warbirds Online". www.warbirdsonline.com.au. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  9. ^ PacificWrecks.com. "Pacific Wrecks - P-40N-5-CU Warhawk Serial Number 42-104986". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  11. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-36084" Australian War Memorial Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  12. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-104947" pacific wrecks Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  13. ^ "CASA Registry: VH AJY" Archived 23 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Civil Aviation Safety Authority Retrieved: 12 June 2014.
  14. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-5336" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  15. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-5632" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  16. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-13522" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  17. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-35984" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  18. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-36843" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  19. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-104954" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  20. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-105051" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  21. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-105472" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  22. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/44-7700" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  23. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/AL135" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  24. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-105915" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  25. ^ "P-40 Warhawk/unknown" legallais.net Retrieved: 12 January 2015.
  26. ^ "P-40L Warhawk/42-10857"[permanent dead link‍] warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  27. ^ "P-40E S#41-13570" Pioneer Aero Restorations, 27 July 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  28. ^ "P-40 Recovery in Russia" Archived 21 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine Lend Lease on airforce.ru. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  29. ^ ""CAA Registry: ZH-CAG" Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand Retrieved: 12 June 2014". Archived from the original on 26 January 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  30. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-104730" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  31. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-36385" Archived 15 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Museum of Transport and Technology Retrieved: 29 May 2014.
  32. ^ "P-40F Warhawk/41-14205" Archived 31 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine RNZAF Museum. Retrieved: 29 May 2014.
  33. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/43-22962" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 May 2014.
  34. ^ "RNZAF P-40E Build" Dave Homewood, Wings Over New Zealand, 14 June 2017. Retrieved: 21 July 2017.
  35. ^ "Deux nouveaux P-40 ont repris l’air, en Australie et aux États-Unis" Le Fana de l'Aviation No.557, April 2016 pg5. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  36. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-36410" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 May 2014.
  37. ^ "P-40K Warhawk/42-10178" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  38. ^ "P-40C Warhawk/AK498" warbirdregistry.org Retrieved: 29 April 2011.
  39. ^ "P-40C Warhawk/41-13357" The Fighter Collection Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  40. ^ "P-40F Warhawk/41-19841" The Fighter Collection Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  41. ^ "P-40M Warhawk/43-5802" Hangar 11 Collection Retrieved: 24 April 2012.
  42. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-106101" Archived 5 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine RAFM London Record Retrieved: 9 March 2012.
  43. ^ "FAA Registry: N537BR." FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  44. ^ "FAA Registry: N284CF" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  45. ^ "Curtiss P-40B Tomahawk". americanheritagemuseum.org. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  46. ^ Dwinell, Joe (27 November 2020). "World's only Warhawk from Pearl Harbor restored and in Massachusetts". Boston Herald. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  47. ^ "FAA Registry: N2689" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  48. ^ "P-40C Warhawk/41-13390" Flying Heritage Collection Retrieved: 15 January 2018.
  49. ^ "FAA Registry: N295RL" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  50. ^ "FAA Registry: N440PE" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  51. ^ "Kittyhawk IA/AK752" Stonehenge Air Museum Retrieved: 19 August 2014.
  52. ^ "FAA Registry: N40245" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  53. ^ "Kittyhawk IA/AK827" Yanks Air Museum Retrieved: 26 January 2018.
  54. ^ "FAA Registry: N40PE" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  55. ^ "FAA Registry: N94466" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  56. ^ "Kittyhawk IA/AK933" Warhawk Museum Retrieved: 15 January 2018.
  57. ^ "FAA Registry: N940AK." FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  58. ^ "Kittyhawk IA/AK940" Erickson Aircraft Collection. Retrieved: 15 April 2019.
  59. ^ "FAA Registry: N95JB" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  60. ^ "Kittyhawk IA/AL152" War Eagles Air Museum Retrieved: 1 October 2013.
  61. ^ "FAA Registry: N1941P" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  62. ^ "Curtiss P-40". Military Aviation Museum. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  63. ^ "FAA Registry: N2416X" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  64. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/41-5709" Dakota Territory Air Museum. Retrieved: 8 August 2019.
  65. ^ "FAA Registry: N9733" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  66. ^ "FAA Registry: N402WH" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  67. ^ "P-40 Warhawk/42-10083" Fagens Fighters WWII Museum Retrieved: 16 July 2014.
  68. ^ "FAA Registry: N401WH" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  69. ^ "P-40K Warhawk/42-10256" Mid America Flight Museum. Retrieved: 13 August 2019.
  70. ^ "FAA Registry: N40DF" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  71. ^ "FAA Registry: N1232N" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  72. ^ "P-40M Warhawk/43-5795" Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine American Airpower Museum Retrieved: 4 October 2013.
  73. ^ "FAA Registry: N5813" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  74. ^ "P-40M Warhawk/NZ3119" Archived 7 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Tri-State Warbird Museum Retrieved: 1 October 2013.
  75. ^ "FAA Registry: N977WH" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  76. ^ "FAA Registry: N692CK" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  77. ^ "FAA Registry: N85104"FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  78. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-105192"[permanent dead link‍] Planes of Fame Retrieved: 23 October 2013
  79. ^ "FAA Registry: N540TP" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  80. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-105306"[permanent dead link‍] North Bay Air Museum Retrieved: 17 April 2019.
  81. ^ "FAA Registry: N49FG." FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  82. ^ "FAA Registry: N1226N" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  83. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-105867" Commemorative Air Force Retrieved: 10 July 2014.
  84. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  85. ^ "FAA Registry: N1195N" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  86. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-106396" Warhawk Air Museum Retrieved: 15 January 2018.
  87. ^ "FAA Registry: N999CD" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  88. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/44-7084" Archived 17 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Palm Springs Air Museum Retrieved: 1 October 2013.
  89. ^ "FAA Registry: N40PN" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  90. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/44-7369" Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Cavanaugh Flight Museum Retrieved: 1 October 2013.
  91. ^ Sullivan, Cole (1 January 2024). "Historic Addison flight museum announces closure". WFAA. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  92. ^ "FAA Registry: N923" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  93. ^ "TP-40N Warhawk/44-47923" Fantasy of Flight Retrieved: 15 January 2018.
  94. ^ "FAA Registry: N293FR" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  95. ^ "TP-40N Warhawk/42-104721." Collings Foundation Retrieved: 9 May 2017.
  96. ^ "Tomahawk IIB/AK255" National Museum of Naval Aviation Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  97. ^ "Kittyhawk IA/AK875" Archived 2 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine National Air and Space Museum Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  98. ^ "P-40E Warhawk/AK803" RCAF Kittyhawk Retrieved: 29 March 2012.
  99. ^ ""Maude P-40E Arrives At Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre For New WW2 Exhibit" WWII Aero Retrieved 30 August 2016". Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  100. ^ "Classic Aircraft Sales - Yakolev Yak 11 & 3, De Havilland DH90 Dragonfly, Reliable and low maintenance RNZAF BAE167 Strikemaster". www.classicwings.com.
  101. ^ "Kittyhawk IA/AK979" Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Retrieved: 19 July 2018.
  102. ^ "Curtiss P-40E Warhawk (Fighter)". pearlharboraviationmuseum.org. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  103. ^ "FAA Registry: N40FT" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  104. ^ "P-40 Warhawks and Claire Chennault's Flying Tigers (Pearl Harbor)". pearlharboraviationmuseum.org. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  105. ^ "Kittyhawk IA/AK987" National Museum of the USAF Retrieved: 15 January 2018.
  106. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-105270"[permanent dead link‍] Hill Aerospace Museum Retrieved: 15 January 2018.
  107. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-105927" Museum of Aviation Retrieved: 15 January 2018.
  108. ^ "FAA Registry: N10626" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  109. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/44-7192" Museum of Flight Retrieved: 1 October 2013.
  110. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/44-7619" Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum Retrieved: 1 October 2013.
  111. ^ "FAA Registry: N7205A" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  112. ^ "FAA Registry: N62435" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  113. ^ "FAA Registry: N95665" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  114. ^ "FAA Registry: N45946" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  115. ^ "P-40K Warhawk/42-45984" Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Pima Air & Space Museum Retrieved: 7 April 2014.
  116. ^ "Curtiss" Geoff Goodall, Warbirds Directory V6 Retrieved: 21 July 2017.
  117. ^ "FAA Registry: N959FT" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  118. ^ "P-40N Warhawk/42-104961" Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Pima Air & Space Museum Retrieved: 7 April 2014.
  119. ^ "FAA Registry: N405CU" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  120. ^ "FAA Registry: N1316S" FAA.gov Retrieved: 21 July 2021.
  121. ^ Doane, Loran. "Historic P-40 aircraft returns to 'action' near Kawamura Gate". army.mil. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013 – via Wayback Machine.
  122. ^ "Restoration of 'the Stump Jumper' a team effort > Hanscom Air Force Base > Display". www.hanscom.af.mil. 12 December 2012.
  123. ^ "Museum Tour & Aerial Photos". petemuseum.org. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  124. ^ "Aircraft Exhibits". classicflyersnz.com. Retrieved 28 November 2020. This aircraft was restored from a wreck that was discovered in the one of the Pacific Islands.
  125. ^ "Curtiss P-40E Warhawk (Pursuit Fighter)". pearlharboraviationmuseum.org. Retrieved 28 November 2020.

References

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  • United States Air Force Museum. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation. 1975.
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