The P-40 was the best known Curtiss-Wright designed airplane of the Second World War. It was also one of the most controversial fighters, vilified by many as being too slow, lacking in maneuverability, having too low a climbing rate, and being largely obsolescent by contemporary standards even before it went into production. The inadequacies of the P-40 were even the subject of a Congressional investigation after the War ended.

While these criticisms were certainly valid, it is also true that the P-40 served its country well, especially in China and Burma, during the opening phase of the War in the Pacific when little else was available to the US Army Air Corps. Along with the P-39 Airacobra, the P-40 was the only American fighter available in quantity to confront the Japanese advance until more modern aircraft could be delivered to frontline squadrons.

This particular 1:72 scale replica of a RAF Curtiss Tomahawak IIB fighter that was flown by P/O Neville Duke, who was attached to No.122 Squadron, deployed to North Africa during 1941. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-inches
Length: 5-1/2-inches

Release Date: December 2018

Historical Account: "Hot Desert Sands" - It was also in the desert that the RAF Tomahawks became some of the most famous aircraft of the entire war, as No.112 Squadron pilots painted sinister looking sharks teeth and eyes behind the propellers of their P-40s, giving the aircraft an extremely aggressive appearance. The profile of these early RAF Tomahawks really does resemble that of a shark, a fact that was fully exploited by the pilots of the Desert Air Force. Impressed by magazine pictures of these RAF flying sharks, the famous American Volunteer Group 'Flying Tigers' soon added sharks teeth designs to their own P-40s as they battled Japanese aircraft in the skies above China.

This particular Curtiss Tomahawk was the mount of famous RAF pilot Neville Duke, who was posted to No.112 Squadron in North Africa following a successful spell as Wing Commander 'Sailor' Malan's wingman at Biggin Hill. Used to flying the Spitfire Mk.V, Duke initially found the Tomahawk to be something of a disappointment in combat and was shot down twice during his first few weeks in the desert. Flying Tomahawk IIB AK402, he was shot down on November 30th, 1941, by high scoring JG27 ace Otto Schulz, but managed to crash land his aircraft and return to his Squadron. He soon got to grips with the desert air war and started to score victories of his own - by the end of the war, Duke became the highest scoring Allied ace in the Mediterranean Theatre, with 27 victories to his name. He also went on to become a celebrated test pilot and holder of the world air speed record.