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.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a USAAF Curtiss P-40N Warhawk fighter that was piloted by Major Gerald Johnson, who was attached to the 9th Fighter Squadron "Flying Knights", 49th Fighter Group, then deployed to The Philippines during October 1944. Pre-order! Ship Date: Late November 2024.

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-inches
Length: 5-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "I Shall Return" - Returning to the Pacific in October 1944, Major Gerald Johnson was one of the first USAAF fighter pilots to arrive at Tacloban on Leyte in the Philippines, as P-38s from the 49th Fighter Group touched down on the freshly carved airstrip. The strip was under attack night and day as the Japanese tried to destroy the American foothold on Leyte. Four hours later, Johnson shot down two enemy planes, over Balikpapan, in Borneo. 13 days later, he shot down two more enemy planes, on the lead up to the Philippines campaign.

During the spring of 1945, the 49th Fighter Group occupied Clark Field and were concentrating on providing ground support roles. They were particularly effective in delivering napalm bombs which devastated enemy installations and made an invasion of the Luzon unnecessary.

On November 11th, he downed two more Zeros over Ormoc Bay, and on December 7th, the third anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he shot down three Oscars and one Nakajima Ki-49 "Helen" bomber over Cebu, for which he received his second Distinguished Service Cross. These victories brought him to a total of 21 aerial victories, a quadruple ace, and he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He became Deputy Commander of the 49th Fighter Group until March 1945.

Johnson served as 49th FG commander from March to July 1945, and became one of the youngest colonel in the USAAF. He scored his last aerial victory on April 2nd, when he shot down a Nakajima Ki-44 "Tojo", during a fighter sweep over Hong Kong.

During World War II, Johnson flew a total of 265 combat missions. He was credited with the destruction of 22 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 2 probables and 1 damaged, which includes 20 in P-38 Lightning and 2 in P-47 Thunderbolt.