P40 in service with RAF/ Commonwealth

[fire_ant]

I've found some web sites dsecribing the combat record of the P40 with the 23rd AF in China and the 325th in the Med, in both of which areas it did quite well.  I was searching in vain for some similar sites about the records of RAF, RAAF, RAAAF, and RNZAF forces, parituclarly units which used the P40 and the P39 and other US aircraft.
I would also like to find out any information about how the F4F (Martlet in British service) fared with the Royal Navy,(and for that matter the F6F as well...)

[Replicant]

Hi

A good book to read is 'Lend-Lease Aircraft in World War II" by Arthur Pearcy.

P40 - Both France and Great Britain ordered the P40 but Britain ended up taking over the French order as well.  Some aircraft were repossessed for re-use by the USA.

Royal Australian Air Force had eight squadrons using the P40, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force had seven squadrons.  Free French had three squadrons in North Africa.

The RAF also passed on some P40s to China, USSR, South Africa, Netherlands East Indies, neutral Turkey, Brazil and Egypt.  The Finnish Air Force did have a captured P40 which they used against the Soviets.

Royal Canadian Air Force also opertated the P40, mostly within RAF Fighter/AC Command.  

Britain released 100 P40s to the American Volunteer Group (AVG - Flying Tigers) in which the Flying Tigers adopted the famous shark's teeth nose emblem originating from the RAF in North Africa.

P39 - Britain ordered 170 P39s but only used about 80 with RAF 601 Sqn.  The remaining aircraft went to the USAAF or USSR.  The P39 wasn't a great success in Britain and was replaced by later Spitfire types.

Other American aircraft used by Britain under lend-lease are as follows:- (listed in US codes to save time!)

P-39C; YP-59A; C-61, A, K; TBF-1B, C TBM-1,2,4; A-30; A-34; SB2A; A-20; F2A; PBY-5, A, B, PRB2B-1; SB2U; SBG, SBC-4; C-46/C-55; PT-26A, B; PB2Y-3B, C; F4U-, F3A, FG-1; AT-17A; L-4; C-47, A, B, C-53; SBD-5; C-32A, C-49 series; Model 10 & 12 Electra; C-45, B, F; B-17C, E, F, G; Hellcat; JRF-5, 6B; J4F-2; CG-4A Glider; AT-6C, D, AT-16, SNJ-4; A-20; F6F-3,5,5N; SBW-1B; YR-4, R4B; R-6A; A-28A, A-29A; A-26; PT-27; P-63A; OS2U; P40E1, F, K1, M, L Kityhawk; B24D, J, L, C-87, RY-3; P-38; C-59, C-60; B-26A, C, F, G; PBM-3B, C; F4F-3, 4B, FM-1,2; A-22; B-25C, D, J; P-36; A-36, P-51A, B, C, D, F, G, H, K' AT-7B; A-17; C-64; SR-9D/AT-A; SO3C-2C; SO3C-1K; L-5, B; C-54, D; TBF-1B; P-47B, D; F7F; PT-24; P-40 series Tomahawk; C-43, GB-2; P-66; A-31, A-35; B-34, PV1; AT-1G, O-49A; J4F-2; F4F-3, 4B, FM-1,2 Wildcat.

Note that although these were ordered by Britain they would have been used by Commonwealth countries and not neccesarily by the RAF and RN.

I will try and find out which RAF Sqns opertated the P40.

Hope this is of use

Regards

'Nexx'

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[This message has been edited by Replicant (edited 08-01-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Replicant (edited 08-01-2000).]