Produced in large numbers the P-40 or Tomahawk, Kittyhawk or Warhawk as she was also known, was a ruggedly effective and potent fighter. Supplied to the air forces of America, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, the P-40 fought with distinction in every theatre of operations. In Europe and the Western Desert against the Germans and the Italians as flown by aces such as Billy Drake and Neville Duke of 112 Squadron, RAF. In the far north, P-40’s fought with distinction in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska, as well as in the island-hopping Pacific campaign against the Japanese. They were the main weapon in the China-Burma-India campaign and the aircraft was immortalised by the famous American Volunteer Group, better known as the ‘Flying Tigers’, achieving 297 confirmed kills.
The Curtiss P-40M, serial number 43-5802, was manufactured in October 1943 and assigned to a RCAF squadron as serial no. 840. She subsequently flew with a number of RCAF squadrons, amassing a total of only 732 hours in military service. The aircraft was retired in 1950 and moved to Oregon State University to act as an instructional aircraft. Following a long period of storage at Troutdale Airport, Oregon, she was acquired in the late 1970’s by well known P-40 expert Tommy Camp, based in Livermore, California. Fortunately, the airframe was found to have survived in remarkably good condition and was suitable for a restoration to flying condition. This was sympathetically carried out in the early 1980’s and she flew again in 1982.
Purchased by The Fighter Collection and shipped across the Atlantic, she took up residence at Duxford in February 1985. There she remained for ten years until 1995 when traded to Christophe Jacquard, based at Dijon in France. Re-registered F-AZPJ she was operated in France for three years until returning to Duxford to re-join The Fighter Collection in 1998. Placed on the UK register as G-KITT, she continued to be operated by TFC until 2005 when she was purchased by Hangar 11 Collection and ferried to our hangar at North Weald. Since then she has appeared extensively at airshows throughout the UK and further airfield. In May 2009 she was flown by Peter Teichman to a former Soviet military airfield near Prague and took part in filming for the movie ‘Red Tails’ which is set for release in January 2012. Wearing a temporary water washable scheme, after filming was completed and she was flown back to the UK the decision was made to retain the temporary colours until the final release of the movie. Of course we had not quite anticipated that over two years would pass, so 2012 will see G-KITT emerge from Hangar 11 in a completely new scheme - This was IT.