THE P-40 WARHAWK -- The 324th Fighter Group was equipped with P-40F Warhawks. These planes, manufactured by Curtiss-Wright, were powered by British designed 12-cylinder Merlin Rolls Royce engines made under contract by the Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan. The specific models were the so-called long-tailed P-40s, with longer fuselages than previous versions to achieve better longitudinal stability. Most of them were P-40F-5-CU and P-40F-10-CU models delivered from the factory during the latter part of the year 1942. These aircraft were well-armored and equipped with six 50-caliber machine guns. They were very rugged but relatively slow, and as enemy air resistance slackened after the invasion of Sicily in July, 1943, the P-40s were less engaged in air-to-air combat, concentrating more on close support for Allied troops driving the Germans up the boot of Italy. In June, 1944, the 314th Fighter Squadron flew the last P-40 mission for the U.S. Air Force in Europe, and in July the P-40s were replaced by P-47 Thunderbolts.

THE P-40 WARHAWK PILOTS ASSOCIATION -- publishes a quarterly newsletter. For further information, write to R. G. Beeler, 1625 Ariana #41, Lakeland, Florida, 33803-1761.