Was the P-40 Warhawk a good plane?

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is one of the best-liked airplanes of World War II, even though its performance was never quite up to that of its opponents. The most important thing about the P-40 to the United States was that it was available in ever-growing quantity to fight a war when no other fighters were.

How many P-40 Warhawks are left?

A few aircraft were converted to TP-40N two-seat trainers. Today, about 20 P-40s of various models are airworthy and about 80 more are in museums or awaiting restoration. In 1947 the Royal Canadian Air Force put its P-40s up for sale at a price of $50.00 each.

How many Japanese planes did the pilot of this P-40 Warhawk shoot down?

They shot down five Japanese planes, including four — two Nakajima B5N2 torpedo bombers, a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter and an Aichi D3A1 dive bomber — by 2nd Lt. George S. Welch of the 47th Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group.

What model P-40 did the Flying Tigers use?

Our P-40E (Kittyhawk) This was the model that Welch and Taylor flew at Pearl Harbor. It was also the first model flown by the Flying Tigers. The British and Canadians called it the Tomahawk. The more powerful and faster P-40E was just coming into service at the beginning of the war.

What planes did the Tuskegee Airmen fly?

The Tuskegee Airmen flew hundreds of patrol and attack missions for the Twelfth Air Force, flying P-40 and P-39 airplanes, before they were reassigned to the 15th Air Force to escort B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers, using P-47 and P-51 airplanes.

How many P 40s were at Pearl Harbor?

Within Hangar 79 of the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island, visitors have a unique opportunity to see a warplane that once defended Pearl Harbor from the Japanese surprise attack. The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk on display is one of the more than 14,000 that were built during the course of World War II.

Was the P-47 a good fighter?

The P-47 proved to be a formidable fighter-bomber due to its good armament, heavy bomb load, and ability to survive enemy fire. The P-47’s survivability was due in part to its radial piston engine, which unlike comparable liquid-cooled engines, had a high tolerance for damage.

Did any planes get off the ground at Pearl Harbor?

Welch and Taylor were among only five Air Force pilots who managed to get their planes off the ground and engage the Japanese that morning. Total American aircraft losses at Pearl Harbor were estimated at 188 planes destroyed and 159 more damaged, while the Japanese lost just 29 planes.

How many Japanese planes were lost at Pearl Harbor?

29 aircraft
The Japanese lost 29 aircraft and 5 midget submarines in the attack. One Japanese soldier was taken prisoner and 129 Japanese soldiers were killed. Out of all the Japanese ships that participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor only one, the Ushio, survived until the end of the war.

Why do war planes have shark faces?

For the same reasons as the air and ground crews of WWII, these individual markings created unity between the crews who were operating far from home and relative safety. RAF Tornados and Jaguars were seen with the famous shark teeth design as well as several pin-up style designs.

How many Flying Tigers were there in ww2?

The group consisted of three fighter squadrons of around 30 aircraft each that trained in Burma before the American entry into World War II to defend the Republic of China against Japanese forces….Flying Tigers.

What plane did the Red Tails fly?

Who was the best pilot in ww2?

Luftwaffe fighter pilot Erich Hartmann was exceedingly good at aerial combat. While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.

Is Captain Thurman a real person?

Capt. Thurman was not a real person, but a composite character based on several officers and stories, according to a Disney spokesman.

What was the best fighter plane during World War II?

The number 1 is no surprise: the North American P-51 Mustang. Often and usually considered the best fighter of the war, the P-51 was a game-changer for Allied forces. Employed as a long-range bomber escort, the P-51 was unmatched by German planes, especially at high altitudes.

What was the fastest plane during World War II?

These Were The 10 Fastest Planes Of WWII

• 8 Heinkel He.
• 7 Messerschmitt Me. 163 Komet (624 Mph)
• 6 Dornier Do-335 Pfeil (474 Mph)
• 5 Arado Ar 234 Blitz (462 Mph)
• 4 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. 24 (454 Mph)
• 3 Vought F4U Corsair (446 Mph)
• 2 North American P-51 Mustang (440 Mph)
• 1 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (433 Mph)

Why are bodies still on USS Arizona?

Caitlin said: “When it was determined that the USS Arizona could not be salvaged, the navy decided that it would be ‘too difficult to remove the dead in a respectful manner’. “So 1,102 people remain entombed in the USS Arizona, considered buried at sea.”

How many planes did U.S. shoot down at Pearl Harbor?

During the attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. pilots George Welch and Kenneth Taylor managed to get airborne under fire—twice—and shot down at least six Japanese planes between them.

Why were the carriers not at Pearl Harbor?

The Japanese were aware that the American carriers were not at Pearl Harbor. After some debate, they decided the chance to destroy all eight US Pacific Fleet battleships — still seen as the dominant naval weapon at the time — was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

Who were the Flying Tigers in WWII?

Eighty years ago this week, a small group of American aviators fought in their first battle in World War II. Their mission was unusual: They were mercenaries hired by China to fight against Japan. They were called the American Volunteer Group and later became known as the Flying Tigers.

Why do airlines paint the nose black?

Dark colours come handy when there is a desire to reduce glare, i.e. light reflecting from the nose into the cockpit. To counter this, airlines (or militaries) paint the area just below the windows black, sometimes extending it to part of the nose.

Are any of the Flying Tigers still alive?

Chen, who goes by the nickname Jim, is the last living member of the Flying Tigers. His entry into the war began in 1941, when he was sent to the Arizona Air Force Base for training.

What did the Japanese think about the Flying Tigers?

“The Japanese referred to them as ‘gangsters’ because they said they didn’t fight fair,” said Tripp Alyn, chair of the Historical & Museums Committee AVG Flying Tigers Association.

Is the movie Red Tails historically accurate?

Red Tails portrays largely fictional events based on the exploits of the Tuskegee airmen, although many viewers were left with the impression that the film was entirely historically accurate.

Is Red Tails based on a true story?

‘Red Tails,’ the movie based on the historic Tuskegee Airmen starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terence Howard opens today. View Photo Gallery: The new George Lucas film is inspired by the true World War II story of the nation’s first African American aerial combat unit.