Curtiss P-40G

Last revised July 3, 1999



The designation P-40G was given to 44 existing Army P-40s that were fitted with H81-A2 Tomahawk IIA wings that carried four 0.30-inch machine guns. The first such conversion was P-49 39-221, which was assigned the unofficial designation XP-40G. The remaining 43 retrofits took place between August and September 1941. Company records refer to these conversions under the designation Model 81-AG. Serials of P-40s retrofitted were as follows: 

  39-162,176,181,187,190,191,196,197,204,206,209,217,220,221,226,235,238, 
  248,257,263,267,275,276,279,288 and 
  40-292,297,299/301,303,309,315,318,320,323,331/333,335/338.

Some sources have at least some of these P-40Gs being assigned new Army serial numbers after these modifications were completed. These new serial numbers included: 

42-14261/14274 		Curtiss P-40G Warhawk 
42-14277/14278 		Curtiss P-40G Warhawk 
42-14281 		Curtiss P-40G Warhawk

However, these numbers conflict with those assigned to an order for P-40L-30-CUs which was cancelled.

Sixteen of these P-40Gs were shipped to the USSR starting in October 1941. All those examples remaining in the USA were redesignated RP-40G in October 1942, where the R meant “restricted from combat use”.

39-221 was shipped to the USSR in 1943.

For some reason, the designation P-40H was never assigned. The designation P-40I was never assigned in any case, lest the letter “I” be confused with the number one.

Sources:

  1. War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Four, William Green, Doubleday, 1964.

  2. The American Fighter, Enzo Anguluci and Peter Bowers, Orion Books, 1987.

  3. United States Military Aircraft since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989.

  4. Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947, Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute Press, 1979.

  5. The Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk, Ray Wagner, Aircraft in Profile, Volume 2, Doubleday, 1965.