These three Warhawks were assigned to the Central Instructor's School at Randolph Field, Texas
when these photos were taken in July of 1943.


Project 914 Archives (S. Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Number '1' is understandably quoted in many sources to be a P-40K, but is actually a P-40E-1.
She was originally built as Kittyhawk IA EV250 for the RAF, but was diverted to the USAAC.
This ship collided with another on takeoff at Hillgrove AAB, RI on December 27th, 1942 but
was obviously repaired and put back into the air, as these photos were taken in July of 1943.
I used to think that perhaps the 'K' tail was added during the repair job, as well as the new
engine, but I've since come to learn that a good number of late-production P-40E-1s left the
factory with the 'K' tail, and presumably some, if not all, with the newer engine used on the
'K'. (This is something I've heard and seen mention of for many years, but thought it was just
a myth... I was wrong.) So this Hawk was undoubtedly hatched with the extra tail feathers.

Number '2' is P-40F-15-CU 41-19784, which was later converted to a P-40R-1.

Number '3' is P-40L-5-CU 42-10516. This ship was eventually converted to a P-40R-2.

The P-40L-5-CU was the first attempt in earnest at reducing the weight of the P-40 in order to
improve performance. As can be seen in these photos, #3 has only two guns per wing, reduced
from the three per wing which became standard with the P-40E. Also removed from the P-40L-5-CU
were the forward wing fuel tanks, reducing the internal fuel capacity by thirty-one imperial gallons.

This stripped-down variant of the P-40 was dubbed 'Gypsy Rose Lee' after the well-known burlesque dancer.


Project 914 Archives (S. Donacik collection) - Larger Image


Project 914 Archives (S. Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Here's a fine view of 41-36504...


Project 914 Archives (S. Donacik collection) - Larger Image

...and in color.


Project 914 Archives (S. Donacik collection) - Larger Image

From: 'P-40 Warhawk in World War II Color' by Jeff Ethell

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