Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk I-IV in R.A.F., S.A.A.F., R.A.A.F., R.N.Z.A.F., R.C.A.F.and N.E.I.A.F.Service

Early in 1940 Curtiss Aviation sought to improve the performance of the successful Hawk 81 A, the P-40 Tomahawk, which had enjoyed substantial orders from both the U.S. and French governments, by the instal­lation of a more powerful Allison V-1710-34 engine and an increased armament of four wing-mounted .50 in. machine guns. Some re-design of the nose of this new aircraft, the Hawk 87A, slightly altered the appearance, and the name was changed to Kittyhawk. In May the British government placed an order for 560 aircraft as the Kittyhawk Mark I, and when the first example was flown on 22 May, 1941, the aircraft was also ordered for the USAAF. It was as a result of an American require­ment for increased armament that the aircraft was fitted with six .50 in. wing guns, and this modification was at once adopted by the British, 540 of the initial order being supplied in this configuration as the Mark IA. Early in 1941 substantial American orders were placed for the air­craft, including 1.500 Mark I As for the RAF, purchased under Lease-Lend funds. In the event, 25 of these air­craft were delivered by surface transport to the RCAF, and others were sent to the Far East for use by the RAAF and RNZAF, following the Japanese attacks on Allied territories in December 1941. A number were also released by the RAF for delivery to Russia.

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