P-40 and D-day stripes?

[ColFord]

James,

Officially, No.II(AC) Squadron did not use their Tomahawks for offensive operations against the enemy. The Squadron was very heavily committed to supporting a large number of Army Exercises, and the technical issues with the Tomahawks with resultant low levels of serviceability mitigated against their use with any confidence.

A number of the other RAF and RCAF Squadrons in the UK equipped with Tomahawks did use them for offensive operations, including shipping reconnaissance sorties in the Channel and North Sea along the coasts of the Netherlands, Belgium and France, plus the occasional "Rhubarb" at low level when the weather conditions were favourable to duck across and shoot up targets of opportunity in France. "Favourable" in this case usually meant having large areas of low cloud that the Tomahawks could duck into for cover if the Luftwaffe put up fighters to intercept.

Regards,

[JDK]

Thanks, Col, I think I'll ask Buzz to see what he can add too.

The original question seems answered as far as a negative can be, but as ever the byways are as interesting!

Cheers,

[ColFord]

James,

Buz is a good source for the 'good gen' on Tomahawks and Kittyhawks in Commonwealth service, just don't know if he is back on line yet following his posting move. He is now living around my part of Oz.

Regards,

[Buz]

Hi Guys

To try and get this one cleared up for all.....

Firstly the P-40's lent to the US were all back to the RAF by Mid 1944.....

As for the Tomahawk, they had flown numerous sorties over Franch and the Low countries (I know the books all say single un-auhorised sortie...blah...blah...blah....totally incorrect), as 239Sqdn were operational from Sep 1941, next was 26 Sqdn, as were 400Sqdn (lost two Tomahawks to Fw190's of JG2 during Dec 1941), 268Sqdn Operational over Low countries as well. 171 was operational for a short period during 1943. The aircraft used were Tomahawk I and IIA aircraft.....and the sorties flown anything from De-Lousing Rhurbarbs, Shipping Recce, Spotting for Dover Guns, as well as Armed Recce.......

The Tomahawks continued in offensive Ops until Apr 1942, however 171 flew standing patrols and Scrambles during 1943 (if you need more I can get the dates)......that covers the Army Co-Op side of things

As for Fighter Command 403Sqdn went Operational on the Tomahawk during early 1941, but this did not last long and I have yet to find any operational sorties for these aircraft (need to find a good copy of 403Sqdn ORB....any helpers out there that can provide???)....

The Tomahawks were gradually replaced starting in late Mar 1942, with Mustangs, however were still around the Army Co-Op units until after Ex Spartan in Mid 1943, as they were the only aircraft that could do the Vertical Photography for the Units. Finally after the Ex they were replaced with Mustangs equipped to do the job......

Most Tomahawks after this time were either being stored at MU's or were being used by BDF's for various OTU's.....some pictures exist of these aircraft, but not many......

Next to Kittyhawks, all Kittyhawks in the UK had by this time been written off or were Instructional Airframes (all before Jan 1944), this includes both the P-40E-1, H-87A series and the P-40F.

Hope this helps somewhat..


Ref: Sqdn ORB,s, RAF Form1178, RAF Form78, RAF Form414....

Buz

[JDK]

Thanks Buz! Detailed as always.

Why am I thinking of a painting to get the questions going? - Tomahawks vs Fw 190s...

[ColFord]

Thanks Buz, you nailed it in one!

I await the day when you turn all that great research into the book on the top of my list to buy when published.

Hope the relocation has gone smoothly.

Regards,

[The Inspector]

JDK,
That would make one heck of paperback book cover--------------