Kittyhawks continued to play a major role throughout the remainder of the war in the Pacific equipping numerous RAAF squadrons. The Kittyhawks were the only effective RAAF fighters throughout the fighting art Port Moresby and Milne Bay in 1942, the critical period when the Japanese advance towards Australia was stopped. The first of these entered action with 75 Squadron at Port Moresby within two weeks. The first P-40s for service in the Pacific theatre were received by the RAAF from March 1942. The first machines were operated from 1941 in North Africa by 3 and 450 Squadrons RAAF. Nearly 850 P-40s were acquired for use by the RAAF and served with distinction during the Second World War. The airframe was manufactured primarily from aluminium although the control surfaces were fabric covered. The armament was six M2 0.50 inch calibre Browning machine guns, mounted in the wings. Note: the machine is currently fitted with an -81 model engine. The Curtiss P-40E fighter was a single-seat aircraft powered by a V-1710-39 Allison In-line liquid cooled engine.
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