105 Kawasaki Ki-45 Nick

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Publisher: Profile Publications England
Cover: Soft
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Synopsis: The Curtiss P-40E Warhawk represents America's primary fighter aircraft during the critical early years of World War II, serving as a dependable workhorse that bridged the gap between pre-war designs and the advanced fighters that would dominate later combat operations. This comprehensive profile examines the development of this rugged fighter, evolved from the earlier P-36 Hawk through the installation of the Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engine, creating an aircraft that would serve with distinction across every theater of World War II despite performance limitations compared to contemporary enemy fighters. The book details the P-40E's design characteristics optimized for low-to-medium altitude performance: powered by an Allison V-1710-39 engine producing 1,150 horsepower, achieving maximum speed of 362 mph at 15,000 feet, with exceptional dive performance and robust construction that enabled survival of extensive combat damage. Technical analysis reveals the aircraft's strengths in durability and firepower, featuring six .50 caliber Browning machine guns with excellent reliability and devastating effectiveness against both aerial and ground targets. The profile examines the aircraft's limitations including poor high-altitude performance due to the single-stage supercharged engine, limited climb rate compared to German and Japanese fighters, and tactical restrictions that required careful operational planning to maximize effectiveness. Operational history chronicles the P-40E's service with the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) in China, where Claire Chennault's tactical innovations demonstrated how P-40 pilots could successfully engage superior-performing Japanese fighters through energy fighting techniques and disciplined formation tactics. The book covers major Pacific operations including the defense of the Philippines, Dutch East Indies, and Australia, where P-40 units provided crucial air defense during the desperate early months following Pearl Harbor. Combat accounts detail engagements with Zero fighters, revealing how P-40 pilots used superior diving speed and defensive tactics to overcome maneuverability disadvantages. North African operations receive extensive coverage, analyzing the P-40's effectiveness in desert warfare where the aircraft's durability and ground-attack capabilities proved invaluable in supporting Allied ground operations against Rommel's Afrika Korps. The profile examines various sub-variants including the P-40E-1 with improved armor protection, tropical versions equipped for desert operations, and specialized ground-attack configurations with additional armor and bomb-carrying capability. Lend-Lease operations are covered extensively, detailing the aircraft's service with British, Soviet, and Commonwealth air forces where P-40s provided crucial fighter capabilities during critical periods of the war. Technical sections analyze maintenance procedures, tropical modifications required for operations in challenging climates, and pilot training programs that emphasized the aircraft's specific operational characteristics and tactical limitations. The book features notable P-40 aces including Nicky Barr, Clive Caldwell, and other pilots who achieved remarkable success despite flying an aircraft often outperformed by enemy fighters through superior tactics and aggressive flying. Combat statistics reveal that P-40 pilots achieved favorable kill ratios in most theaters through disciplined application of appropriate tactics, contradicting popular perceptions of the aircraft as inferior to contemporary fighters. Production details show over 13,738 P-40s of all variants manufactured, making it America's third most produced fighter and demonstrating the aircraft's importance in bridging the crucial gap between pre-war and advanced wartime fighter designs.

105 Kawasaki Ki-45 Nick, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.