The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was established in 1929. During the 1930s and 1940s the firm produced not only aircraft, but aircraft engines and propellers and became synonymous with the words 'Hawk', 'Shrike' and, to a lesser extent, 'Helldiver'... as many of the aircraft produced by the firm were so-named.

The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest US military aircraft contractor during World War II as well as the second largest US defense contractor, with contracts totalling $7.09 billion USD.

Many well-known aircraft were produced by Curtiss-Wright's Airplane Division, including the P-36 Mohawk, P-40 Warhawk, SB2C Helldiver and C-46 Commando. The P-40 Warhawk was undoubtedly the most famous aircraft produced by Curtiss and, although not the greatest performer of all US wartime fighter aircraft, it was pretty much all that was available in quantity when the country went to war. It served in every theater at one time or another, being used by the USA and most of its allies. And despite its so-called obsolescence, the P-40 established an outstanding combat record... often faring quite well against supposedly superior foes.

In addition to its impressive operational record, the P-40 was also instrumental in preparing thousands of fighter pilots for combat... being heavily utilized by advanced and operational training units in the USA. Although often destined to fly more advanced types in actual combat, many a pilot had his first taste of a truly high-performance fighter aircraft while sitting in the cockpit of a P-40.

The official production count for the P-40 seems to be a matter for debate. Most sources are in rough agreement that somewhere in the neighborhood of 13,735 to 13,740 were built. Some sources state that as many as 13,920 were built, which I find to be dubious. I am still trying to come up with the absolute correct number, which I currently believe to be 13,739. But regardless of the mostly minor discrepancies in various references regarding the production count, it is a fact that the Curtiss P-40 was built in numbers approaching 14,000... making it the third most produced US fighter of World War II after the P-47 and the P-51. It was to be the last of the production Hawks.

The P-40 was arguably the most well-known US fighter to the average American during the war and immediate post-war years. It may very well be that the P-40 is the most recognized WWII aircraft in the world, even today, if only because of its association with the American Volunteer Group in China... better known as the 'Flying Tigers'.

I intend to write a detailed history of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, as well as a history of the P-40. But until that happens I refer all interested parties to the following web pages...

The Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Curtiss-Wright Corporation: A Brief History

GLENN H. CURTISS - Founder of The American Aviation Industry