First appearing in 1941, the American fighter aircraft was considered fast, maneuverable and heavily armed. It served well early in WWII, particularly in Africa and the Pacific.
![DAYTON, Ohio -- Curtiss P-40E Warhawk at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)](https://brooksidepress.org/cartmell/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Curtiss_P-40E_Warhawk_2_USAF-1024x723.jpg)
As the war progressed, other higher performance fighter aircraft were introduced, among them the P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt, which replaced the P-40 in many front line squadrons. The P-40 still served well in the role of advanced trainers for Army pilots.
![Hells_Angels,_Flying_Tigers_1942](https://brooksidepress.org/cartmell/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Hells_Angels_Flying_Tigers_1942-1024x827.jpg)