Editing Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (section)

====China Burma India Theater====

USAAF and Chinese P-40 pilots performed well in this theater against many Japanese types such as the Ki-43, [[Nakajima Ki-44]] "Tojo" and the Zero. The P-40 remained in use in the [[China Burma India Theater]] (CBI) until 1944 and was reportedly preferred over the P-51 Mustang by some US pilots flying in China. The American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) was integrated into the USAAF as the [[23rd Fighter Group]] in June 1942. The unit continued to fly newer model P-40s until 1944, achieving a high kill-to-loss ratio.<ref name="P40CBI"/><ref>{{cite web |title=23 Fighter Group (ACC) |url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1230891/23-fighter-group-acc/ |website=Air Force Historical Research Agency |access-date=28 September 2023}}</ref>
In the Battle of the Salween River Gorge of May 1942 the AVG used the P-40E model equipped with wing racks that could carry six 35-pound fragmentation bombs and Chennault's armorer developed belly racks to carry Russian 570-pound bombs, which the Chinese had in large quantity.<ref>Schultz, Duane. 1987. The Maverick War, Chennault and the Flying Tigers. St. Martin's Press</ref>

Units arriving in the CBI after the AVG in the 10th and 14th Air Forces continued to perform well with the P-40, [[Confirmation and overclaiming of aerial victories|claiming]] 973 kills in the theater, or 64.8 percent of all enemy aircraft shot down. Aviation historian Carl Molesworth stated that "...the P-40 simply dominated the skies over Burma and China. They were able to establish air superiority over free China, northern Burma and the Assam valley of India in 1942, and they never relinquished it."<ref name="Molesworth 2000, p.6">Moleseworth 2000, page 6</ref> The 3rd, 5th, 23rd, 51st and 80th FGs, along with the 10th TRS, operated the P-40 in the CBI.{{refn|Although part of the US 14th AF, the P-40s of 3rd and 5th FGs of the Chinese American Composite Wing were flown by both American and Chinese pilots.<ref name="P40CBI"/>|group=N}} CBI P-40 pilots used the aircraft very effectively as a fighter-bomber. The [[80th Flying Training Wing|80th Fighter Group]] in particular used its so-called ''B-40'' (P-40s carrying 1,000-pound high-explosive bombs) to destroy bridges and kill bridge repair crews, sometimes demolishing their target with one bomb.<ref>"Playing Large Part in Burma Fighting Against Japs". ''CBI Roundup'', Vol. II, No. 32, 20 April 1944.</ref> At least 40 US pilots reached ace status while flying the P-40 in the CBI.