Editing Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (section)

===Royal Australian Air Force===
[[File:AWM 026647 P-40 Milne.jpg|thumb|P-40E-1 piloted by the ace [[Keith Truscott|Keith "Bluey" Truscott]], commander of [[No. 76 Squadron RAAF]], taxis along [[Marston Matting]] at [[Milne Bay]], [[New Guinea]] in September 1942]]
[[File:P02808.001 P-40 Black Magic.jpg|thumb|P-40N-15 "Black Magic", <br />[[No. 78 Squadron RAAF]] <br />[[Flight Lieutenant|F/L]] Denis Baker scored the RAAF's last aerial victory [[New Guinea campaign|over New Guinea]] in this fighter on 10 June 1944. It was later flown by [[Warrant Officer|W/O]] [[Len Waters]]. Note the dark blue tip on the [[Vertical stabilizer|tailfin]] used to identify [[No. 78 Squadron RAAF|78 Squadron]].]]

The Kittyhawk was the main fighter used by the RAAF in World War II, in greater numbers than the Spitfire. Two RAAF squadrons serving with the Desert Air Force, [[No. 3 Squadron RAAF|No. 3]] and [[No. 450 Squadron RAAF|No. 450 Squadron]]s, were the first Australian units to be assigned P-40s. Other RAAF pilots served with RAF or SAAF P-40 squadrons in the theater.

Many RAAF pilots achieved high scores in the P-40. At least five reached "double ace" status: [[Clive Caldwell]], [[Nicky Barr]], [[John Lloyd Waddy|John Waddy]], [[Bob Whittle]] (11 kills each) and [[Bobby Gibbes]] (10 kills) in the Middle East, North African and/or [[New Guinea campaign]]s. In all, 18 RAAF pilots became aces while flying P-40s.<ref name="P40RAF"/>

Nicky Barr, like many Australian pilots, considered the P-40 a reliable mount: "The Kittyhawk became, to me, a friend. It was quite capable of getting you out of trouble more often than not. It was a real warhorse."<ref name="Nicky Barr quiet Soldier">Barr, Nicky. [https://archive.today/20020817101037/http://www.abc.net.au/austory/transcripts/s513633.htm "Interview Transcript".] ''ABC Australia''. Retrieved: 8 November 2007.</ref>

At the same time as the heaviest fighting in North Africa, the [[Pacific War]] was also in its early stages, and RAAF units in Australia were completely lacking in suitable fighter aircraft. Spitfire production was being absorbed by the war in Europe; P-38s were trialled, but were difficult to obtain; Mustangs had not yet reached squadrons anywhere, and Australia's tiny and inexperienced aircraft industry was geared towards larger aircraft. USAAF P-40s and their pilots originally intended for the [[United States Far East Air Force|US Far East Air Force]] in the Philippines, but diverted to Australia as a result of Japanese naval activity were the first suitable fighter aircraft to arrive in substantial numbers. By mid-1942, the RAAF was able to obtain some USAAF replacement shipments.

RAAF Kittyhawks played a crucial role in the [[South West Pacific theater of World War II|South West Pacific theater]]. They fought on the front line as fighters during the critical early years of the Pacific War, and the durability and bomb-carrying abilities (1,000&nbsp;lb/454&nbsp;kg) of the P-40 also made it ideal for the ground attack role. During the [[Battle of Port Moresby]] RAAF [[No. 75 Squadron RAAF|75]] destroyed or damaged some 33 Japanese aircraft of various types, with another 30 probables.<ref>44 days, 75 Squadron and the Battle for Australia, Michael Veitch, Hachette Australia; 1st edition (25 July 2017), {{ISBN|978-0733638817}}, pp 15</ref> General [[Henry H. Arnold]] said of No 75 squadron: "Victory in the entire air war against Japan can be traced back to the actions which took place from that dusty strip at Port Moresby in early 1942."<ref>44 days, 75 Squadron and the Battle for Australia, Michael Veitch, Hachette Australia; 1st edition (25 July 2017), {{ISBN|978-0733638817}}, pp 371</ref> For example, [[No. 75 Squadron RAAF|75]], and [[No. 76 Squadron RAAF|76]] Squadrons played a critical role during the [[Battle of Milne Bay]],<ref>[http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/asfaras/milnebay.html "Australia's War 1939–1945".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909034841/http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/asfaras/milnebay.html |date=9 September 2006 }} ''Official Australian Government, Department of Veterans Affairs''. Retrieved: 8 January 2007.</ref><ref>Pentland 1974, pp. 27–39.</ref> fending off Japanese aircraft and providing effective close air support for the Australian infantry, negating the initial Japanese advantage in light tanks and sea power. The Kittyhawks fired "nearly 200,000 rounds of half-inch ammunition" during the course of the battle.<ref>Turning Point: The Battle for Milne Bay 1942 - Japan's first land defeat in World War II, Michael Veitch, Hachette Australia; 1st edition (23 July 2019), {{ISBN|978-0733640551}}, pp 325</ref>

The RAAF units that most used Kittyhawks in the South West Pacific were 75, 76, [[No. 77 Squadron RAAF|77]], [[No. 78 Squadron RAAF|78]], [[No. 80 Squadron RAAF|80]], [[No. 82 Squadron RAAF|82]], [[No. 84 Squadron RAAF|84]] and [[No. 86 Squadron RAAF|86]] Squadrons. These squadrons saw action mostly in the New Guinea and [[Borneo campaign (1945)|Borneo campaigns]].

Late in 1945, RAAF fighter squadrons in the South West Pacific began converting to P-51Ds. However, Kittyhawks were in use with the RAAF until the end of the war, in Borneo. In all, the RAAF acquired 841 Kittyhawks (not counting the British-ordered examples used in North Africa), including 163 P-40E, 42 P-40K, 90 P-40 M and 553 P-40N models.<ref>[http://www.defence.gov.au/RAAF/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series2/A29.htm RAAF Museum, 2007, "A29 Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk".] ''defence.gov.au''. Retrieved: 1 August 2007.</ref> In addition, the RAAF ordered 67 Kittyhawks for use by [[No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron]] (a joint Australian-[[Netherlands|Dutch]] unit in the South West Pacific). The P-40 was retired by the RAAF in 1947.