Curtiss P-40 Carrier Operations

[pampa14]

The Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) was the British-American invasion of French North Africa, specifically Morocco and Algeria, in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942. The Operation Torch was the first Allied amphibious operation of the war. The USS Chenango loaded and shipped 72 P-40F airplanes of the 33rd Fighter Group at Norfolk, VA, on 10-21-42. The carrier steamed for North Africa on 10-21-42. The P-40s were launched off of the carrier on 11-10-42 and established a base at the airport at Port Lyautey, French Morocco. On 01-19-43, The USS Ranger launched USAAF P-40 aircraft off Accra, Gold Coast to reinforce Allied forces fighting in North Africa. Some photos of P-40’s transport and operations onboard US Carriers, can be found in the link:


aviacaoemfloripa.blogspot.com.br/2011/02/curtiss-p-40-em-porta-avioes.html



Hope you enjoy and thanks for visiting!

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, great photos, and very interesting to read about this.

However, wasn't the Norwegian campaign in 1940 an amphibious landing by the British forces? and the Dieppe Raid carried out by British and Canadian forces pre-dates Torch too by three months. Maybe it should read the first "successful" Allied amphibious operation of the war.

[baz62]

Just as well this wasn't posted on April 1st..........Amazing what you learn and that they were the Merlin powered F Warhawks. Some very interesting photos and a model of one on a carrier deck would certainly raise some eyebrows!

[nuuumannn]

Fantastic images; Dave, I think he means the first joint Allied amphibious op of the war, with the Yanks and Brits, although the term 'carrier operations' is somewhat misleading; the aircraft were flown off the carriers, but did not land back on them again, they flew on to land bases, rather than carrying out 'operations' from the carriers, like the RAF Hurricanes and Spitfires from Argus and Wasp in support of Malta.

the 17th picture down shows an Allison engined P-40K; you can tell by the increased fin area and intake above the engine.

[steveh]

A neat link with some great photos. I was interested to see that these were catapaulted from the deck, presumably that mean special attachments for the catapault strops, these can be seen in one photo but not from an angle to be able to see exactly where they were attached too.
Steve.

[komata]

Fascinating photographs. Thank you for finding them and sharing them with us. The 'owner' of that site must have access to some 'interesting' sources.

What I personally find interesting is the variety of colour schemes that the P-40's are carrying. It seems as if one complete unit has'Desert Pink'as its 'colour of preference', yet others exhibits 'conventional' 'Green / Tan camouflage , while still others have the US flag prominently-displayed. I still haven't decided if the P-40's in the hangar are damaged or 'stored'. The machine nearest the photographer would seem to be in the former state, although it could just be a 'trick of the light'.
These photos and the markings the aircraft are carrying, are the sorts of things that would keep (very) dedicated P-40 modellers busy for years (decades?).

BTW: Although  I don't have access to the relevant records, may I suggest that there is at least one P-40K  in the collection of images?  Photo 17 (B/Air 246205) would seem to be of that mark; the extended fin and the top-of cowling intake seeming to confirm that this is the case.


Again, thanks.