Hi Guys
To try and get this one cleared up for all.....
Firstly the P-40's lent to the US were all back to the RAF by Mid 1944.....
As for the Tomahawk, they had flown numerous sorties over Franch and the Low countries (I know the books all say single un-auhorised sortie...blah...blah...blah....totally incorrect), as 239Sqdn were operational from Sep 1941, next was 26 Sqdn, as were 400Sqdn (lost two Tomahawks to Fw190's of JG2 during Dec 1941), 268Sqdn Operational over Low countries as well. 171 was operational for a short period during 1943. The aircraft used were Tomahawk I and IIA aircraft.....and the sorties flown anything from De-Lousing Rhurbarbs, Shipping Recce, Spotting for Dover Guns, as well as Armed Recce.......
The Tomahawks continued in offensive Ops until Apr 1942, however 171 flew standing patrols and Scrambles during 1943 (if you need more I can get the dates)......that covers the Army Co-Op side of things
As for Fighter Command 403Sqdn went Operational on the Tomahawk during early 1941, but this did not last long and I have yet to find any operational sorties for these aircraft (need to find a good copy of 403Sqdn ORB....any helpers out there that can provide???)....
The Tomahawks were gradually replaced starting in late Mar 1942, with Mustangs, however were still around the Army Co-Op units until after Ex Spartan in Mid 1943, as they were the only aircraft that could do the Vertical Photography for the Units. Finally after the Ex they were replaced with Mustangs equipped to do the job......
Most Tomahawks after this time were either being stored at MU's or were being used by BDF's for various OTU's.....some pictures exist of these aircraft, but not many......
Next to Kittyhawks, all Kittyhawks in the UK had by this time been written off or were Instructional Airframes (all before Jan 1944), this includes both the P-40E-1, H-87A series and the P-40F.
Hope this helps somewhat..
Ref: Sqdn ORB,s, RAF Form1178, RAF Form78, RAF Form414....
Buz
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