The P40 was still a first line fighter in the CBI and came out with a pretty spotty reputation at first. Over time, some of the P40 pilots were heard and it wasnt such a bad thing to be using. Whether or not a particular aircraft stays useful really depends on what its asked to do. Obviously, the P40 never was a high altitude aircraft, but thats because of the thinking of the high command and the role it was expected to fullfill. It also didnt have the range of the later aircraft.
If the ME109 and Spitfire had been forced to be long range escorts instead of the interceptors they were, I doubt if their legacy would have been as great. Thats not to damn either one of those magnificent aircraft, but to show the differences between the thought behind their development.
If the ME109 and Spitfire had been forced to be long range escorts instead of the interceptors they were, I doubt if their legacy would have been as great. Thats not to damn either one of those magnificent aircraft, but to show the differences between the thought behind their development.
