While doing research for something entirely different, I saw this memo from a Major A. J. Lyon (War Department, Materiel Division) to a Lieutenant whose name I don't recognize, dated 21 May 1940, summarizing tests between a P-40 and a Spitfire, subtypes not given in either case. I hadn't seen this particular report on those tests before and thought I'd share it here.
P-40 vs Spitfire tests 1940
- Thread starter OldGeezer
- Start date
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OK - Sometime before May 1940, 2 position propeller on the Spitfire, a Spitfire I, most likely running at the original (87 Octane) ratings.
In that same timeframe, the only P-40 candidate is the original production P-40 (Not P-40B, C, or whatever). No Armor, no Self-Sealing tanks, no Drop Tank/Bomb rack, 2 synchronized .50 cal in the nose, no wing guns. With its Constant Speed prop, it's not surprising. No altitude testing, but an early Merlin didn't have much over a V1710-33 in power or altitude performance. The original P-40, with none of the increases in weight and drag that resulted as the lessons learned in 1940 were applied to the P-40B and P-40C, was, for the time, pretty hot. Not useful, though.
Geoffrey Sinclair
Staff Sergeant
- 1,003
- Sep 30, 2021
production page 002 Supermarine Spitfire I L1090 FF 24-8-39 36MU Sealand 29-8-39 shipped to USAAF Wright Field Dayton Ohio. Transfer to 1 Testing Centre RCAF Canada 5-40 returned to UK 1-8-40 to 3201M 14SoTT 13-5-44 CE 4-9-44. The aircraft card has an entry reading Ohio NY 21 September 1939 and the comment "America", if the USAAF memo is correct it was actually sent to Canada.
RCAF says on strength 19 February 1940 at 1 Aircraft Depot, in country for test purposes, arrived Ottawa 9 May, sent to depot 20 June, off strength 25 June.
The Spitfire should have been around 1,000 pounds lighter than the P-40, top speed peaking around 18,500 feet versus 15,000 feet for the P-40
Official P-40 production began in May 1940, 11 accepted by end of month, as of 20 May 1940 the USAAF had officially accepted,
XP-40 39-10, accepted 16 October 1938, arrived Wright that month, to Curtiss in January, to Wright in February, flying stopped in March, to Curtiss in April, flying resumed in January 1939, to Wright that month, flew 20 hours in May 1940
39-156 Accepted 30-Apr-40 Delivered 07-Jun-40 Sent to Wright (arrived with 9.1 hours flying time?)
39-157 Accepted 30-Apr-40 Delivered 29-May-40 Sent to Lowry (7 hours Curtiss, 6 hours USAAF by end May)
39-158 Accepted 30-Apr-40 Delivered 28-May-40 Sent to Chanute (7 hours Curtiss, 3 hours USAAF by end May)
39-159 Accepted 07-May-40 Delivered 15-May-40 Sent to Mitchel, New York World's Fair. (4 hours Curtiss, 3 hours USAAF by end May)
The question is which P-40, the memo implies it was at Ottawa. Three plus hours at economic cruise Dayton to Ottawa, say 7 hours round trip? Buffalo to Ottawa is under half the distance. Buffalo to Dayton would be around 90 minutes at economic cruise.
RCAF says on strength 19 February 1940 at 1 Aircraft Depot, in country for test purposes, arrived Ottawa 9 May, sent to depot 20 June, off strength 25 June.
The Spitfire should have been around 1,000 pounds lighter than the P-40, top speed peaking around 18,500 feet versus 15,000 feet for the P-40
Official P-40 production began in May 1940, 11 accepted by end of month, as of 20 May 1940 the USAAF had officially accepted,
XP-40 39-10, accepted 16 October 1938, arrived Wright that month, to Curtiss in January, to Wright in February, flying stopped in March, to Curtiss in April, flying resumed in January 1939, to Wright that month, flew 20 hours in May 1940
39-156 Accepted 30-Apr-40 Delivered 07-Jun-40 Sent to Wright (arrived with 9.1 hours flying time?)
39-157 Accepted 30-Apr-40 Delivered 29-May-40 Sent to Lowry (7 hours Curtiss, 6 hours USAAF by end May)
39-158 Accepted 30-Apr-40 Delivered 28-May-40 Sent to Chanute (7 hours Curtiss, 3 hours USAAF by end May)
39-159 Accepted 07-May-40 Delivered 15-May-40 Sent to Mitchel, New York World's Fair. (4 hours Curtiss, 3 hours USAAF by end May)
The question is which P-40, the memo implies it was at Ottawa. Three plus hours at economic cruise Dayton to Ottawa, say 7 hours round trip? Buffalo to Ottawa is under half the distance. Buffalo to Dayton would be around 90 minutes at economic cruise.
Out of curiosity: why these altitude figures?
Corresponding full-throttle height for Spitfire Mk I (about 18000 feet or slightly higher) and P-40 (about 15000 feet)
Yes, you are right.
Starting at time 7:00, Australian pilots discuss P-40E versus Spitfire.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5UP97oIZF0
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5UP97oIZF0
