Airplane USAF Curtiss P40E Warhawk Flying Tigers WWII 11" Wood Model Aircraft  This collectable model P-40 Warhawk represents one of the early fighters with which U.S. forces faced the Japanese in World War II. Renowned as a tough aircraft and bearing one of the iconic paint schemes of the war, this 1/48-scale model P-40 Warhawk makes a great pilot gift or a present for any veteran, aviation enthusiast or history buff. Design work on the P-40 began in 1937, but numerous experimental versions were tested and refined before service deliveries began in September 1940. P-40s first saw wartime service with the British Commonwealth squadrons of the Desert Air Force in August 1941. Unable to outperform the top Japanese and German fighters of the day, the Warhawk's tough build and good diving performance made it an effective warfighter. In 1941, the American Volunteer Group the Flying Tigers began combat operations in China against Japanese forces. In little more than six months, the Tigers shot down 229 Japanese aircraft and destroyed scores more on the ground. The P-40 saw service worldwide in World War II before being replaced by more modern fighters.