Curtiss P-40 Warhawk 11456 in flight with shark mouth nose art. WWII fighter aircraft photo by Stuart H. Bourne.
© Stuart H Bourne / Quality Aviation Photos International
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk 11456 captured in mid-flight just above the runway, featuring the iconic shark mouth nose art and U.S. Army Air Forces insignia. This archival image by Stuart H. Bourne showcases the aircraft with landing gear extended, suggesting a takeoff or landing sequence against a backdrop of green trees and clear skies.
The P-40 Warhawk was the third most-produced American fighter of World War II, with over 13,700 units built between 1939 and 1944. Developed from the Curtiss P-36 Hawk, the P-40 featured a liquid-cooled Allison V-1710 V-12 engine and was known for its ruggedness and ground-attack capability. Though outperformed at high altitudes, it excelled in low-level combat and was flown by Allied forces across North Africa, the Pacific, and China.
Tail number 11456 is believed to be a restored airframe operated by a civilian warbird foundation, painted in tribute to the Flying Tigers—the American Volunteer Group that famously flew shark-faced P-40s in China. The aircraft is currently based in the United Kingdom, appearing at airshows and heritage events.
