VVS use of P-40 F and L models?

[Troy Smith]

Hmm, wiki says that the VVS received some F and L models

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_P-40_Warhawk_variants#P-40F_.2F_P-40L_.2F_Kittyhawk_Mk_II_and_Kittyhawk_Mk_IIa

Major Operators

    USAAF (1943) Operation Torch, Mediterranean Theater; South-West Pacific Theater[8]
    VVS (1943)
    Free French Air Force (1943) Mediterranean Theater

but I have never seen a photo of one in VVS use.

a scroll through that other great bastion of accuracy Wings Pallette, has nothing http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/375/1/0

anyone know more?

thanks
T

[Seawinder]

The old In Action book has the following on page 22 with reference to the P-40F:

"Although RAF serials FL219 to FL368 were assigned, none of these reached the RAF itself. Some were turned over to the Free French to form the Lafayette Escadrille for service in North Africa, others went on to Russia and a few were returned to the USAAF."

There's no mention in the book of L's going to the Russians, but that paragraph doesn't have much in it anyway.

Cheers,
Pip

[KL]

The question is interesting...  
I did some internet search and checked my large library and it looks that VVS didn't receive a single Merlin engined P-40.

this web-page says that 100 P-40F were delivered to SSSR: http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/p40f.html
information probably originates from 1996 Крылья-дайджест. Выпуск 2 - Истребитель Р-40



i am sure you know how to download the scan...   http://depositfiles.com/files/uxoa64xp5

Valeriy Romanenko mentions P-40Ls in Czech MBI P-40 publications. P-40Ls are included among other P-40 types delivered in 1942 and 1943, but no exact numbers by type.  Romanenko's text deals mainly with the operational use and there he doesn't mention any P-40Ls in VVS or VMF service...  



Nothing about P-40F/L in later, more reliable sources: nothing in "Amerikanci v Rusii", nothing in "Air Arsenal North America"



   

HTH,
KL

[JP]

I certainly never came across anything on the F/L in my research.