P-40 SHIRLEY AND THE HAWK

“P-40 Shirley and the hawk”

This is a very simple but effective scene that speaks for itself. “Shirley”, in the title, is the Japanese twin engine bomber that has just been shot down. Most Japanese aircraft in World War II were nick-named by the American pilots. Certain other Japanese planes were called “Betty”, “Jake”, “Zeke”, etc

The “Hawk”, referred to in the title, is the aircraft in the foreground and is better known as the P-40 Warhawk (“P-” for pursuit, “40” for design acceptance number). This fighter aircraft was built by the Curtis Aircraft Corporation in the earlier years of World War II. Most clients should be able to relate to this aircraft by the movie “Flying Tigers”, with John Wayne in the starring role.