S-H-A-R-K-M-O-U-T-H !
SHARKMOUTH aviation noseart has been around since WW1 through the present, -boldly-festooning numerous types of military & civilian aircraft w/its' intimidating & aggressive flair. Sharkmouths have also found their way onto the business end of boats & vehicles over the years as well, since their original advent.
Certainly, the most-common use of the Sharkmouth motif, has been for adorning the noses of fighter aircraft, particularly the WW2 Curtiss P-40, w/its' distinctive shark-nosed contours being perfect for adaptation of these fiercesome examples of design art. Mid-East & N. Africa-based R.A.F. 112 Sqdn chose the Sharkmouth to emblazon its' Tomahawks & Kittyhawks-gaining popular appeal via news publications reporting on the war effort. That publicity in-turn inspired the use of the Sharkmouth elsewhere on other fronts, by both friend & foe alike.
But without any doubt, it was via the RAF-style Sharkmouth's subsequent imitation in the Far East by Gen. Claire Chennault's legendary- A.V.G./'Flying Tigers' as unit-standard decoration for all 3 of the Group's pursuit squadrons of P-40 Tomahawks & Warhawks, that this distinctive noseart gained its' historic status as one of WW2's most-recognized iconic symbols.
Today, most of the surviving Curtiss P-40s- flying or residing in museums on static display, incorporate Sharkmouth noseart in many versions for their paint schemes, w/various degrees of authenticity. Here's a sample photo gallery of a few finer examples of these P-40s, -mixing archive photos w/contemporary examples, to celebrate the ever-popular:
"S-H-A-R-K-M-O-U-T-H"!
DBD
Photos (L-R/Top to bottom):
1-2. Tony Banta's P-40E (AK940/RCAF#1058/15411) at '09 Chino POF Airshow well-represents the classic USAAF OD/Neutral Gray Sharkmouth Warhawk, & always draws lots of fan attention while on display. In the air, this P-40 is truly-exciting to watch & its' inflight form is unmistakable as one of WW2's great air combat pursuit planes.
3. Pictured here at the USN National Museum of Naval Aviation last Jan. '09, -this P-40C/Tomahawk IIb (AK255/14737) was retrieved from a Russian crash site in 1990, restored, & put on display as a tribute to the A.V.G. Flying Tigers. (Just standing next to this bird generates ear-to-ear Sharkmouth grins!
4-5. Flying Tigers' Tomahawk history really 'ROARS' today, with this airworthy & flying P-40C example (41-13390/16194) from Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection museum at Paine Field, Wa. FHC chief pilot- John Penney (yes-Rare Bear's skipper) fires up the Tomahawk's Allison V-12 in prep for some demo practice last May '09 prior to start of FHC's summer 'Fly-Days'. This rare bird also came from a Russian crash site in '92 & was restored by Fighter Rebuilder's in Chino to become the first flying Tomahawk restoration & was 'diverted' from U.K. delivery. (Never thought I'd live to see a Tomahawk P-40 in a museum, let alone fly. Today there are two flying, w/more under restoration!)
6-9. Chino, Ca.-9/24/83: Four shots capturing P-40E (AK979/RCAF#1064/18723) getting ready to depart following a visit to Chino. Then owned by Flying Tiger Line/Tiger Int'l.-Los Angeles, & painted-up as A.V.G. Ace- Robert Prescott's bird-#67 (5.5 air vic), the plane was subsequently loaned to the San Diego Aerospace Museum for indoor static display. Flying Tigers' history REALLY still flies here! -Note the 'personalized' elevators bearing actual signatures of surviving A.V.G. veteran pilots and ground support crewmen. Ace's signatures include (w/air vic noted): David "Tex" Hill (10.25), Robert "Duke" Hedman (6), Chuck Older (10), Dick Rossi (6) & R. T. Smith (8.9).
10. The Confederate Air Force HQ-based (Harlingen/Midland, TX.) P-40N (42-105867/RCAF#867/29629) seen taxiing-out at the '94 Phoenix 500 Air Races/Williams Gateway Airport, AZ., is painted as an A.V.G. 'Panda Bears' Sqdn pursuit ship. This P-40 is currently registered to American Airpower Flying Heritage Museum in Midland, TX.
11-13. Sneak Attack! -The Paul Family's venerable & beautiful P-40E (AK933/15404) has long worn RAF desert camo colors of SU-E, & has thrilled many thousands of airshow & air racing fans over the years. Her Sharkmouth art continues to be one of the best S-M renditions to be seen on contemporary flying P-40s. These shots were taken at Reno '09, racing as #18 by pilots-John Maloney & John-Curtiss Paul. (The pylon angle closeup view wasn't something an enemy pilot cared to see coming up on his tail!)
14-16. Tony Banta's P-40E seen again at Chino '09 POF Airshow taking-off & conducting fly-pasts for the crowd, -displays its' classic WW2 Warhawk profile & wing design planform & true 'hawk appearance'.
17-19. Planes of Fame's P-40N (42-105192/RCAF#858/28954) has worn Sharkmouth art off & on over the years. These Chino '09 Airshow pics captures her wearing striking new 325th FG "Checkertail Clan" WW2-MTO colors w/Sharkmouth.
20. A truly rare & magnificent sight of a trio of Curtiss P-40s making a formation fly-over at the Chino '09 annual flying warbird extravaganza- two Sharkmouths joined by the Paul Family's P-40N 'Parrot Head' (42-106396/RCAF#880/30158). What a treat to behold (& hear) for any warbird lover!!!
Certainly, the most-common use of the Sharkmouth motif, has been for adorning the noses of fighter aircraft, particularly the WW2 Curtiss P-40, w/its' distinctive shark-nosed contours being perfect for adaptation of these fiercesome examples of design art. Mid-East & N. Africa-based R.A.F. 112 Sqdn chose the Sharkmouth to emblazon its' Tomahawks & Kittyhawks-gaining popular appeal via news publications reporting on the war effort. That publicity in-turn inspired the use of the Sharkmouth elsewhere on other fronts, by both friend & foe alike.
But without any doubt, it was via the RAF-style Sharkmouth's subsequent imitation in the Far East by Gen. Claire Chennault's legendary- A.V.G./'Flying Tigers' as unit-standard decoration for all 3 of the Group's pursuit squadrons of P-40 Tomahawks & Warhawks, that this distinctive noseart gained its' historic status as one of WW2's most-recognized iconic symbols.
Today, most of the surviving Curtiss P-40s- flying or residing in museums on static display, incorporate Sharkmouth noseart in many versions for their paint schemes, w/various degrees of authenticity. Here's a sample photo gallery of a few finer examples of these P-40s, -mixing archive photos w/contemporary examples, to celebrate the ever-popular:
"S-H-A-R-K-M-O-U-T-H"!
DBDPhotos (L-R/Top to bottom):
1-2. Tony Banta's P-40E (AK940/RCAF#1058/15411) at '09 Chino POF Airshow well-represents the classic USAAF OD/Neutral Gray Sharkmouth Warhawk, & always draws lots of fan attention while on display. In the air, this P-40 is truly-exciting to watch & its' inflight form is unmistakable as one of WW2's great air combat pursuit planes.
3. Pictured here at the USN National Museum of Naval Aviation last Jan. '09, -this P-40C/Tomahawk IIb (AK255/14737) was retrieved from a Russian crash site in 1990, restored, & put on display as a tribute to the A.V.G. Flying Tigers. (Just standing next to this bird generates ear-to-ear Sharkmouth grins!
4-5. Flying Tigers' Tomahawk history really 'ROARS' today, with this airworthy & flying P-40C example (41-13390/16194) from Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection museum at Paine Field, Wa. FHC chief pilot- John Penney (yes-Rare Bear's skipper) fires up the Tomahawk's Allison V-12 in prep for some demo practice last May '09 prior to start of FHC's summer 'Fly-Days'. This rare bird also came from a Russian crash site in '92 & was restored by Fighter Rebuilder's in Chino to become the first flying Tomahawk restoration & was 'diverted' from U.K. delivery. (Never thought I'd live to see a Tomahawk P-40 in a museum, let alone fly. Today there are two flying, w/more under restoration!)
6-9. Chino, Ca.-9/24/83: Four shots capturing P-40E (AK979/RCAF#1064/18723) getting ready to depart following a visit to Chino. Then owned by Flying Tiger Line/Tiger Int'l.-Los Angeles, & painted-up as A.V.G. Ace- Robert Prescott's bird-#67 (5.5 air vic), the plane was subsequently loaned to the San Diego Aerospace Museum for indoor static display. Flying Tigers' history REALLY still flies here! -Note the 'personalized' elevators bearing actual signatures of surviving A.V.G. veteran pilots and ground support crewmen. Ace's signatures include (w/air vic noted): David "Tex" Hill (10.25), Robert "Duke" Hedman (6), Chuck Older (10), Dick Rossi (6) & R. T. Smith (8.9).
10. The Confederate Air Force HQ-based (Harlingen/Midland, TX.) P-40N (42-105867/RCAF#867/29629) seen taxiing-out at the '94 Phoenix 500 Air Races/Williams Gateway Airport, AZ., is painted as an A.V.G. 'Panda Bears' Sqdn pursuit ship. This P-40 is currently registered to American Airpower Flying Heritage Museum in Midland, TX.
11-13. Sneak Attack! -The Paul Family's venerable & beautiful P-40E (AK933/15404) has long worn RAF desert camo colors of SU-E, & has thrilled many thousands of airshow & air racing fans over the years. Her Sharkmouth art continues to be one of the best S-M renditions to be seen on contemporary flying P-40s. These shots were taken at Reno '09, racing as #18 by pilots-John Maloney & John-Curtiss Paul. (The pylon angle closeup view wasn't something an enemy pilot cared to see coming up on his tail!)
14-16. Tony Banta's P-40E seen again at Chino '09 POF Airshow taking-off & conducting fly-pasts for the crowd, -displays its' classic WW2 Warhawk profile & wing design planform & true 'hawk appearance'.
17-19. Planes of Fame's P-40N (42-105192/RCAF#858/28954) has worn Sharkmouth art off & on over the years. These Chino '09 Airshow pics captures her wearing striking new 325th FG "Checkertail Clan" WW2-MTO colors w/Sharkmouth.
20. A truly rare & magnificent sight of a trio of Curtiss P-40s making a formation fly-over at the Chino '09 annual flying warbird extravaganza- two Sharkmouths joined by the Paul Family's P-40N 'Parrot Head' (42-106396/RCAF#880/30158). What a treat to behold (& hear) for any warbird lover!!!
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