Original art print of a Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk single-engined fighter-bomber, in the colours of No. 112 (Shark) Squadron RAF. The Curtiss P-40, known as the Warhawk in the United States where it was developed, was operated by a number of Allied air forces throughout the Second World War. In British service, it was known as the Tomahawk up to the P-40C, and the Kittyhawk from the P-40D onwards. No. 112 Squadron was the first Allied squadron to adopt the iconic shark-nose art on its P-40s, which would go on to become ubiquitous among P-40 squadrons.
Depicted in this illustration is Kittyhawk GA-Y (AK772), as piloted by Flt Lt Feliks Gazda. Gazda was one of nine Polish Air Force pilots who served with No. 112 Squadron RAF in North Africa, based at RAF Gambut in Libya. The Polish pilots spent seven months with the squadron, from February to September 1942; a temporary attachment to help offset heavy losses. During this time, they flew around 140 combat sorties, scoring air-to-air victories against Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica aircraft, and carrying out ground-attack missions against Axis vehicles. Gazda would survive the war and retire from the Polish Air Force at the rank of Major, with medals including the Cross of Valour. He eventually moved to Canada, where he lived until his death at the age of 67 in 1970.
The illustration was produced in partnership with the Polish Heritage Flight, which honours the memory of the Polish pilots who served with the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. You can learn more about them and their mission here.
This Kittyhawk illustration by Rob Wisdom is a high quality Giclée art print on cotton-rich fine art paper.
12x16" art print shown. Cropping and title position (if applicable) may differ slightly on 'A' size art prints.
