1/72 IXO Models (PIXJ00021) Curtiss P40N Warhawk (660 / P-11461) "Boss's Hoss" flown by Lt.Col. W.N.Reed (Ace w/7 Jap Kills) with "Flying Tigers" A.V.G. Nationalist Chinese Air Force (Limited Edition)

The Curtiss P-40 was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. It was used by the air forces of 28 nations, including those of most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in front line service until the end of the war. By November 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36; this reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational service. Warhawk was the name the United States Army Air Corps adopted for all models, making it the official name in the United States for all P-40s. The British Commonwealth and Soviet air forces used the name Tomahawk for models equivalent to the P-40B and P-40C, and the name Kittyhawk for models equivalent to the P-40D and all later variants. P-40s first saw combat with the British Commonwealth squadrons of the Desert Air Force (DAF) in the Middle East and North African campaigns, during June 1941. The Royal Air Force's No. 112 Squadron was among the first to operate Tomahawks, in North Africa, and the unit was the first to feature the "shark mouth" logo, copying similar markings on some Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engine fighters. The logo was most famously used on P-40s by the Flying Tigers in China.

Curtiss P-40N Warhawk

Designed to meet a USAAC requirement for a pursuit aircraft, the P-40 Warhawk was first flown on October 14th, 1938. This aircraft was tough, virtually trouble-free and saw continual improvements to arms, armor and engines. The P-40 served in numerous combat areas; often outclassed by its adversaries in speed, maneuverability and rate of climb, it earned a reputation for extreme ruggedness. Its strong construction, heavy firepower, and ability to dive enabled it to compete with enemy fighters, and it was a formidable ground-attack aircraft. P-40s were also flown by the famed Flying Tigers against the Japanese in China.

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William Norman Reed
Nickname	"Bill"
Born	January 8, 1917 Stone City, Iowa, U.S.
Died	December 19, 1944 (aged 27) China
Buried	Anamosa, Iowa
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Corps Flying Tigers United States Army Air Forces
Service years	1940 1941–1942 1943–1944
Rank	Second lieutenant Flight leader Lieutenant colonel
Commands	3rd Fighter Group, Fourteenth Air Force
Awards	Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross with two or three Oak Leaf Clusters Air Medal with nine gold stars

William Norman Reed (January 8, 1917 – December 19, 1944) was a World War II fighter pilot, first with the Flying Tigers, then with the Chinese-American Composite Wing, Fourteenth Air Force, United States Army Air Forces. He is credited with nine aerial victories (three with the Tigers, six with the Army), making him an ace.

Early life

Born in Stone City, Iowa, William Reed, commonly called "Bill", grew up in Marion. He graduated from Marion High School in 1935 and cum laude from Loras College in Dubuque in 1939.^[1]

Military service

In February 1940, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and was commissioned a second lieutenant.^[1][2] He served as a flight instructor at Barksdale Field in Louisiana.^[1]

He joined the Flying Tigers (with the unofficial permission of the American government, which guaranteed he would retain his rank on his return), serving under Claire Chennault. He and other Flying Tigers recruits sailed for Burma from San Francisco aboard the Dutch merchant ship Bloemfontein on July 21, 1941.

He flew 75 missions with the 3rd Squadron (the "Hell's Angels"), and was credited with three confirmed victories in the air between December 23 and 25, 1941.^[1] He and Kenneth Jernstedt shared credit for a further 15 airplanes destroyed on the ground on a single mission in March 1942. The Flying Tigers were paid a $500 bonus for every enemy aircraft destroyed, so he received 10.5 bonuses.^[3]

After the Tigers were disbanded on July 4, 1942, Reed returned home to Marion, where he embarked on war bond drives. However, he re-enlisted and was commissioned a major in the Army Air Forces in February 1943.^[1][4] He returned to China, joining the Fourteenth Air Force, which was led by Claire Chennault, his old Flying Tigers commander. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel at some point and was placed in command of the 3rd Fighter Group.^[1]

Reed flew his last mission on December 19, 1944. His airplane was either badly shot up^[5] or ran out of fuel.^[6] He bailed out, but apparently struck his head on the tail section and did not open his parachute. His body was recovered, and he was interred in Anamosa, Iowa.^[1]

Awards and honors

He was awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two or three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with nine gold stars, and other medals.^[1][7]

He was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame in 1997.^[8]

A full-scale replica of a Curtiss P-40B fighter, painted with the same markings as the one flown by Reed, was installed at the Iowa Gold Star Museum in October 2012.^[9][10]