Known for the distinctive sharkmouths decoration on their noses, P-40 fighters first saw combat in China during World War II.Their most common adversary was the Japanese Nakajima Ki-43, nicknamed Oscar. Carl Molesworth describes and explains the design and development of these two foes, the products of two vastly different philosophies of fighter design. The P-40 was heavily armed and sturdy with armor protection and self-sealing fuel tanks, but paid for this with the loss of speed and a sluggish performance at altitude. The Ki-43 was a rapier to the battleaxe P-40 and the Ki-43 was immensely nimble, though with less firepower and durability. This book examines these two different fighters, and the pilots who flew them over China, with an action-packed text, rare photographs and digital artwork.

Author Biography

Carl Molesworth is an editor and writer for Reed Elsevier. He has been researching and writing about fighter operations in World War 2 for more than 25 years. His seven previous titles include four books for Osprey, P-40 Warhawk Aces of the CBI, P-40 Warhawk Aces of the MTO, P-40 Warhawk Aces of the Pacific and Very Long Range P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War. In 2004, he won a Gold Award for his writing in the Trade Association Business Publications International's annual competition. The author lives in Mount Vernon, WA.