The P-36 Hawk was an Average Fighter with a Heroic Reputation

The Curtiss Model 75 - the P-36 in US service - is an usual fighter. Despite being a modern monoplane it was already obsolete by the time the Second World War began. Even so, it was the best frontline fighter available to the Armee De L'Air during the Battle Of France and went on to defend Pearl Harbour in US service and Britain's Asian colonies when flying for the RAF. Oddly, it also served the Axis, flown by Vichy French, Finnish and even German pilots. This video is an hour long and even then there's probably more to be said about the Curtiss P-36 Hawk. I have to apologise about censoring the Finnish images of the Hawk. YouTube does not recognise the historical background the Finland's 1930s and 40s aircraft markings and therefore prevents me monetising the videos. References: Curiously, by far the best source on the P-36 Hawk is these three Polish monographs. The effort of translating them is the reason why this video appeared a year later than planned! Ryś, M. (2000).Curtiss P-36 Hawk cz. 1 (Monografie Lotnicze 61). AJ-Press., Ryś, M., & Fleischer, S. (2000).Curtiss P-36 Hawk cz. 2 (Monografie Lotnicze 62). AJ-Press. Chodil, J., & Fleischer, S. (2000). Curtiss P-36 Hawk cz. 3 (Monografie Lotnicze 63). AJ-Press. English language sources: Bowers, P. M. (1966). The Curtiss Hawk 75 (Profile Publications Number 80). Profile Publications Ltd. Persyn, L. (2010).Curtiss Hawk H-75 in French service. STRATUS / Mushroom Model Publications (MMP).