Publication Date
2023
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Jonathan Winkler, Ph.D. (Advisor); Kathryn Meyer, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Paul Lockhart, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Abstract
From 1938 until the end of World War II, the Curtiss P-40 fighter participated in the European, North Africa, and Pacific theaters of war. An aircraft’s success depends primarily upon the pilot’s expertise. Without skilled pilots, technology alone cannot win a war. Technological innovation still plays a crucial role in the success of a nation’s air force. Relative to technological developments, how impactful is a pilot’s skill on a fighter plane’s performance? My thesis structure is a deep look into each pilot’s experience and how victory was achieved with a plane that most military writings say is inferior. I investigate the narrative of the aircraft from development based on a pre-war U.S. air doctrine, its exposure and adaptation against enemy aircraft, and the period when piston-driven aircraft performance reached the pinnacle of performance. My analysis shows that due to the adaptability of tactics by fighter pilots, the Curtiss P-40 met Allied needs and aided in the overall contribution to changes in aerial combat. This write-up goes on to show a pilot’s expertise plays a crucial role in an aircraft’s success, regardless of statistical data or the purpose for which the plane was intended. Technological innovation causes an impact on the success of a nation’s air force, but without skilled pilots, technology alone cannot win a war.
Page Count
99
Department or Program
Department of History
Year Degree Awarded
2023
Copyright
Copyright 2023, all rights reserved. My ETD will be available under the "Fair Use" terms of copyright law.
ORCID ID
0009-0004-3680-3232
