The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is one of our most featured aircraft on Tattoos In Flight and it’s no mystery why aviation enthusiasts choose the P-40 as the subject of their tattoo. Because of this popularity, it takes a really outstanding tattooed version of the P-40 to catch our attention… and this upper back tattoo is indeed one of the most outstanding examples we have seen!  Created by tattoo artist Phil Garcia at Ink Philler Studios in Port Hueneme, CA, just North of Los Angeles in Ventura County, this P-40 Warhawk tattoo is a clear example of how far tattooing as an artform has come in modern days.  The vibrancy of the piece, the level of detail, and the amazing use of layered and blended colors and negative space to define the tattoo makes this piece stand out for sure.

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It was a nice surprise to see this tattoo submission in our mailbox last night… I wanted to post a colorful, traditional piece today and this fit the bill nicely!  The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is one of the most popular aircraft featured in tattoos today, mostly because of the characteristic “sharks teeth” that were made famous by the American Volunteer Group or “Flying Tigers” of early World War II. In this tattoo, featuring one of the P-40B aircraft they used, the reputation they were known for is clear — they were fantastic ace pilots that helped to hold their ground and protect China from the Imperial Japanese.

This tattoo, sent to us by artist Chris Stans of Kapala Tattoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada was created for a client in mid 2008. She wanted the classic P-40 and the quote “Hold Your Ground” was important to her.

We’re looking for more from Chris in the coming year.  In a quote from him that was passed along with the tattoo: “I am a total nut for World War II aircraft.”  Chris is planning a series of traditional flash in the coming year featuring WWII aircraft… as he says: “I’m kind of tired of all the sailing ships and anchors that everyone wants… why can’t WWII aircraft get the same treatment?”

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Coming to us today from Canada is this colorful backpiece featuring the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter from World War II.  This tattoo was submitted to us by Kevin Slemko who got the tattoo in honor of his grandfather commemorating the days they spent flying radio control planes together during the summer months.  Thankfully Kevin’s grandfather is still with us, so he’s able to see the colorful tribute as well.

The P-40 was used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) a bit during WWII, though their use was limited.  In 1942 during the Battle of Midway, the Imperial Japanese Navy sent a diversionary force to attack the Aleutian Islands. The RCAF sent No. 111 Squadron, flying the Kittyhawk I, to a forward base on Adak Island, Alaska. During the drawn-out campaign, 12 Canadian Kittyhawks operated on a rotational basis from a new, more advanced base on Amchitka, 75 miles (121 km) southeast of Kiska. Two RCAF fighter squadrons, No. 111 and No. 14, took “turn-about” at the base.

This tattoo was created by Chris Iwaniuk of Showdown Tattoos & Skateboards in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Unfortunately Chris and the studio lack a website… but if anyone comes across one, please let us know so we can post it here!

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The use of cartoons and humor goes a long way to lighten a stressful environment in times of war.  With any tough assignment, crew morale is an utmost concern and any opportunity to take some of the edge off the situation is welcomed.  Thus the reason for flight crews adorning the noses of their aircraft with elaborate (and sometime very risque) paintings known as nose art. 

Soldiers, sailors and airmen often doodled and cartooned to take their minds off the war as well.  Perhaps one of the most famous cartoonists of WWII was Bill Mauldin, a soldier with the 45th Infantry Division who became known for his cartoons of common soldiers or GIs.  Mauldin eventually began drawing for the newspaper Stars and Stripes, featuring the characters Willie and Joe.  Mauldin eventually went on to become a Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist after the war.

This colorful tattoo, featuring a cartoon version of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was created by John Wayne of Beesting Tattoos in Belle River, Ontario CA

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There’s not much more we could say about the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk that we haven’t said here before — it’s one of the favorite aviation tattoo themes out there today.  As can be evidenced by our growing collection, the P-40 is a true tattoo symbol. 

Perhaps one of the reasons why the P-40 is so popular is it’s connection to the American Volunteer Group (AVG) or the “Flying Tigers”.  The AVG was a covertly created group of American pilots and aircraft that fought in the defense of China from the Japanese Imperial threat.  When the AVG was formed in 1940, the United States was clearly not at war, so the pilots and aircraft were acquired under private means – though much of the funding came through U.S. Government loans.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt even approved the creation of the group… though clearly away from the public spotlight.

So as a result, these “mercenaries” of sorts were some of the first “front line” fighters from the U.S. engaged in World War II.  Their renegade spirit persisted through the American entry into the war and even after they eventually were incorporated into the 14th Air Force as the 23rd Fighter Group as of July 4, 1942. 

The intricate black and gray chestpiece featuring Curtiss P-40 Warhawks of the American Volunteer Group was created by tattoo artist Mike “Bisquette” Bewley of Otherside Ink in Port Charlotte, FL. 

It should also be noted that the wearer is tattoo artist Lynn McNew of Almighty Tattoos in Belleville, IL – a fan of WWII aviation!

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The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk holds a special place in my heart as it was designed and built by Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Corporation of Buffalo, NY — only about 40 miles from where I grew up.  The Greater Western New York area is considered the “Cradle of Aviation” as it was the home of aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss and most of his early aircraft experiments in Hammondsport, NY. Later, Curtiss founded the company that bore his name (Curtiss-Wright) and produced some of the more famous aircraft and engines of WWII.  Buffalo also was home to Bell Aircraft (birthplace of the P-39 Airacobra and the Bell X-1) and Consolidated Aircraft (B-24 Liberator and PBY Catalina) before the company moved to San Diego, CA.

It’s fitting that this fantastic black and gray tattoo of a pair of Curtiss P-40 Warhawks over a bridge, was created by artist Snake Eyes of B-52 Tattoo in Brooklyn, NY.  I do also see the irony in the fact that the B-52 was produced by Boeing, clear across the USA in Seattle, WA.

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Another colorful tattoo of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk — continuing the trend we’ve been seeing over the past few weeks of the P-40 being the icon of the aviation tattoo.  I must admit that I even had the temptation of getting a Warhawk tattoo when I first started my tattoo project — but now am heading in the direction of a WWI aircraft sleeve (no one seems to do much with the First World War planes!).  This tattoo brought back memories for me as the position of the plane is very similar to one of my first air-to-air photos with a New York-based P-40 as the subject.  Good times.

Artist Pat B. of Green Man Tattoo in West Hartford, CT must have had a good time with this tattoo!  His attention to detail shows it!

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Another point for the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk – what’s quickly becoming the most popular aircraft for aviation related tattoos.  It seems the iconic sharks teeth and aggressive lines of the P-40 makes for exciting tattoo work! Ironically, the P-40 was considered to be somewhat “Second String” for most of World War II — yet its image was immortalized by groups like the American Volunteer Group.

This tattoo was created by artist Spike Bieganek of Spike-O-Matic Tattoo in Madison, WI.

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