The Curtiss Aircraft Co.'s P-40 Warhawk fighter was the last of the "Hawk" line of aircraft produced in the 1930's & 40's. An early prototype version of the P-40 was the first American fighter capable of speeds greater than 300 MPH. Utilized in most theatres of the Second World War the aircraft was used to great effectiveness by Claire Chenault's American Volunteer Group, the Flying Tigers, who painted menacing shark mouths on their aircraft. Even with the success of the Flying Tigers in China against the Japanese the P-40's performance was quickly eclipsed by the newer aircraft of the time.