Your right on the P-40 call..later versions..especially the N were no slouch in the hands of a good pilot..and in some cases..a Russian pilot.
The N series ran production over 3000..
An experimental P-40 with clipped wings..4 blade prop and some fuselage changes did 422 mph.
The 40 was export material after 1942.
A Family member flew with the AVG...his P-40 got him home safe.
My Mother was given his AVG jacket with the "Chinese" resistance message on the back in 1952..
"What did I need that dirty old thing for she said"
I turned to my dad and said..we just lost $5000.00
I can still see my dads head buried in his hands ..shaking side to side!
An experimental P-40 with clipped wings..4 blade prop and some fuselage changes did 422 mph. 422, wow, I think of the Warhawk as something around 300-325 mph. Over-400 Club, I think Mustang, Thunderbolt, Hellcat (maybe), Spitfire, Lightning, Mosquito (bomber) (maybe), Twin Mustang, and last but not least, the Tiger Cat. It never saw action in WWII, but the Kalamazoo Air Zoo has a pristine flying example. A truly awesome twin-engine bomber-killer.