Curtiss P-40N Warhawks of the 80th Fighter Group’s squadron “The Burma Banshees” (thanks Steve!)

The 80th Fighter Group, part of the 10th Air Force was made up of the 88th, 89th and 90th Fighter Squadrons and was based in Karachi, India. Equipped with P-40N’s, their primary mission was to to provide air cover for the 10th Air Force bases that were engaged in Hump Airlift Operations. This operation was tasked with flying supplies over the Himalaya’s to 14th Air Force bases in China. The most vulnerable part of the operation was the northern route where the Japanese fighters routinely would attack unarmed transports as they were crossing the mountains. In October of 1943, the 80th began flying interdiction missions into Northern Burma.

The P-40 Warhawk flown by the 80th manufactured by the Curtis-Wright Corporation was a fighter and ground attack aircraft. As a form of intimidation, the P-40N’s flown by the 80th had the Death Head Skull painted on the engine cowling. Additionally, a belly mounted air siren was sometimes used as further intimidation of the Japanese. When activated, the siren made what was referred to as the “Banshee Wail” As a result, the 80th embraced the nickname, “The Burma Banshees.”

https://www.nmaw.org/war/philip-adair/