Canada became acquainted with the Curtiss P-40 early on in the aircraft's career. In May 1940, the XP-40 prototype was flown to Uplands Airport near Ottawa where invited Royal Canadian Air Force officers were treated to a flight comparison between the XP-40 and a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Ⅰ. Two of the officers that watched the comparison, W/Cmdr. F.V. Beamish (RAF) and Sqdn. Ldr. E.A. McNab, were critical of the Curtiss product. They felt the design had some merit, but viewed the Spitfire as a much better fighter.
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