![This Curtiss P-40F Warhawk was one of the aircraft transferred from US forces to the Free French GC II/5 Lafayette in 1943. American markings could still be seen beneath the new colours.](http://www.gaetanmarie.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/France-P-40F-41-14xxx-GC-2-5-Lafayette-1943.jpg)
France was one of the first customers of the P-40, placing an order of 100 Hawk 81A-1, later increased to 230 aircraft. However, these aircraft were not delivered before France fell in June 1940 and these aircraft never entered French service.
![](http://www.gaetanmarie.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/GC-II-5.jpg)
After the invasion of North Africa in late 1942, the groupe de Chasse II/5, a Free French fighter unit, was equipped with P-40Fs transferred from American units. These were later replaced by P-47D Thunderbolts but the P-40 remained as a trainer in French service for some time after the war.
![This Curtiss P-40F Warhawk (s/n 41-13901) was an ex-RAF Kittyhawk Mk II (serial FL294), operated by the Centre d'Instructions à la Chasse based in Meknès, French Morocco.](http://www.gaetanmarie.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/France-P-40F-41-13901-ex-RAF-FL294-CIC-Meknès-Algérie.jpg)