062: Curtiss Hawk H-75C
HM0062

Building the famous Hawk—the export version of the Curtiss P‑36 all‑metal fighter—has been on my to‑do list for a long time. There have been quite a few kits of this iconic aircraft released over the years (I built the Monogram kit many moons ago), but nothing truly high‑tech in recent times. I did purchase the KP rendition, but was reluctant to start it, as it promised to add more gray hair to my already diminishing mop. When Clear Prop released their kit, I knew the time had come for another palate cleanser. This will be a simple out‑of‑the‑box project; my only concessions will be the addition of Master gun barrels and photo‑etched seat belts.

One of the Hawk’s most significant contributions to the Allied war effort came during the Battle of France in 1940. The French Air Force was unprepared for the coming conflict and sought to bolster its strength through the acquisition of foreign‑built aircraft, with the Curtiss P‑36 being the final choice. Compared to the Bf 109, the Hawk was already obsolete: the German fighter could climb faster, fly faster, and was technologically superior. Defensively, however, the Hawk was more nimble and could out‑turn the 109. During the French campaign, it was effectively the best fighter available to oppose the Luftwaffe. Although Hawks made up just over 12 percent of the Armée de l’Air’s total strength, they accounted for nearly a third of its victories during the Battle of France.
Many pilots from countries overrun by Germany fought in the Hawk’s cockpit, including Poles, Belgians, and Czechoslovaks. Czech and Slovak pilots alone were responsible for approximately 12 percent of total French aerial victories, with many going on to become some of the highest‑scoring fliers of the Battle of France and later the Battle of Britain.

The subject of my build is Curtiss Hawk H‑75A‑1 No. 61, one of the aircraft flown by Alois Vašátko with GC I/5. On May 25, 1940, while escorting a reconnaissance Potez 63.11, he took part in the downing of a Henschel Hs 126, followed the next day by the probable destruction of a Bf 109E while flying this very machine. During the Battle of Britain, Vašátko rose to become a wing commander and was killed in action in June 1942 while flying a Ramrod mission over Brittany.