The origin of the Curtis P-36 and P-40 series lies in an Army Air Corps Specification issued in 1934 calling for a fighter of all metal, low wing design which was to have a top speed of 300mph. Armament was to consist of two machine guns, one of 0.30 inch and one of 0.50 inch calibre. In all, five companies, including Curtiss, tendered designs to this specification and the Curtiss submission, known at this time as the Curtiss Model 75, flew for the first time in mid-April 1935. Over the next year or so all the firms tendering submissions to this specification ran into trouble of one sort or another, and ultimately the Seversky submission was accepted by the Air Corps and put into production as the P-35A. As a 'consolation prize' for being judged second, Curtiss was awarded a production contract for three Curtiss 75Bs powered by the Pratt and Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial engine to be used as service test aircraft.
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