Curtis P-40 E Kittyhawk

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia is part of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. You could spend weeks just walking around and looking at all the airplanes, rockets, satellites and other exhibits. This is a Curtis P 40 E KittyHawk. There are many variations of this particular airplane. Here is a short description from Wikipedia: List of Curtiss P-40 Warhawk variants:

The P-40E played a major role in the defense of Philippines, Java (NEI), Australia and New Guinea in 1942, and with the Desert Air Force (DAF) in intense fighting against the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica also in 1942. The P-40E was also an important type for the Soviets, particularly in the Leningrad area but also in the siege of Moscow and at Stalingrad. 

In the Desert War the arrival of the heavily armed, fast and maneuverable Kittyhawk led to the accelerated retirement of the Bf 109E and its replacement by the faster and more maneuverable Bf 109F. The top scoring DAF squadrons, including No. 3 Squadron RAAF and No. 112 Squadron RAF, transferred from the Tomahawk to the Kittyhawk, scoring many kills against Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica types, helping the DAF to hold on through this tough period. Many RAF and SAAF P-40 units also took heavy casualties - especially as Me 109F variants began to arrive in Theater in late 1941.