An American P-40 fighter aircraft from World War II was lifted from the bottom of the Kerch Strait, 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) from the Taman coast. The craft was discovered by team working on the Kerch Strait Bridge, between Russia and Crimea, RUPTLY video agency reported. It was leased to the Soviets by the US, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk had been underwater for around 70 years.

The Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk / Kittyhawk was the first Allied fighter supplied to the USSR under the Lend-Lease agreement. The Soviet units received 247 P-40B/Cs (equivalent to the Tomahawk IIA/B in RAF service) and 2,178 P-40E, -K, -L, and -N models between 1941 and 1944. Tomahawks and Kittyhawks were used against the Germans. 

"Actually, the P-40 could engage all Messerschmitts on equal terms, almost to the end of 1943. If you take into consideration all the characteristics of the P-40, then the Tomahawk was equal to the Bf 109F and the Kittyhawk was slightly better. Its speed and vertical and horizontal manoeuvre were good and fully competitive with enemy aircraft. Acceleration rate was a bit low, but when you got used to the engine, it was OK. We considered the P-40 a decent fighter plane". N. G. Golodnikov, 2nd Guards Fighter Regiment (GIAP), Northern Aviation Fleet (VVS SF)