World War 2 In Review: Boeing XAT-15 Crewmaker: American Bomber Crew Trainer

The Boeing AT-15 was an American twin-engined bomber crew trainer designed and built by Boeing's Wichita Division. Only two prototypes, designated XAT-15, were built. Plans to build over 1,000 were cancelled on the United States' entry into the Second World War.

Development

One of the first projects for the former Stearman Aircraft Company which in 1939 had become the Wichita Division of Boeing was a twin-engined trainer for bomber crews. Designated X-120 by the company, two examples were ordered by the United States Army Air Corps as the XAT-15. The AT-15 was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engines. It had a retractable tailwheel landing gear and an extended glazed fuselage nose for the trainee bomb-aimer. Due to shortage of materials, the aircraft was built of welded steel tube covered with plywood, with wooden wings and tail unit. The two aircraft were delivered to the USAAC, but after the country's entry into the war a change in priorities resulted in the planned order for more than 1,000 aircraft not being placed.

Role: Bomber-crew trainer

National origin: United States

Manufacturer: Boeing Wichita

First flight: 1942

Primary user: United States Army Air Corps

Number built: 2

Length: 42 ft 4 in (12.90 m)

Wingspan: 59 ft 8 in (18.19 m)

Wing area: 457 sq ft (42.46 m2)

Empty weight: 10,640 lb (4,826 kg)

Gross weight: 14,355 lb (6,511 kg)

Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial piston engine , 600 hp (447 kW) each