 |
| Three
U.S. Navy WAVES aircraft mechanics working on a North American SNJ
Texan training plane at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Whiting Field,
Pensacola, Florida, circa 1943-45. Note their dungaree uniforms, and the
plane's Pratt & Whitney R-1340 "Wasp" radial engine. |
The North American Aviation AT-6 Texan is an American
single-engined advanced trainer aircraft, which was used to train pilots of the
United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Air Force (USAF), United
States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces of
the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1970s.
Designed by North American Aviation, the T-6 is known by a
variety of designations depending on the model and operating air force. The
United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) and USAAF designated it as the AT-6, the
United States Navy the SNJ, and British Commonwealth air forces the Harvard,
the name by which it is best known outside the US. Starting in 1948, the new
United States Air Force (USAF) designated it the T-6, with the USN following in
1962.
The T-6 Texan remains a popular warbird used for airshow
demonstrations and static displays. It has also been used many times to
simulate various historical aircraft, including the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M
Zero. A total of 15,495 T-6s of all variants have been built.
Development
The Texan's ancestry goes back to the North American NA-16
prototype which was first flown on 1 April 1935. In 1935, NAA submitted this
design for the U.S. Army Air Corps Basic Trainer Competition. NAA also targeted
the export market.
The Texan's ancestry goes back to the North American NA-16
prototype which was first flown on 1 April 1935. In 1935, NAA submitted this
design for the U.S. Army Air Corps Basic Trainer Competition. NAA also targeted
the export market.
With minor alterations, 177 unarmed NA-36s would enter
service as the BC-1 with a R-1340-47 engine from 9 June 1937. Roughly 30 were
modified as BC-1-I instrument trainers. The BC-1A (NA-55-1) followed as an
armed version, primarily for Air Corps Reserve and National Guard units, and
the 83 built could be equipped with a .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun on the nose,
and a flexible gun in the rear cockpit.
The US Navy received 40 NA-28 aircraft based on the BT-9,
which it designated the NJ-1, as well as 16 NA-52s, designated the SNJ-1, 36
NA-65 as SNJ-2s, and 25 NA-79 also as SNJ-2s.
In March 1937, the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation of
Australia purchased an NA-32 (NA-16-1A, with fixed undercarriage) and an NA-33
(NA-16-2K with retractible undercarriage) along with a manufacturing license.
The first CAC Wirraway, based on the NA-33, flew on 27 March 1939, of which 755
were built.
In August 1937, Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. purchased a single
NA-16, NA-16-4R (NA-37), powered by the 450 hp (340 kW) Pratt & Whitney
R-985-9CG, including manufacturing rights. A second N-16, NA-16-4RW (NA-47),
powered by a smaller Wright engine, was ordered in December 1937. After being
evaluated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, Kyusu and K.K. Watanabe Tekkosho chose
to ignore the NAA design almost entirely, and built 176 of the somewhat similar
K10W1 from 1941 to 1942 which the Allies gave the code name Oak. After World
War II, the Japanese Air Self Defense Force operated 195 Texans (9 T-6Ds, 11
T-6Fs, and 175 T-6Gs) and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force operated 62
(10 SNJ-4s, 41 SNJ-5s, and 11 SNJ-6s).
According to Dan Hagedorn, "the BC-1A series may be
regarded as the true beginning of the modern AT-6 series". In December
1938, the British Commonwealth started receiving the first of 400 Harvard Mark
Is (NA-49), for use in the Central Flying School. They were powered by the 600
hp (450 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 Wasp. In May 1939, the Royal
Canadian Air Force (RCAF) ordered 30 Harvard Mark Is (NA-61). Then in November
1939, the British Purchasing Commission ordered the first of eventually 1275
Harvard Mark IIs (NA-66, NA-75, NA-76, and NA-81) for the Royal Air Force and
RCAF.
On 23 April 1939, NAA received a contract for 251 BT-14s and
94 AT-6s. The BT-14 (NA-58) was a fixed gear aircraft with a metal skinned
fuselage 14 inches longer than the BT-9. In 1941, 27 BT-14s were refitted with
the 400 hp (300 kW) R-985-11, and designated as BT-14A-NAs. In June 1939, NAA
received an order for 94 AT-6-NAs (NA-59), powered by the Wright R-1340-47 and
able to mount two .30 in (7.62 mm) machines guns.
The USAAC AT-6A, and the U.S. Navy SNJ-3, were based on the
NA-77 and NA-78 designs. Pratt & Whitney R-1340-49 Wasp radial engine
powered the USAAC aircraft, while R-1340-38s powered the Navy aircraft. The
USAAC received 1847 AT-6As, and the Navy received 270 SNJ-3s.
The AT-6B (NA-84) was built for armament training, and could
mount a .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun on the right nose cowl, right wing, and in
the rear cockpit, and could carry a light bomb rack. The aircraft was powered
by the 600 hp (450 kW) R-1340-AN-1 engine. The USAAC received 400.
The NA-88 design was used to build 2970 AT-6Cs (747 of which
went to the British Commonwealth as Harvard IIas), 2401 SNJ-4s, 2604 AT-6Ds
(537 of which went to the British Commonwealth as Harvard IIIs), and 1357
SNJ-5s. The first AT-6C aircraft was delivered on 12 February 1942. The 12-volt
electrical system was changed to a 24-volt system in the AT-6D, for standardization
amongst the service. The AT-6D, which was also armament capable, and early
versions included a wing gun camera, and a high-pressure oxygen system. The
AT-6D used two toggle starter switches, rather than the foot pedal starter, and
the first AT-6D was delivered on 22 July 1943. The Navy received an additional
630 AT-6Ds direct from the USAAF, re-designating them SNJ-5s, for a total of
1987. Similarly, the NA-121 design was used to build the final wartime Texans,
and included 800 AT-6Ds (of which 211 went to the Navy as SNJ-5s), and 956
AT-6Fs (of which 411 went to the Navy as SNJ-6s). They were capable of carrying
a 20 US gal (76 L; 17 imp gal) centerline drop tank.
From 1942, Canada's Noorduyn built 2557 R-1340-AN-1-powered
Harvard IIs under license, paid for by USAAF Lend-Lease funds as the AT-16, but
designated as the Harvard II.B. After WWII, many remained in service with the
RCAF.
The NA-168 series consisted of remanufactured AT-6s and SNJs
for the USAF, starting in 1949. The Air Training Command received 641 aircraft,
designated T-6G-NT, of which 416 eventually were sent to U.S. Military
Assistance Program countries. U.S. National Guard units received an additional
50 aircraft, of which 28 eventually were sent to France. An additional 59 aircraft
were Liaison/Trainer aircraft, designated LT-6G-NA, for the Korean War. These
aircraft could be deployed with 2 detachable .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun pods,
and 4 HVARs, or 4 100 lb (45 kg) bombs, plus a 55 US gal (210 L; 46 imp gal)
auxiliary drop tank. Alternatively, they could carry the gun pods and 12 2.25
in (57 mm) SCA markings rockets, or 6 100 lb (45 kg) bombs. The T-6G-NAs had a
140 US gal (530 L; 120 imp gal) fuel capacity, while previous models had a 110
US gal (420 L; 92 imp gal) capacity. The rear cockpit also had the same
instruments as the front cockpit. Then, in 1951, the USAF placed an order for
824 T-6Gs, designated T-6G-1-NH, for the Air Training Command.
The Canada Car and Foundry built 285 Harvard 4s, designated
NA-186 under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP) and an additional 270
directly for the RCAF.
In April 1951, the USAF ordered an additional 107 T-6Gs for
the MDAP, designated NA-188. They placed an order for 11 training aircraft in
March 1952, designated NA-195, and then a final batch of 110 aircraft in June
for MDAP, designated NA-197.
General Information
Type: Trainer aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Primary users:
United States Army Air Forces
United States Navy
Royal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Number built: 15,495
First flight: 1 April 1935
Retired: 1995 (South African Air Force)
Developed from: North American NA-16
Variants:
North American A-27
Bacon Super T-6
Operational History
The aircraft was mainly used for training, but in many cases
it was also repurposed into combat roles. The aircraft served in a great many
air forces around the world in the mid to late 20th century. After serving in
air forces, it also went on to be displayed at air shows and museums as a
warbird.
Combat Use
The British used Harvards during World War II in North
Africa, but not in a combat role. They were used extensively for preparing
pilots in theatre for flying US aircraft types, whose handling and controls
differed from British aircraft.
No. 74 Operational Training Unit (OTU) was formed at RAF
Aqir in Palestine from 'C' Flight of 71 OTU who made various moves to Rayak in
July 1942, Muqeibila in November 1942, and back to Aqir in February 1943. The
RAF later handed over control to No. 203 Group RAF in May 1943. The unit
disbanded in July 1945. Harvard AJ841 "Wacky Wabbit" saw service with
No. 154 Squadron RAF. Originally 154 Squadron were based just at RAF Fowlmere
before they were deployed to the Middle East in 1942. Record cards for 154
Squadron show the squadron Harvard being flown by Flying Officer DC Dunn from
Minnigh (Syria) to Ramat David (Palestine) on 12 February 1944.
Peru used its seven T-6 fighter bombers in the
Ecuadorian-Peruvian War equipped with two 7.65 mm (0.30 in) guns, while
carrying up to four 116 lb (53 kg) bombs. Twenty AT-6s were employed by the 1st
and 2nd fighter squadrons of the Syrian Air Force in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War,
providing ground support for Syrian troops, and launching airstrikes against
Israeli airfields, ships, and columns, losing one aircraft to antiaircraft
fire. They also engaged in air-to-air combat on a number of occasions, with a
rear gunner shooting down an Israeli Avia S-199 fighter.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) bought 17 Harvards, and operated
nine of them in the final stages of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, against the
Egyptian ground forces, with no losses. In the Sinai Campaign, IAF Harvards
attacked Egyptian ground forces in Sinai Peninsula with two losses.
The Royal Hellenic Air Force employed three squadrons of
British- and American-supplied T-6D and G Texans for close air support,
observation, and artillery spotting duties during the Greek Civil War,
providing extensive support to the Greek army during the Battle of Gramos.
Communist guerillas called these aircraft Ο Γαλατάς, O Galatas, 'The Milkman',
because they saw them flying very early in the morning. After the
"Milkmen", the guerillas waited for the armed Spitfires and
Helldivers.
During the Korean War and, to a lesser extent, the Vietnam
War, T-6s were pressed into service as forward air control aircraft. These
aircraft were designated T-6 "Mosquitos".
No. 1340 Flight RAF used the Harvard in Kenya against the
Mau Mau in the 1950s, where they operated with 20 lb (9.1 kg) bombs and machine
guns against the rebels. Some operations took place at altitudes around 20,000
ft (6,100 m) above mean sea level. A Harvard was the longest-serving RAF
aircraft, with an example, taken on strength in 1945, still serving in the
1990s (as a chase plane for helicopter test flights—a role for which the Shorts
Tucano's higher stall speed was ill-suited).
The T-6G was also used in a light attack or
counterinsurgency role by France during the Algerian War in special Escadrilles
d'Aviation Légère d'Appui (EALA), armed with machine guns, bombs and rockets.
At its peak, 38 EALAs were active. The largest unit was the Groupe d'Aviation
Légère d'Appui 72, which consisted of up to 21 EALAs.
From 1961 to 1975, Portugal used more than a hundred T-6Gs,
also in the counterinsurgency role, during the Portuguese Colonial War. During
this war, almost all the Portuguese Air Force bases and air fields in Angola,
Mozambique, and Portuguese Guinea had a detachment of T-6Gs.
On 16 June 1955, rebel Argentine Navy SNJ-4s bombed Plaza de
Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina; one was shot down by a loyalist Gloster
Meteor. Navy SNJ-4s were later used by the colorado rebels in the 1963
Argentine Navy Revolt, launching attacks on the 8th Tank Regiment columns on 2
and 3 April, knocking out several M4 Sherman tanks, and losing one SNJ to
anti-aircraft fire.
In 1957–58, the Spanish Air Force used T-6s as
counterinsurgency aircraft in the Ifni War, armed with machine guns, iron
bombs, and rockets, achieving an excellent reputation due to its reliability,
safety record, and resistance to damage.
The Pakistan Air Force used T-6Gs in the Indo-Pakistani War
of 1971 as a night ground-support aircraft, hitting soft transport vehicles of
the Indian army. In the early hours of 5 December, during a convoy interdiction
mission in the same area, Squadron Leader Israr Quresh's T-6G Harvard was hit
by Indian antiaircraft ground fire and a shell fractured the pilot's right arm.
Profusely bleeding, the pilot flew the aircraft back with his left hand and
landed safely. The World War II-vintage propellered trainers were pressed into
service and performed satisfactorily in the assigned role of convoy escorts at
night.
The South African Air Force received their first T-6s in
October 1942 to be used by the Joint Air Training Scheme. By July 1944, 633
Harvard Mk IIA T-6s and IIIs had been shipped to South Africa with another 555
(379 MkIIAs and 176 Mk IIIs) to arrive by October 1945. Another 65 (AT-6Ds and
30 T-6Gs) were ordered between 1952 and 1956. The aircraft also saw some action
during the South African Border war. The T-6 remained in service until 1995 as
a basic trainer, mainly as a result of the United Nations arms embargo against
South Africa's apartheid policies. They were replaced by Pilatus PC-7 MkII
turboprop trainers.
Research Testbed
The Harvard 4 has been used in Canada as a testbed aircraft for
evaluating cockpit attitude displays. Its aerobatic capability permits the
instructor pilot to maneuver the aircraft into unusual attitudes, then turn the
craft over to an evaluator pilot in the "blind" rear cockpit to
recover, based on one of several digitally generated attitude displays.
Variants
BT Series
BT-9: Basic Trainer with 400hp Wright
R-975-7 Whirlwind and new canopy. Dangerous stall resulted in a variety of
unsuccessful fixes. 42 built.
BT-9A: Armed BT-9 with one cowl gun and
one rear flexible gun, and modified canopy. 40 built.
BT-9B: Minor changes from BT-9,
unarmed. 117 built. 1 modified as sole BT-9D which was modified as a prototype
for BT-14 with new outer wing panels and other alterations.
BT-9C: Wright R-975-7, similar to the
BT-9A with minor changes. 66 built
BT-9D: One prototype only, Intermediate
step in development of the BT-14.
Y1BT-10: 600hp Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-41. First aircraft of batch of BT-9C completed as Y1BT-10.
BT-10: Production version of Y1BT-10 -
cancelled
BT-14: Lengthened all metal fuselage
and new canopy, Pratt & Whitney R-985-25, 251 built.
BT-14A: 27 BT-14s were re-engined with
400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-11.
BC Series
North American BC-1: Basic Combat
trainer version initial production version with 600hp R-1340-47 engine, Early
examples had round rudder, later examples had square bottom rudder. 177 built
BC-1A: New longer semi-monocoque
fuselage, new outer wing panels angled forward slightly, squared-off wingtips
and triangular rudder, 93 built. Identifiable from later types by blister
fairing between undercarriage.
BC-1B: One BC-1A fitted with an AT-6A
wing centre section.
BC-1I: BC-1s converted to instrument
trainers, 30 modified
BC-2: Similar to BC-1A and AT-6,
modified from NA-36 with details from NA-44, 3 bladed propeller.
AT Series (Texan)
AT-6 Texan: Advanced Trainer - same as
BC-1A with minor changes, powered by a 600hp R-1340-47 and armed with
forward-firing 0.3in machine gun, nine original started as BC-1As and 85 built.
AT-6A: Same as AT-6 but with 600hp
R-1340-49 and removable wing centre section fuel tanks, 1847 built with 298
transferred to the United States Navy as the SNJ-3. Survivors re-designated
T-6A in 1948.
AT-6B: Same as AT-6A but with 600hp
R-1340-AN-1 and dorsal gun fitted as standard, 400 built.
AT-6C: Same as AT-6B but with material
changes to low-alloy steel and plywood, 2970 built including transfers to the
United Kingdom as the Harvard IIA.
AT-6D: Same as AT-6B but with a 24V DC
electrical system, 4388 built including transfers to the United States Navy as
the SNJ-5 and to the United Kingdom as the Harvard III. Redesignated T-6D in
1948.
XAT-6E: One AT-6D re-engined with a
575hp V-770-9 V-12 inline engine for trials.
AT-6F: Same as AT-6D but with a
strengthened airframe and minor modifications, 956 built including transfers to
the United States Navy as the SNJ-6, Redesignated T-6F in 1948. Clear fixed
rear canopy. Some went to Russia via Lend-Lease.
AT-16: Noorduyn built lend-lease
Harvards, 1800 built
A-27
North American A-27: Two-seat attack
version of AT-6 with a 785hp R-1820-75 engine and five 0.3in machine guns (two
in nose, one on each wing and one dorsal). Designation used for ten aircraft
for Thailand impressed into United States Army Air Corps use.
T-6 (Texan)
T-6A: AT-6As re-designated in 1948.
T-6C: AT-6Cs re-designated in 1948
including 68 re-builds with new serial numbers.
T-6D: AT-6D re-designated in 1948
including 35 re-builds with new serial numbers.
T-6F: AT-6F re-designated in 1948.
T-6G: Earlier model AT-6/T-6s re-built
between 1949-1953 with improved cockpit layout, increased fuel capacity,
steerable tailwheel, updated radios and a 600hp R-1340-AN-1 engine. Identifiable
by simplified canopy framing. 2068 modified.
LT-6G: T-6Gs converted for battlefield
surveillance and forward air controller duties, 97 modified. Nicknamed
Mosquito.
T-6H: T-6Fs converted T-6G standard.
T-6J: Designation claimed to have been
used for Canadian-built Harvard Mk 4s, however no proof has ever surfaced that
this designation was ever used, and aircraft record cards and markings on
aircraft called them Harvard 4s. Supplied to Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal
and West Germany, 285 aircraft.
KN-1: A single T-6F damaged in a crash
during the Korean War that was rebuilt as a floatplane by the Republic of Korea
Navy.
Bacon Super T-6: A single AT-6F
converted in 1956 with tricycle gear, bubble canopy and tip tanks; no
production followed.
B.F.8: (Thai: บ.ฝ.๘) Royal Thai Armed Forces
designation for the T-6.
NJ/SNJ Texan
NJ-1: United States Navy specification
advanced trainer powered with 550hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-6. Some
re-engined with later versions of R-1340. Similar to BT-9, 40 built.
SNJ-1: Similar to Harvard I but with
BC-1 wing center section, metal-covered fuselage and late T-6 type wing, 16
built.
SNJ-2: Same as SNJ-1 but with a
R-1340-56 engine and changes to carburetor and oil cooler scoops, 61 built.
SNJ-3: Same as AT-6A, 270 built and 296
transferred from USAAC.
SNJ-3C: SNJ-3 converted as deck landing
trainers with tailhook arrester gear, twelve modified.
SNJ-4: Same as AT-6C, 1240 built.
SNJ-4C: SNJ-4s converted as deck
landing trainers with tailhook arrester gear.
SNJ-5: AT-6Ds transferred from the
USAAC, 1573 aircraft.
SNJ-5C: SNJ-5s converted as deck
landing trainers with tailhook arrester gear.
SNJ-6: AT-6Fs transferred from the
USAAF, 411 aircraft.
SNJ-7: Early models modified to T-6G
standards in 1952.
SNJ-7B: An armed variant of the SNJ-7.
SNJ-8: Order for 240 cancelled.
Harvard
Harvard I: Similar to BC-1 but without
rear gun and with a 600hp R-1340-S3H1 engine, 400 aircraft.
Harvard II: Similar to BC-1A, 526
built, again without provision for rear gunner.
Harvard IIA (RAF and Commonwealth): AT-6C,
many with wooden rear fuselages when first delivered.
Harvard IIA (RCAF): 'Armed' Harvard II
- Any RCAF Harvard II or IIB fitted with wing guns, rockets or bombs.
Harvard IIB: Noorduyn built Mk.IIs,
some to US orders as AT-16s for lend-lease. Transfers back from the USAAF
(1800) and 757 built.
Harvard T.T. IIB: Target Tug - 42
aircraft built for the RAF by Noorduyn. Number probably included in II totals.
Harvard IIF: Bombing/gunnery trainer -
One-off modified from Mk.II with bomb aimer's blister and AT-6 type cockpit.
Harvard III: AT-6D, 537 aircraft for
RAF.
Harvard 4: Canadian development of
Harvard II paralleling the T-6G, and built by Canadian Car & Foundry, 270
for the RCAF and 285 for USAF. Some publications refer to these as T-6J however
the aircraft record cards do not use this designation.
Harvard 4K: Belgian designation for
Harvard IIs and IIIs upgraded to roughly Harvard 4 specifications.
Harvard 4KA: Belgian designation for
armed variant of 4K.
North American Company Designations
|
NAA
Charge
Number
|
NAA Model
or Designation
|
Customer
|
Engine
Installed
|
Number built/
Modified
|
Notes
|
|
NA-57
|
NA-57/
NAA 57 P-2
|
Armée de l'Air
(France)
|
Wright R-975-E3
Whirlwind
420 hp (310 kW)
|
230
|
Improved NA-23,
many captured and used by Germany, some retained by Vichy France
|
|
NA-64
|
NA-64/
NAA 64-P2/
Yale I
|
Armée de l'Air
(France)
|
Wright R-975-E3
Whirlwind
420 hp (310 kW)
|
230
|
119 to Royal Canadian
Air Force as Yale I, briefly used by France, many captured by Germany
|
|
NA-45
|
NA-16-1GV
|
Aviación Militar Nacional Bolivariana
de Venezuela (Venezuela)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
3
|
Possibly originally
built to Brazilian contract
|
|
NA-71
|
NA-16-3
|
Aviación Militar Nacional Bolivariana
de Venezuela (Venezuela)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-S3H1 Wasp
550 hp (410 kW)
|
3
|
Two nose guns and
rear gun, no wing guns.
|
|
NA-72
|
NA-44
|
Exército Brasileiro
(Brazilian Army)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-AN1/S1H1 Wasp
600 hp (450 kW)
|
30
|
Attack bomber, fitted
with small DF loop under fuselage.
|
|
NA-43
|
NA-16-1G
|
Exército Brasileiro
(Brazilian Army) (Cancelled)
|
Wright R-975 Whirlwind
|
0
|
Similar to BT-9C
|
|
NA-31
|
NA-16-4M/
Sk-14/14A
|
Flygvapnet (Sweden)
|
Wright R-975-E3
Whirlwind
420 hp (310 kW)/
Piaggio P.VIIc 525 hp (391 kW)
|
137
|
BT-9C but different
engine variant. License production (NAA built 1, ASJA 76, SAAB 60), Trialed undercarriage for Saab 21.
|
|
NA-38
|
NA-16-4M
|
Flygvapnet (Sweden)
|
Wright R-975-E3
Whirlwind
420 hp (310 kW)
|
1
|
same as NA-31
|
|
NA-119
|
AT-6D
|
Força Aérea
Brasileira (FAB)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
81
|
20 examples built
in Brazil under license
|
|
NA-34
|
NA-16-4P
|
Fuerza Aérea
Argentina (FAA)
|
Wright R-975-E3
Whirlwind
420 hp (310 kW)
|
29
|
First major export
order (not license), had 2 cowl guns, a flexible rear gun and a radio mast
|
|
NA-74
|
NA-44
|
Fuerza Aérea de
Chile (FACh)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
12
|
Attack bomber, fitted
with small DF loop under fuselage.
|
|
NA-50
|
NA-50
|
Fuerza Aérea del
Perú (FAP)
|
Wright R-1820-G3 Cyclone
|
7
|
Single-seat
fighter, NA-16-5
|
|
NA-42
|
NA-16-2A
|
Fuerza Aérea
Hondureña (FAH - Honduras)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
520 hp (390 kW)
|
2
|
|
|
NA-37
|
NA-16-4R/KXA1
|
Imperial Japanese
Navy (IJN - Evaluation)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-985-9CG Wasp Junior
500 hp (370 kW)
|
1
|
Technology demonstrator,
unarmed, fixed undercarriage and three-bladed prop.
|
|
NA-47
|
NA-16-4RW/KXA-2
|
Imperial Japanese
Navy (IJN) (Evaluation)
|
Wright R-975-E3
Whirlwind
420 hp (310 kW)
|
1
|
Technology demonstrator
|
|
NA-46
|
NA-16-4
|
Marinha do Brasil
(Brazilian Navy)
|
Wright R-975-53
Whirlwind
400 hp (300 kW)
|
12
|
Similar to BT-9C
with wingtip slats, small DF loop under fuselage.
|
|
NA-33
|
NA-16-2K/
Wirraway
|
RAAF
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-S1H1G
600 hp (450 kW)
|
756
|
Retractable gear pattern
aircraft for Australia, 1 built by NAA and 755 by Commonwealth Aircraft
Corporation)
|
|
NA-66
|
Harvard II
|
RAF
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
600
|
as per NA-59 but
fixed rear canopy and no rear gun, also to RNZAF and RCAF, Southern Rhodesia
|
|
NA-76
|
Harvard II
|
RAF
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
450
|
Ordered by France,
taken over by RAF, many to RCAF
|
|
NA-81
|
Harvard II
|
RAF
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
125
|
same as previous
RAF Harvard II order.
|
|
NA-61
|
NA-16-1E/
Harvard I
|
RCAF
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-S3H1 Wasp
600 hp (450 kW)
|
30
|
Later fitted with extended
exhaust for cabin heater
|
|
NA-75
|
Harvard II
|
RCAF
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
100
|
Follow on order to
NA-66
|
|
NA-186
|
Harvard 4
|
RCAF/
MDAP
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
555
|
Sole new post war
production.
|
|
NA-41
|
NA-16-4
|
Republic of China
Air Force (RoCAF)
|
Wright R-975 Whirlwind
(unknown sub-type/HP)
|
35
|
Similar to BT-9C
with short fabric covered fuselage, combat aircraft with two fixed forward
guns and one flexible rear gun.
|
|
NA-48
|
NA-16-3C
|
Republic of China
Air Force (RoCAF)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
15
|
Similar to NA-45
|
|
NA-56
|
NA-16-4
|
Republic of China
Air Force (RoCAF)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
50
|
Similar to NA-55
(long metal fuselage, fixed gear and engine differences)
|
|
NA-49
|
NA-16-1E/
Harvard I
|
Royal Air Force
(RAF)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-S3H1 Wasp
600 hp (450 kW)
|
400
|
Straight wing trailing
edge, square rudder, short fabric covered fuselage, fixed rear canopy, no
blister under wing center section
|
|
NA-32
|
NA-16-1A
|
Royal Australian
Air Force (RAAF)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
(unknown sub-type/HP)
|
1
|
Fixed gear pattern
aircraft similar to NJ-1 or Y1BT-10, not followed up.
|
|
NA-68
|
NA-50A/P-64
|
Royal Thai Air
Force (RTAF - Thailand)
|
Wright R-1820-77 Cyclone
870 hp (650 kW)
|
6
|
Short outer wing panel
angled much further forward than earlier types. Diverted with start of
Pacific war to USAAF as P-64
|
|
NA-69
|
NA-44/A-27
|
Royal Thai Air
Force (RTAF - Thailand)
|
Wright R-1820-75 Cyclone
745 hp (556 kW)
|
10
|
Fully armed as attack
aircraft. Diverted with start of Pacific war to USAAF as A-27
|
|
NA-27
|
NA-16-2H
|
to Fokker and
Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu) (Netherlands)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-S2H1 Wasp
500 hp (370 kW)
|
1
|
European demonstrator
armed NA-26 with fixed gear.
|
|
NA-44
|
NA-44
|
to RCAF
|
Wright SG-1820-F52
Cyclone
750 hp (560 kW)
|
1
|
Prototype two-seat
export combat aircraft similar to BC-1A
|
|
NA-20
|
NA-16-2H
|
Trials, to Fuerza
Aérea Hondureña (FAH)
|
Wright R-975 Whirlwind
(Unknown sub-type/HP)
|
1
|
NC16025 originally
intended as demonstrator for China
|
|
NA-26
|
BC-1
|
Trials, to Royal
Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-S3H1 Wasp
550 hp (410 kW)
|
1
|
Basic Combat Demonstrator
NX18990 - no relation to later BC-1, first retractable gear variant, later
modified with Yale parts.
|
|
NA-19
|
NA-19/BT-9
|
USAAC
|
Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind
400 hp (300 kW)
|
42
|
Minor changes from
NA-18, new canopy
|
|
NA-19A
|
NA-19A/BT-9A
|
USAAC
|
Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind
400 hp (300 kW)
|
40
|
Armed BT-9 with one
cowl gun and one rear flexible gun, and suitably modified canopy.
|
|
NA-23
|
NA-23/BT-9B
|
USAAC
|
Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind
400 hp (300 kW)
|
117
|
Unarmed. 1 modified
as sole BT-9D as BT-14 prototype with new outer wings and other alterations.
|
|
NA-29
|
BT-9C
|
USAAC
|
Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind
400 hp (300 kW)
|
67
|
as per BT-9A with
minor changes. First aircraft completed as Y1BT-10.
|
|
NA-36
|
BC-1
|
USAAC
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-47 Wasp
500 hp (370 kW)
|
177
|
Retractable undercarriage
and first aircraft with square bottom rudder. DF loop under wing, blister covers
fuel transfer gear on center line aft of wheel wells.
|
|
NA-54
|
BC-2
|
USAAC
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-45 Wasp
600 hp (450 kW)
|
3
|
Based on NA-36 with
some improvements from NA-44, 3-bladed prop and two blister under wing center
section.
|
|
NA-55−1
|
BC-1A
|
USAAC
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-47/-49 Wasp
600 hp (450 kW)
|
83
|
Bought for reserve and Air National Guard (ANG) units.
|
|
NA-58
|
BT-14/BT-14A
|
USAAC
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-985-25 Wasp Junior
450 hp (340 kW)
|
251
|
Similar to Harvard
II except for fixed undercarriage and smaller engine. 27 re-engined with
400 hp (300 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-11 as BT-14A
|
|
NA-59
|
AT-6-NA
|
USAAC
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-47 Wasp
600 hp (450 kW)
|
94
|
First examples converted
from NA-55 while still on production line, some examples had small DF loop
installed
|
|
NA-84
|
AT-6B
|
USAAC
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-AN-1 Wasp
600 hp (450 kW)
|
400
|
|
|
NA-30
|
BT-10
|
USAAC (Cancelled)
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-41 Wasp
600 hp (450 kW)
|
0
|
cancelled production
version of Y1BT-10
|
|
NA-22
|
NA-22
|
USAAC (rejected)
|
Wright R-760ET
225 hp (168 kW)
|
1
|
Dangerously underpowered
|
|
NA-16
|
NA-16
|
USAAC (trials)
|
Wright R-975-E3
Whirlwind
420 hp (310 kW)
|
1
|
Prototype NX-2080,
was open cockpit, received greenhouse canopy for trials
|
|
NA-18
|
NA-18
|
USAAC (trials)
|
Wright R-975-E3
Whirlwind
420 hp (310 kW)
|
1 (modified)
|
Ex-NA-16, won
against Seversky BT-8 and Curtiss-Wright CW-19R, to Argentina in 1937
|
|
NA-77
|
AT-6A/SNJ-3
|
USAAC, USN
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
637
|
|
|
NA-78
|
AT-6A/SNJ-3/3C
|
USAAC, USN
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
568
|
As NA-77, first aircraft
built in Texas, and to use name "Texan"
|
|
NA-88
|
AT-6C/AT-6D/XAT-6E
SNJ-4/SNJ-5
|
USAAC/USAAF, USN
|
Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp/
Ranger V-770-9
575 hp (429 kW)
|
9331
|
(last 800 as
NA.121) AT-6D used 24 volt electrics, vs previous 12 volt systems. XAT-6E
used Ranger V-770.
|
|
NA-121
|
AT-6D/AT-6F
|
USAAF, USN
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
4378
|
800 AT-6Ds, 211
SNJ-5, 956 AT-6F and 411 SNJ-6. AT-6F and SNJ-6 have clear fixed rear canopy
section
|
|
NA-128
|
AT-6D
|
USAAF, USN
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
0
|
Canceled orders to
have been built in Texas.
|
|
NA-168
|
T-6G/LT-6G
|
USAF/ANG
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
109
|
Re-manufactured and
updated from earlier versions. Mostly internal but canopy simplified
slightly.
|
|
NA-182
|
T-6G/LT-6G
|
USAF/ANG
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
824
|
as per NA-168, Re-manufactured/updated.
|
|
NA-188
|
T-6G/LT-6G
|
USAF/ANG
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
107
|
Re-manufactured and
converted from earlier versions.
|
|
NA-195
|
T-6G/LT-6G
|
USAF/ANG
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
11
|
Re-manufactured and
converted from earlier versions.
|
|
NA-197
|
T-6G
|
USAF/ANG
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
110
|
Re-manufactured and
converted from T-6D.
|
|
NA-28
|
NJ-1
|
USN
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-6 Wasp
550 hp (410 kW)
|
40
|
USN specification
up engined BT-9 as advanced trainer, some re-engined with later R-1340
versions.
|
|
NA-52
|
SNJ-1
|
USN
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-6 Wasp
500 hp (370 kW)
|
16
|
Short metal fuselage,
square rudder, late wings, fixed rear on canopy
|
|
NA-65
|
SNJ-2
|
USN
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-36 Wasp
|
36
|
Blister covering
fuel transfer gear along center-line aft of wheel wells
|
|
NA-85
|
SNJ-3
|
USN
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
0
|
Cancelled duplicate
of NA-78 for record purposes.
|
|
NA-198
|
SNJ-8
|
USN
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp
|
0
|
Cancelled Contract
for SNJ-8 (similar to T-6G)
|
|
NA-79
|
SNJ-2
|
USN / Flygvapnet
(Sweden) as Sk 16C
|
Pratt & Whitney
R-1340-56 Wasp
550 hp (410 kW)
|
25
|
|
Operators
Argentina: Argentine Army Aviation
(SNJ-4); Argentine Naval Aviation (SNJ-4 and 30 SNJ-5Cs for carrier operations)
Austria: Austrian Air Force
Belgium: Belgian Air Force
Biafra: Biafran Air Force
Bolivia: Bolivian Air Force; Naval
Aviation
Brazil: Brazilian Air Force
Cambodia: Royal Khmer Aviation (AVRK)
Canada: Royal Canadian Air Force; Royal
Canadian Navy; National Research Council (still in use)
Republic of China (Taiwan): Republic of
China Air Force
Chile: Chilean Air Force
Colombia: Colombian Air Force
Republic of the Congo: Congolese Air
Force
Cuba: Cuban Air and Air Defense Force
Denmark: Royal Danish Air Force
Dominican Republic: Dominican Air Force
El Salvador: Air Force of El Salvador
France: French Air Force
Gabon: Gabon Air Force
Germany: German Air Force (Bundeswehr
Luftwaffe)
Greece: Hellenic Air Force
Haiti: Haitian Air Corps
Hong Kong: Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary
Air Force
Honduras: Honduran Air Force
India: Royal Indian Air Force; Indian
Air Force
Indonesia: Indonesian Air Force –
bought 25 from the United States
Iran: Iranian Air Force
Iraq: Iraqi Air Force – bought 15
aircraft in the early 1950s; 6 of them were donated to Lebanon in 1956
Israel: Israeli Air Force
Italy: Italian Air Force operated 238
aircraft from 1949 until 1979
Japan: Japan Air Self-Defense Force; Japan
Maritime Self-Defense Force
Philippines: Philippine Air Force
Portugal: Portuguese Air Force; Portuguese
Naval Aviation
South Africa: South African Air Force
Southern Rhodesia: Southern Rhodesian
Air Force
South Vietnam: Republic of Vietnam Air
Force
Saudi Arabia: Royal Saudi Air Force
Spain: Spanish Air Force
Soviet Union: Soviet Air Forces
Sweden: Swedish Air Force 145 Harvard
IIb as Sk 16A, 106 T-6A, T-6B, SNJ-3, SNJ-4 as Sk 16B and 6 SNJ-2 as Sk 16C.
Switzerland: Swiss Air Force
Syria: Syrian Air Force
Thailand: Royal Thai Air Force; Royal
Thai Navy
Tunisia: Tunisian Air Force
Turkey: Turkish Air Force: 196 planes
of various types
United Kingdom: Royal Air Force; Royal
Navy; Qinetiq (retired in 2016)
United States: United States Army Air
Corps/Army Air Forces; United States Air Force; United States Navy; United
States Marine Corps; United States Coast Guard
Uruguay: Uruguayan Air Force; Aviacion
Naval Uruguaya
Venezuela: Venezuelan Air Force
Kingdom of Yemen: Yemeni Air Force
Yugoslavia: SFR Yugoslav Air Force
Zaire
Specifications (T-6G)
Crew: two
(student and instructor)
Length: 29 ft
(8.8 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft
(13 m)
Height: 11 ft 8
in (3.56 m)
Wing area:
253.7 sq ft (23.57 m2)
Empty weight:
4,158 lb (1,886 kg)
Gross weight:
5,617 lb (2,548 kg)
Powerplant: 1 ×
Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial engine, 600 hp (450 kW)
Maximum speed:
208 mph (335 km/h, 181 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
Cruise speed:
145 mph (233 km/h, 126 kn)
Range: 730 mi
(1,170 km, 630 nmi)
Service
ceiling: 24,200 ft (7,400 m)
Rate of climb:
1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)
Wing loading:
22.2 lb/sq ft (108 kg/m2)
Power/mass:
0.11 hp/lb (kW/kg)
Armament: Provision
for up to 3 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns
In Popular Culture
In the September 1944 issue of The Sportsman Pilot, USAAF
Capt. Paul K. Jones' article stated, "The Six is a plane that can do
anything a fighter can do—and even more. Naturally not as fast, she makes up
for speed in her ease of handling and her maneuverability. She's a war machine,
yes, but more than that she's a flyer's airplane. Rolls, Immelmans, loops,
spins, snaps, vertical rolls—she can do anything—and do it beautifully. For
actual combat, more guns, more speed and more power is needed. But for the
sheer joy of flying—give me an AT-6."
After World War II, the National Air Races established a
unique racing class for the AT-6/Texan/Harvard aircraft; this class continues
today at the Reno National Air Races each year.
Since the Second World War, the T-6 has been a regular
participant at air shows, and was used in many movies and television programs.
For example, converted single-seat T-6s painted in Japanese markings to
represent Mitsubishi Zeros made appearances in A Yank in the R.A.F. (1941),
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976-1978), and The Final
Countdown (1980). In A Bridge too Far (1977) it represented the razorback
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Some were modified for the Dutch film Soldaat van
Oranje (1977) to represent the Dutch pre–World War II fighter Fokker D.XXI.
The New Zealand Warbirds "Roaring 40s" aerobatic
team use ex–Royal New Zealand Air Force Harvards. The Flying Lions Aerobatic
Team uses Harvards acquired from the South African Air Force.
Bibliography
Andrade, John
M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties
Publications, England, 1979.
Becker, Dave
and Brent, Winston. AT-6 Harvard in South African Service (African Aviation
Series No.1). Nelspruit, South Africa:, Freeworld Publications CC, 2000.
Bergèse,
Francis. North American T-6 (in French). Rennes, France: Ouest France, 1979.
Cooper, Tom;
Grandolini, Albert (2018). Showdown in Western Sahara, Volume 1: Air Warfare
over the Last African Colony, 1945-1975. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company
Publishing.
"Courrier
des Lecteurs" [Readers' Letters]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son
histoire (in French). No. 109. April 2002. p. 3.
Cortet, Pierre
(January 1998). "Du NA-16 au T-6: les biplaces d'entrainement North
American: première époque: les trains fixes" [From NA-16 to T-6: The North
American Two-seat Trainer: The Fixed-gear Era]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et
son histoire (in French). No. 58. pp. 32–37.
Cortet, Pierre
(February 1998). "Du NA-16 au T-6: les biplaces d'entrainement North
American: première époque: les trains fixes (2e partie)". Avions: Toute
l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French). No. 59. pp. 28–35.
Cortet, Pierre
(March 1998). "Du NA-16 au T-6: les biplaces d'entrainement North
American: première époque: les trains fixes (3e partie)". Avions: Toute
l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French). No. 60. pp. 37–42.
Cortet, Pierre
(April 1998). "Du NA-16 au T-6: les biplaces d'entrainement North
American: première époque: les trains fixes (4e partie)". Avions: Toute
l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French). No. 61. pp. 32–34.
Cortet, Pierre
(May 1998). "Du NA-16 au T-6: les biplaces d'entrainement North American:
première époque: les trains fixes (5e partie: les NA-57 en France)" [From
NA-16 to T-6: The North American Two-seat Trainer: The Fixed-gear Era (The
NA-57 in France)]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French).
No. 62. pp. 22–29.
Cortet, Pierre
(January 1998). "Du NA-16 au T-6: les biplaces d'entrainement North
American: première époque: les trains fixes (6ème partie: les NA-57 de Vichy et
de la France Libre)" [From NA-16 to T-6: The North American Two-seat
Trainer: The Fixed-gear Era (The NA-57s of Vichy and Free France]. Avions:
Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French). No. 58. pp. 31–37.
Cortet, Pierre
(July 1998). "Du NA-16 au T-6: les biplaces d'entrainement North American:
première époque: à train fixe (dernière partie)". Avions: Toute
l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French). No. 64. pp. 30–34.
Davis, Larry.
T-6 Texan in Action (Aircraft Number 94). Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal
Publications, Inc., 1989.
Donald, David.
American Warplanes of World War II. London:Aerospace Publishing, 1995.
Fletcher, David
C. and MacPhail, Doug. Harvard! the North American Trainers in Canada. San
Josef, BC/Dundee, Ont: DCF Flying Books, 1990.
Hagedorn, Dan
(1997). North American NA-16/AT-6/SNJ. North Branch, MN: Specialty Press.
Hagedorn, Dan
(2009). North American's T-6: a definitive history of the world's most famous
trainer. North Branch, MN: Specialty Press.
Hamlin, John F.
The Harvard File. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988.
Jesse. William.
T-6 Texan, the Immortal Pilot Trainer. London: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1991.
Kohn, Leo J.
The Story of the Texan (American Flight Manuals). Aviation Publications Co.,
1975.
MacPhail, Doug
and Östberg, Mikael. Triple Crown BT-9: The ASJA/Saab Sk 14, A Pictorial Essay
(in English/Swedish). San Josef, BC/Dundee, Ont: DCF Flying Books, 2003.
Marchand,
Patrick and Takamori, Junko. North American T-6 et derivés (in French). Le Muy,
France: Editions d'Along, 2004.
Morgan, Len.
Famous Aircraft Series: The AT-6 Harvard. New York: Arco Publishing Co., 1965.
Nicolle, David
(December 1997). "Texans sur l'arabe: la 1ère victoire aérienne
syrienne" [Texans over Arabia: The First Syrian Aerial Victory]. Avions:
Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French). No. 57. pp. 9–13.
Olrich, Walter
and Ethell, Jeffrey L. Pilot maker; the Incredible T-6. North Branch, MN:
Specialty Press, 1982.
"Pentagon
Over the Islands: The Thirty-Year History of Indonesian Military
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Sapienza,
Antonio Luis (January 1997). "Les North American T-6 "Texan" de
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Texans of the Paraguayan Air Force from 1943 to Today]. Avions: Toute
l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French). No. 46. pp. 15–17.
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Charles. North American T-6: SNJ, Harvard and Wirraway. Ramsbury, Marlborough,
Wiltshire, UK: The Crowood Press Ltd., 2000.
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Charles. T-6: The Harvard, Texan & Wirraway – A Pictorial Record. North
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Jean-Pierre (January 2002). "1964: l'ONU au Congo" [The United
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Jean-Pierre (February 2002). "1964: l'ONU au Congo". Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique
et son histoire (in French). No. 107. pp. 33–38.
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and Rivers, Reg. Colour schemes and special markings of the North American
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Peter. From American Acorn to Japanese Oak – The tale of an unsung Japanese
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Gordon and Bowers, Peter M. United States Military Aircraft since 1909.
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(September–October 1996). "Texans in Biafra: T-6Gs in Use in the Nigerian
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Wache,
Siegfried. CCF Harvard Mk. IV (T-6) (series F-40 – Die Flugzeuge der Bundeswehr
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Young, Edward
M. (1984). "France's Forgotten Air War". Air Enthusiast. No. 25. pp.
22–33.
 |
| North American BC-1 US Army Air Corps. |
 |
| U.S. Army Air Corps North American BC-1, the initial production version with 600hp R-1340-47 engine, circa 1938. |
 |
| North
American BC-1 trainer aircraft. The BC-1 was the first in a small line
of North American BC trainers, all variants of the North American T-6
Texan. The BC-1 was powered by a 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-47
engine. Around 180 were built and entered service with the USAAC in the
late-1930s. 400 were built for the RAF as the Harvard I—these eliminated
the rear gun and used a different engine. |
 |
| North American BC-1, Oakland, 1938. The father of the AT-6. The first AT-6s were BC-1As. |
 |
| North American BC-1. |
 |
| North American NA-54 (BC-2), USAAC. |
 |
| A North American SNJ Texan takes off from the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Hoggatt Bay (CVE-75), circa in 1944. |
 |
| A
U.S. Navy North American SNJ-3 Texan (BuNo 6836) used for intermediate
pilot training at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, January 8,
1942. |
 |
| A
U.S. Navy North American SNJ-4 Texan (BuNo 26859) assigned to Carrier
Aircraft Service Unit (CASU) 23 pictured in flight near Atlantic City,
New Jersey. 1945. |
 |
| North American SNJ-5, BuNo 90836, NAS Oakland. |
 |
| At
Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, Bernice Sansburg, an 3/c and
Violet Falkum, M 3/c work on the engine of an SNJ. Both are graduates of
the Navy's Technical Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma. October 27,
1943. |
 |
| WAVE
[Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service] activities at
Jacksonville, Florida. Violet Falkum, AMM, spins prop of SNJ, training
plane. September 1943. |
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| The
first production U.S. Navy North American SNJ-1 Texan (BuNo 1552)
assigned to the Naval Air Station Anacostia in Washington, D.C. in
flight before the Second World War. |
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| A
U.S. Coast Guard North American SNJ-6 Texan (BuNo 112133). The USCG
operated 15 Texans from 1943 to 1948. One crashed, the rest was returned
to the U.S. Navy. |
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| A U.S. Navy North American Aviation NJ-1 Texan (BuNo 0922) in flight, in 1938. |
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| North American NA-16 prototype NX2080. |
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| North
American Harvard Mark I, N7033, of No. 2 Service Flying Training School
based at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, in flight with undercarriage
lowered. |
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| North American Harvard Mark IIB: front seat instrument panel and pilot's controls. |
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| Original
wartime caption: American "Harvard" aircraft are used extensively by
the Royal Air Force for the advanced training of pilots. These pictures
show Harvard aircraft in use at the Royal Air Force Flying Training
School "somewhere in England". A Harvard "takes off" for a training
flight. |
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| North American Harvard aircraft being prepared for a training flight. |
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| North American Harvard aircraft in a striking "line astern" formation. |
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| North American Harvard aircraft being prepared for a training flight. |
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| North American Harvard aircraft in a striking "line astern" formation. |
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| North American Harvard aircraft lined up in readiness for a training flight. |
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| North
American Harvard Mark I, N7033, of No. 2 Service Flying Training School
based at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, in flight with undercarriage
lowered. |
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| A formation of North American Harvards during a training flight. |
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| North
American Harvard Mark IIB, FT281, on the ground. This aircraft enjoyed a
long service career, serving initially with No. 5 (Pilots) Advanced
Flying Unit at Ternhill, Shropshire, and thereafter with a number of
flying training schools until 1954. |
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| North
American Harvard IIA, BD132, on the ground in the United Kingdom
shortly after assembly, and before delivery to Southern Rhodesia for
service with the Rhodesian Air Training Group. |
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| North
American Harvard Mark IIA, BD134, at the Aeroplane and Armament
Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, Wiltshire. Following handling
tests at the A&AEE, BD134 was delivered to Southern Rhodesia for
use by the Rhodesian Air Training Group. |
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| Ground crew refuel a North American Harvard of No 20 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) at Kisumu in Kenya, January 1943. |
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| Instructors
(in white) and pupils parade with North American Harvard aircraft. The
Harvard was the standard equipment for advanced pilot instruction which
took place at Service Flying Training Schools. January 1943. |
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| North American Harvard EX180 taxis out at Cranborne as another comes in to land. January 1943. |
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| Three
Harvard Mark Is, N7125, N7095 and N7061, of No. 20 Service Flying
Training School based at Cranbourne, Southern Rhodesia, dropping 25lb
practice bombs during a training flight. |
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| A
flight of North American Harvard IIAs from No 20 Service Flying
Training School being flown in formation by RAF trainee pilots
participating in the Commonwealth Joint Air Training Programme at
Cranborne, near Salisbury, Rhodesia. |
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| North American T-6, Brazilian Air Force, December 22, 1940. |
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| North American T-6, Brazilian Air Force, December 22, 1940. |
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| NA-46
(NA-16-4). 12 for the Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy) with a Wright
R-975-53 Whirlwind (400 hp (300 kW)). Similar to BT-9C with wingtip
slats, small DF loop under fuselage. |
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| North
American Harvard trainers are crated for shipment by rail. Warbird
Factory, Inglewood, California, mechanic training school, circa 1943. |
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| North
American Harvard trainers are crated for shipment by rail. Warbird
Factory, Inglewood, California, mechanic training school, circa 1943. |
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| North American Harvard cockpit, camera gun and bomb switch, 1942. |
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| A
Colombian Air Force North American T-6 Texan. It was the first
second-generation aircraft acquired for the Colombian Air Force during
the Second World War. The aircraft entered the service in 1940, and was
removed from service in 1967. |
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| North
American NA-57-Et2 (c/n 57-1254) French Air Force. Ordered on February
21, 1939, the NA-57 was an improved version of the basic NA-16 trainer
series and similar to the USAAC NA-23 BT-9B. It had a fixed tailwheel
undercarriage and was powered by a 400 hp Wright R-975 Whirlwind radial
engine. The French AF bought 200 aircraft (c/n 57-1253 to 57-1452),
these were operated in the Et2 (Entrainement biplace, two-seat trainer)
category, while the French Navy obtained thirty aircraft (c/n 57-1518 to
57-1547), which were operated in the P2 (Perfectionement biplace,
advanced two-seat) category. |
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| North American NA-57-P-2 French Naval Air Force. |
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| North American NA-57-P-2 French Air Force. |
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| A French North American NA-57 in Luftwaffe service after the German occupation of France. |
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| Two
North American A-27s of the 17th Pursuit Squadron at Nichols Field,
Philippines, in 1941. The United States impressed 10 North American
NA-69 attack aircraft ordered by Thailand when it became apparent the
aircraft would fall into Japanese hands in the early 1940s. The United
States was not yet at war with Japan at this point. The NA-69 was
basically an attack version of the AT-6 trainer aircraft intended for
export. The aircraft were re-designated A-27s and given 1941 serial
numbers. The A-27s were assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps’ 17th
Pursuit Squadron at Nichols Field in the Philippines. When the Japanese
attacked the Philippine Islands in the first days of the Pacific War,
all A-27s were destroyed. |
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| U.S. Army Air Corps North American BC-1, the initial production version with 600hp R-1340-47 engine, circa 1938. |
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| USAAF
North American AT-6A (NA-78) (41-16069) in flight. In this excellent
shot Mo Chung Yung is shown at the controls with instructor in the rear
flying. |
.jpg) |
| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan, Goodfellow Field, San Angelo, Texas. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| Benjamin
O. Davis, Jr. standing on the wing of a North American AT-6 Texan (522)
preparing to climb into the cockpit. Davis is wearing a B-3 flying
suit. |
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| USAAF
pilot trainees posing with an AT-6 for the camera. Literally hundreds
of thousands of pilots earned their qualifications on the Texan in more
than three decades of service. This photograph offers an excellent view
of one of the many canopy framing configurations carried by the Texan. |
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| WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilot) students studying their flight plan for the day next to a North American AT-6 Texan; 1943. |
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| 1st
Lt. Lee Rayford, in a North American AT-6A Texan, who has returned to
the United States from Italy where he served with the 99th Fighter
Squadron. |
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| Two
U.S. Army Air Forces North American AT-6C-NT Texan trainers (42-43925,
42-43929) in flight near Luke Field, Arizona, in 1943. |
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| North American AT-6 Texans in maintenance hangar; Spence Army Air Field, 1944. |
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| North American AT-6F-NT Texan 44-81970 TA-970. |
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| A
U.S. Army Air Force student pilot in an North American AT-6 Texan
trainer "attacks" a USAAF Lockheed B-34 during gunnery training; circa
1942/43. |
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| WASP trainees and their instructor in front of a North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan 41-17154 SP311; Spence Army Air Field, Georgia, 1944. |
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| North American AT-6A Texan 42-48998 EP75; Eagle Pass Army Airfield, Texas, 1943. |
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The
sole U.S. Army Air Forces North American XAT-6E Texan (s/n 42-84241) at
the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, on 11 May 1945. The
XAT-6E was a standard AT-6D re-engined with a 575hp Ranger V-770-9 V-12
inline engine for trials.
|
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| North American Aviation AT-6 Texan from Dallas production on convertible skis, early 1942. |
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| WASP pilots with North American AT-6 Texan advanced trainers. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan s/n 42-805 code 1111. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| North American AT-6C-NT Texan 41-32469 FM707; Buckingham Army Air Field, Florida, 1944. |
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| North American AT-6 Texans on flight line with control tower; Spence Army Air Field, 1944. |
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| North American AT-6 Texans on parking ramp with fuel trucks; Spence Army Air Field, 1944. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan code SP3(??) with student and instructor; Spence Army Air Field, 1944. |
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| AT-6
Front Cockpit left side. (Erection and Maintenance Instructions for
Army Models AT-6, AT-6A, B, C, and D, Navy Models SNJ-3, 4 and 5,
British Models Harvard IIA and III Airplanes, AN 01-60F-2; 15 March
1944. |
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| Three
M-2, caliber .30 Browning machine guns; five M-5, 20 or 30 pound
fragmentation bombs, or four Mark I, 100 pound bombs. (Erection and
Maintenance Instructions for Army Models AT-6, AT-6A, B, C, and D, Navy
Models SNJ-3, 4 and 5, British Models Harvard IIA and III Airplanes, AN
01-60F-2; 15 March 1944.) |
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| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan flight line; Dallas, Texas. |
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| North American AT-6 Texans on parking ramp; Spence Army Air Field, 1944. |
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| U.S. Army Air Force North American AT-6C-15-NT Texan 42-48826 N436; taking off. |
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| North American AT-6A Texan 41-16087 T-138; Moffett Field. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan. |
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| A RAF-assigned North American AT-6 Texan (AJ931), known in RAF service as a Harvard, in flight. |
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| AT-6
Front Cockpit. (Erection and Maintenance Instructions for Army Models
AT-6, AT-6A, B, C, and D, Navy Models SNJ-3, 4 and 5, British Models
Harvard IIA and III Airplanes, AN 01-60F-2; 15 March 1944.) |
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| North American AT-6G Texan. |
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| AT-6
Front Cockpit right side. (Erection and Maintenance Instructions for
Army Models AT-6, AT-6A, B, C, and D, Navy Models SNJ-3, 4 and 5,
British Models Harvard IIA and III Airplanes, AN 01-60F-2; 15 March
1944.) |
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| Senator
Herbert Lehman, former Governor of New York, now Director of the Office
of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation, shakes hands with his son Flight
Officer Peter G. Lehman of the 4th Fighter Group in the cockpit of an
AT-6 Harvard; April 24, 1943. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan trainers US Army. |
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| North American AT-6 Texan 41-16338 C569; Cochran Army Air Field, 1944. |
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| North American AT-6 Texans; Spence Army Air Field, 1943. |
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| Pilot trainees with their instructor in front of a North American AT-6 Texan; Brooks Field, 1941. |
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| North American BC-2. Similar to BC-1A and AT-6, modified from NA-36 with details from NA-44, three-bladed propellers. |
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| North American BC-2. |
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| Basic
Combat demonstrator (NA-26). One-armed demonstrator and the first
variant with a retractable undercarriage, eventually sold to RCAF, who
modified it with Yale and Harvard parts. Powered by Pratt & Whitney
R-1340 Wasp. In 1937, the North American NA-26 prototype won a
competition for a basic combat trainer for the USAAC, and, in due
course, it went into production as the BC-1. Little could North American
Aviation know how famous and numerous its new trainer would become,
with demand for it spurred on by the urgent needs of World War II. The
aircraft was produced in several versions, and it flew with many arms,
with production continuing long after World War II.. The metal-framed
BC-1 had a metal skin on the wings and tail unit, fabric-covered control
surfaces and mainly fabric-covered fuselage. There was a Pratt and
Whitney R-1340 9 cylinder Wasp radial upfront and an inwardly retracting
undercarriage. |
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| North American BC-1. |
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| A formation of RAF Harvards during a training flight. |
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| Harvard Mk.II 3275 being serviced on the flight line in Trenton, Ontario; 1941. |
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| Harvard
NA-31 (NA-16-4M) in Sweden. Virtually the same as the BT-9C, the only
differences were the Wright R-975-E3 engine and Goodyear tires. The
NA-31 was scrapped in November 1949 after some 1881 hours of flying. The
Swedish air force designation was Sk 14. |
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| North
American Harvard Mk.II NZ916 advanced trainer during assembly at the
Aircraft Assembly Unit, RNZAF Station Hobsonville. It had arrived aboard
the merchant ship Limerick in May 1941 and was assembled at
Hobsonville. Brought On Charge on 20 May 1941, it served with No.1
Service Flying Training School at RNZAF Station Wigram, Christchurch,
before transferring to No.2 SFTS at RNZAF Station Woodbourne. It was
used as an advanced trainer for fighter pilots. It crashed and burned at
Woodbourn. |
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| Dutch
Harvard NA-27 (NA-16-2H) demonstrator in Air Force colors. It was lost
at De Vlijt when destroyed by Bf 110s on 11 May 1940. |
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| North American Harvard Mk I. |
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| North
American’s trainer spawned a bewildering variety of sub-types and
related designs, many with additional modifications. In the U.S. Navy
the type was called the SNJ, in Britain and the Commonwealth it was
known as the Harvard. Figures vary depending on what exactly is being
counted, but one estimate places total production at 15,495. Seen here
are U.S. Navy SNJs at Naval Air Station Miami. |
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| North
American Harvard Mk.II advanced trainer NZ912 during assembly at the
Aircraft Assembly Unit, RNZAF Station Hobsonville. It had arrived aboard
the merchant ship Wairuna in March 1941 and was assembled at
Hobsonville. Brought On Charge on 14 March 1941, it served with No.1
Service Flying Training School at RNZAF Station Wigram, Christchurch,
before transferring to No.2 SFTS at RNZAF Station Woodbourne. It was
used as an advanced trainer for fighter pilots. |
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| North American Harvard Mk.Is preparing for a training flight at a Service Flying Training School; Rhodesian Air Training Group. |
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| Pilots
A. F. Coggan and J. F. Lawless climb into the cockpit of a North
American Harvard Mk.II, at No.4 Service Flying Training School,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, October 4, 1940. The camouflage paint scheme
on these particular Harvards is the same scheme applied to Mk.I Harvards
supplied to the RAF for use in the UK where camouflage was a necessity.
The scheme was also worn by UK-based Fairey Battles and other aircraft.
There weren't many Harvard Mk.IIs that came to Canada in this scheme
(direct from the makers). Perhaps revised instructions hadn't reached
North American yet. |
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| North American Harvard Mk.I RAF. |
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| Pupil
Sergeant D. H. Marshall climbing into North American Harvard '49' at
Cranborne. He served as a ground crewman for 2½ years before being
accepted for flight training. Commonwealth Joint Air Training Plan,
No.20 Service Flying Training School, Cranborne, Near Salisbury,
Rhodesia, January 1943. |
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| Pupil
Sergeant D. H. Marshall climbing into North American Harvard '49' at
Cranborne. He served as a ground crewman for 2½ years before being
accepted for flight training. Commonwealth Joint Air Training Plan, No.
20 Service Flying Training School, Cranborne, Near Salisbury, Rhodesia,
January 1943. |
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| Pilots
H. W. Fitch and T. S. Sheppard climb into the cockpit of a North
American Harvard Mk.II at No.4 Service Flying Training School,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, October 4, 1940. |
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| Canadian workers manufacturing wings for Harvard training aircraft, 1943. |
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| North
American Harvards of No 20 Service Flying Training School being flown
in formation over Rhodesia. The leading aircraft have all-yellow
paintwork, a scheme discontinued on later arrivals which kept their
natural metal finishes. Commonwealth Joint Air Training Plan, No.20
Service Flying Training School, Cranborne, Near Salisbury, Rhodesia,
January 1943. |
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| Sixteen
instructors (front row) and pupils parade with North American Harvard
aircraft. The Harvard was the standard equipment for advanced pilot
instruction which took place at Service Flying Training Schools.
Commonwealth Joint Air Training Plan, No.20 Service Flying Training
School, Cranborne, Near Salisbury, Rhodesia, January 1943. |
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| North
American Harvard Mk.IIB, with Santa Claus, and Westland Lysander. This
Harvard brought Santa to No.1 Coastal Artillery Co-operation (CAC)
Flight, Saint John, New Brunswick, December 1942. |
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| Harvard AJ714 85. Training in South Africa under the Commonwealth Joint Air Training Plan. |
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| North American Harvard cockpit, camera gun and bomb switch, 1942. |
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| Three
Harvard Mark Is, N7095 N, N7061 and N7125 L, of No.20 Service Flying
Training School based at Cranborne, practicing formation flying over the
Mazoe (now Mazowe) river valley. |
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| Pilots
T. S. Shaples, K. MacBain, R. S. McCloskey and D. F. MacDonald watch
the sky while standing in front of a North American Harvard Mk. II at
No.4 Service Flying Training School, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, October 4,
1940. |
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| Aircraft
and airframes assembled at a Maintenance Unit at Brindisi, after the
end of the Second World War in Europe. These include, in the foreground,
North American Harvard training aircraft, destined for the Yugoslav
Flying Training School established by the RAF at Zadar. |
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| Trainee
pilots at No. 20 Service Flying Training School, Cranborne, walk to
North American Harvard Mark Is for their training flights. Commonwealth
Joint Air Training Plan, No.20 Service Flying Training School,
Cranborne, Near Salisbury, Rhodesia. |
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| North American BT-9s. |
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