WORLD WAR 2 IN REVIEW

The World War 2 In Review blog features numerous articles and photos on World War 2 history topics, including military aircraft and warplanes, vehicles and AFVs, warships and naval vessels of World War 2; battles and operations in every theater of World War II; accounts by combatants and non-combatants during World War II; coverage of uniforms, insignia, weapons, and equipment used in WWII; strategy and tactics of World War 2; and much more on every aspect of the history of World War II.

Vultee V-11 / V-12 / YA-19: American Attack Aircraft

The Vultee V-11 and V-12 were American stressed-skin monocoque monoplane attack aircraft of the 1930s. Developed from the Vultee V-1 single-engined airliner, the V-11 and V-12 were purchased by several nations for their armed forces, including China, who used them in combat against Japanese forces in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The United States Army Air Corps purchased seven V-11s as the YA-19 in the years before World War II, testing them to gather data to compare against twin engine light attack aircraft.

Design and Development

In 1935, Vultee produced a light bomber derivative of their single-engined passenger transport, the Vultee V-1, which, while demonstrating good performance, was only sold in small numbers owing to restrictions placed on the use of single-engined aircraft for scheduled passenger transport operations.

The resulting aircraft, the Vultee V-11, retained the single-engined, low wing format and all-metal stressed skin structure of the V-1. It combined a new fuselage with accommodation for the three crew members under a long greenhouse canopy with the wings and tail surfaces of the Vultee V-1.

According to Jonathan Thompson, "Based on the V-1A, the V-11 was a modern, fast and effective military airplane when it appeared in 1935; during the next three years 102 V-11s in six variations were sold to four countries - the Soviet Union, China, Turkey and Brazil - before the Air Corps took seven A-19s. An improved version known as the AB-2 (Attack bomber, 2nd type) and later as the V-12, was tested in 1938 and provided the basis for further sales to China, bringing the total V-11 models and derivatives, including those built under license, to an estimated 225."

Duplicate emergency flying controls were provided for the observer/dorsal gunner in the V-11GB. According to Thompson, "Below his seat is the retractable bombardier's hatch; he lay prone, facing forward for the bomb run or rearward to use the ventral gun."

Type: Ground attack

Manufacturer: Vultee

Designer: Gerard Freebairn Vultee

Status: retired

Primary users:

Republic of China Air Force

Turkish Air Force

Soviet Air Forces

Brazilian Army Aviation

Number built: 175 + 2 plus as many as 4 more in Russia, and as many as 45 additional airframes that were delivered as parts sets but probably not assembled in China, for a maximum of 224.

Manufactured: 1935–1940

Introduction date: 1937

First flight: 17 September 1935

Developed from: Vultee V-1

Operational History

China

An initial order for 30 two-seat V-11Gs was placed by China before the end of 1935. This was followed in 1939 by orders for two versions (the V-12-C and V-12D) of the more powerful V-12 variant. The majority of these were planned to be assembled from kits at the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company factory at Loiwing near the China-Burma border, and while the first batch of 25 V-12-Cs were completed successfully, the factory was heavily bombed just after assembly of the first V-12-Ds commenced. This resulted in the part built airframes being evacuated to India, where it was planned that the aircraft be completed at the Hindustan Aircraft Limited factory in Bangalore. However, after a few were assembled, production was stopped as the factory was diverted to more urgent overhaul work.

The V-11s and V-12s served as light bombers and achieved some success, including a mission by 4 aircraft to bomb the Japanese held airfield at Yuncheng on February 5, 1939, by the 10th Squadron of the Republic of China Air Force, before the aircraft were withdrawn from bombing missions to training and liaison duties in 1940.

Brazil

In February 1939, the Brazilian Army Air Corps acquired the first 10 Vultee V-11–GB2s for long range bombing. 26 aircraft were eventually used by the Brazilian Air Force.

A 3,250 km (2,020 mi) non-stop flight was made across the Brazilian hinterland in 11 hours and 45 min on 8 November 1939 using a V-11.

On 26 August 1942, a U-boat was attacked 50 miles off the town of Ararangua off the southern coast of Brazil. Despite the unsuitability for anti submarine operations, the aircraft flew low and dropped its load of three 250 lb (110 kg) bombs, some of which exploded around the submarine, however the blast damaged the low flying aircraft.

Soviet Union

In 1936, the Soviet Union purchased four three-seat V-11-GB aircraft, together with a production license. The aircraft entered Soviet production in 1937 as the BSh-1 (Bronirovanny Shturmovik), but the armor fitted for the ground attack role unacceptably reduced performance and production was stopped after 31 aircraft. They were transferred to Aeroflot and redesignated PS-43 for use as high speed transports until the German invasion in 1941, when they were returned to the Air Force for liaison purposes.

United States

In the late 1930s, the United States Army Air Corps favored twin-engine light attack aircraft but seven YA-19 aircraft were ordered in the summer of 1938 for comparison purposes. The YA-19s were armed with six .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns and 1,080 lb (490 kg) bombs in an internal bomb bay, powered by a 1,200 hp (890 kW) Twin Wasp radial engine and was manned by a crew of three including a pilot, observer/gunner, and bombardier/photographer.

An unusual feature of the YA-19 design was its horizontal stabilizer which was located forward of the vertical tail. The small size of the vertical stabilizer caused yaw instability so the last YA-19 (S/N 38-555) was equipped with enlarged vertical stabilizer.

Service tests showed that twin-engine attack aircraft were faster, could be better armed and carried a larger bomb load so no further YA-19s were ordered. After comparison tests five YA-19s were redesignated A-19 and assigned to the 17th Attack Group at March Field in California for a brief period before being transferred to the Panama Canal Zone for utility transport and liaison duties. The A-19 never saw combat and was quickly withdrawn in the early 1940s.

Variants

Vultee Designations

V-11: First prototype fitted with 750 hp (560 kW) Wright SR-1820-F53 Cyclone driving a two-bladed Hamilton Standard controllable-pitch propeller, which crashed killing both pilot and the project engineer.

V-11-A: Second prototype, similar to first V-11, but with a three-bladed constant speed propeller.

V-11-G: Initial production two-seat light bomber. Powered by an 850 hp (630 kW) Wright R-1820-G2 Cyclone engine. 30 built for China.

V-11-GB: Three-seat version of V-11. 4 aircraft purchased by Soviet Union (2 as pattern aircraft), 40 by Turkey and others.

V-11-GB2: 26 purchased by Brazil – generally similar to V-11-GB

V11-GB2F: Final example for Brazil fitted with floats, however it wasn't accepted.

V-11-GBT: Re-designation of V-11-GB for Turkey

V-12: Revised version of three-seat bomber with refined aerodynamics and more power. One prototype flew in 1939 powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engine.

V-12-C: Production version of V-12 for China. Powered by R1820-G105B Cyclone engine. 26 built, one by Vultee and remaining 25 assembled in China.

V-12-D: Revised version with new fuselage and powered by 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) Wright R-2600 Cyclone 14 engine. 52 ordered for China, two pattern aircraft built by Vultee and 50 for local assembly.

V-52: Unbuilt observation design based on YA-19.

USAAC Designations

XA-19: Prototype.

Crew: Three (pilot, observer/gunner and bombardier/photographer)

Length: 37 ft 10 in (11.53 m)

Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)

Height: 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)

Wing area: 384 sq ft (35.7 m2)

Airfoil: Clark Y

Empty weight: 6,452 lb (2,927 kg)

Gross weight: 10,420 lb (4,726 kg)

Maximum takeoff weight: 16,285 lb (7,387 kg)

Fuel capacity: 311–330 US gallons (1,180–1,250 L)

Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial engine, 1,200 hp (890 kW)

Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard variable-pitch propeller

Maximum speed: 230 mph (370 km/h, 200 kn) at 6,500 ft (2,000 m)

Cruise speed: 207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn)

Minimum control speed: 80 mph (130 km/h, 70 kn)

Range: 1,110 mi (1,790 km, 960 nmi) with 1,080 lb (490 kg) of bombs

Ferry range: 1,350 mi (2,170 km, 1,170 nmi)

Service ceiling: 20,500 ft (6,200 m)

Rate of climb: 1,320 ft/min (6.7 m/s)

Armament:

Guns:

4 x forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns in wings

1 x dorsal .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun

1 x ventral .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun

Bombs: 6 x 30 lb (14 kg) in cells semi-recessed in wing center section and 1,100 lb (500 kg) externally

YA-19: Variant of V-11-GB for United states Army Air Corps. Seven examples built.

YA-19A: The last YA-19 was redesignated and completed as an engine test bed. Equipped with enlarged vertical stabilizer (for improve directional stability) and powered by Lycoming O-1230 (12-cylinder opposed) engine.

YA-19B: The second YA-19 built was redesignated after being fitted with a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine as an engine test bed.

YA-19C: The YA-19A was redesignated after being fitted with a Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp R-1830-51 engine. Performance was similar to the YA-19.

A-19: The remaining five YA-19s were redesignated A-19 after assignment to active duty.

Soviet Designations

BSh-1: Soviet licensed armored ground attack version. Powered by 920 hp (690 kW) M-62. Production stopped after at least 31 built.

PS-43: Designation for BSh-1 when used by Aeroflot as light transport.

Operators

Brazil

Brazilian Army Aviation – Vultee V-11-GB2 (25 delivered)

Brazilian Air Force - aircraft transferred when Air Force created

Republic of China

Chinese Nationalist Air Force

14th Squadron – Vultee V-11G (30), V-12C (25 delivered from order of 26, which was built but never delivered) and Vultee V-12D (52 delivered)

Soviet Union

Soviet Air Forces – Vultee V-11GB (4 delivered) & BSh-1 (31-35 built at Moscow Menzhinskii factory)

Turkey

Turkish Air Force

2nd Regiment – Vultee V-11GB (41 delivered)

United States

United States Army Air Corps – A-19/V-11GB (7 delivered)

Bibliography

Baugher, Joseph F. (1 July 2000). "Vultee XA-19". www.joebaugher.com.

Deryakulu, Nejat (November 1995). "Les Vultee V-11GBT turcs" [Turkish Vultee V-11GBTs]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (32): 29–32.

Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon, eds. (July 1972). "Those Versatile Vultees". Air Enthusiast. Vol. 3, no. 1. pp. 27–32, 38–42.

Johnson, E.R. (2008). American Attack Aircraft Since 1926. McFarland. pp. 30-32.

Lednicer, David (15 September 2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu.

Norton, William (2008). U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945. North Branch, MN: Specialty Press. p. 182.

Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1989). United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Smithsonian.

Wegg, John (1990). General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors. London: Putnam.

Vultee YA-19, serial number 38-553, 17th Attack Group, March Field, visiting Oakland in 1939.

Vultee YA-19.

Vultee V-12 prototype.

Vultee V-12-D prototype.

Vultee YA-19A powered by Lycoming O-1230 engine.

Vultee V-11-GB YA-19.

Vultee XA-19.

Vultee XA-19 No. 5 of the 17th Attack Group, March Field, California, September 12, 1939.

Vultee YA-19.

Vultee V-11-GB YA-19.

Vultee V-11.

Vultee V-11GB prototype NR-17327.

Vultee V-11.

Vultee V-11GB.

Vultee YA-19.

Camouflaged Chinese air force Vultee V-11-G.

Chinese air force Vultee V-11 “1435”.

Chinese air force Vultee V-11.

Chinese air force Vultee V-11 “142_”.

Brazilian Vultee V-11-GB2 landing.

Brazilian Vultee V-11-GB2s.

Brazilian Vultee V-11-GB2.

Brazilian Vultee V-11-GB.

Aeroflot Vultee PS-43.

Turkish air force Vultee V-11-GB.

Vultee V-11 floatplane, 1939.

Vultee V-11T (cn 27; NR14980).

Vultee V-11.

Vultee V-11GB.

Vultee V-11.

Bloch MB.700: French Fighter

In the last few years before the war, the French Air Ministry began to consider using non-strategic materials such as tropical wood varieties for warplane construction to avoid running short of steel or light alloys in the event of a conflict.

On 12 January 1937, the Ministry’s STAé Aeronautical Department issued technical program A23, calling for light C1 single-seat fighters of wooden construction using less-powerful engines than the 900/1,000hp units in the basic program.

To meet this requirement, André Herbemont, who had designed all the SPAD fighters since 1918, produced the MB 700. It was designed and built in the former Blériot Aéronautique factories in Suresnes, which had been incorporated into SNCASO when the French aviation industry was nationalized in 1936.

The MB 700 featured an all-wood, stressed-skin structure; the fuselage was covered with formed plywood in the forward section, canvas in the rear. The engine was a Gnome-Rhône 14 M6 delivering 700hp at takeoff.

MB 700-01 was transported by road to the Buc airfield, where it was reassembled and prepared. The new fighter made its first flight on 19 April 1940, with Daniel Rastel at the controls. It lasted 16 minutes and reached an altitude of 1,800 meters. The second flight was not completed until 13 May 1940, again with Daniel Rastel. During this 50 minute flight, the aircraft reached 4,000 meters. The prototype had not been fitted with weapons. It reached a speed of 550km/h, which was a remarkable performance considering the available power.

The prototype had only completed about 10 flying hours when the Buc airfield was occupied by German forces, who burned the plane.

Construction of a second prototype was started but never finished. It featured a number of modifications in relation to the 01: larger propeller, modified radiator, etc. A naval version, baptized MB 720, was also studied, but never got off the drawing board.

Role: light single-seat fighter-interceptor

Crew: One

Length: 4.93m

Height: 1.67m

Wing span: 6m

Wing area: 12.4m²

Gross weight: with four machine guns: 1,750kg; with 2 cannons and 2 machine guns: 1,850kg

Powerplant: One air-cooled rotary Gnome & Rhône 74 M 6, 14 cylinders, 700hp

Maximum speed: 550km/h at 4,000m

Cruising speed: 237.5 kt (273.5 mph; 440 km/h) at optimum altitude

Service ceiling: 28,545 ft (8700 m)

Endurance: 2 hours

Armament (planned): two Hispano Suiza HS 404 guns and two wing-mounted MAC 1934 M 39 machine guns or four wing-mounted 7.5mm M 39 machine guns.

Bloch MB.700-01 SNCASO.

MB.700 C.1.

MB.700.

Full-scale model of Bloch MB.700.

The first prototype of the Bloch MB.700 light fighter under construction next to the mock-up. In the background is the fuselage of a twin-engine Bloch MB.500 and two Bloch MB.800s.

André Herbémont.

MB.700.

MB.700-02.

Bloch MB.81: French Flying Ambulance

Bloch MB.81 ambulance.

The MB.81 was a French military aircraft built by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch as a flying ambulance since it was designed to carry one passenger, in or out of a stretcher. Developed in response to a government-sponsored competition in support of the new doctrine of "aerial first aid", it was employed exclusively in the overseas colonies, specifically Morocco and Syria. Unlike the MB.80 prototype, the MB.81 had a closed cockpit and a somewhat larger cargo space. This was the company's first design to reach production.

The aircraft was designed to be able to seek patients or casualties by scouting, even at high altitudes, during military operations in mountainous countries, like then-French Morocco over the Atlas Mountains.

The main design feature made it possible to transport a casualty lying prone, in a compartment placed between the pilot and the engine. The wings could also be adapted to hold casualties, remaining constantly under the sight of the pilot and connected to him by an Aviaphone communication system.

The MB.80 made its first flight at the beginning of summer 1932 in Villacoublay, piloted by Zacharie Heu. An all-metal monoplane with low wings, it was equipped with a French Lorraine 5Pc of 89 kW (120 hp) which allowed it to reach a speed of 190 km/h (120 mph) at an altitude of 6,400 m (21,000 ft) It was able to take off in 70 m (230 ft) and to land in 95 m (312 ft). In a 1932 test, the MB.80 carried out 209 landings in thirty-six hours without any problems.

The aircraft was built without any assistance from the government, but an initial order of 20 was placed by the Ground French Forces (the French Armée de l'Air was founded in 1933), and it was one of the aircraft that relaunched Marcel Bloch in the aeronautical construction industry.

The production model, called the MB.81, was fitted with a French Salmson 9Nd of 128.68 kW (175 hp). It took part in military operations in Morocco and in Syria at the beginning of the 1930s.

The MB.81 entered service in 1935, and was used extensively throughout North Africa and the Middle East. A few were used in 1939-1940, before the French surrender, and in July 1941 in the battle for Syria between the Vichy French and the British/Free French.

Role: Air ambulance

Manufacturer: Bloch

Designer: Marcel Bloch

First flight: Mid-1932

Introduction: 1935

Status: retired

Primary user: Armée de l'Air

Number built: 21

Crew: 1

Capacity: 1 seated or stretchered

Length: 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)

Wingspan: 12.59 m (41 ft 4 in)

Height: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)

Empty weight: 580 kg (1,279 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Salmson 9Nd 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 128.68 kW (172.56 hp)

Maximum speed: 188 km/h (117 mph, 102 kn)

Range: 654 km (406 mi, 353 nmi)

Service ceiling: 6,400 m (21,000 ft)

Variants

MB.80: prototype (1 built)

MB.81: production version (20 built)

Operators

France: Armee de l'Air; Vichy France

References

Comas, Mathieu (September 1999). "La débacle des ambulanciers... ou l'histoire inconnu d'une section d'avions ambulanciers en mai-juin 1940" [Debacle of the Ambulances: Or the Unknown History of an Aerial Ambulance Section in May–June 1940]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et Son Histoire (in French) (78): 18–21.

Cortet, Pierre (September 2001). "Rétros du Mois" [Retros of the Month]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (102): 7.