Boeing P-12 Fabled Four

The P-12 was one of the most successful American fighters produced between WW I and WW II. Used by both the Army and Navy (as the F4B), the P-12 was developed from prototypes built by the Boeing Airplane Company at their own expense. It was produced in a basic version and five additional series, -B through -F. The basic P-12 and the -B, -C and -D series had fabric-covered fuselages of bolted aluminum tubing. P-12E and -F fuselages were all-metal, semimonocoque (stressed skin) construction. All had wooden wings with fabric covering. The Army Air Corps received its first P-12 in Feb. 1929 and the last P-12F in May 1932. The last of the biplane fighters flown by the Army; some remained in service until 1941. In all, 366 were produced for the Army. More P-12Es were built (110) than any other series.

The P-12E on display served with the 6th Pursuit Squadron in Hawaii during the 1930s and was retired in 1940. It was donated to the USAF Museum in 1973 by Marcellus Foose and Glen Courtwright of Oaklawn, Ill. Museum specialists began restoration in 1974 and completed it in 1983.

Thank-you for having information on Great Uncle Celly. He just died at age of 91 and the funeral is December 30, 2004 from Hickey Memorial Chapel at 127th & Western in Blue Island.

James David Johanson, Blue Island, Illinois

17:53 12/29/2004

More P-12E images...

As displayed at the USAF Air Museum.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 30 ft.
Length: 20 ft. 4 in.
Height: 9 ft.
Weight: 2,690 lbs. loaded
Armament: Two .30-cal. machine guns or one .30-cal. and one .50-cal.;244 lbs. of bombs carried externally.
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-17 of 500 hp.
Crew: One
Cost: $15,000
Serial number: 31-559
C/N: 1466 <

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 189 mph.
Cruising speed: 160 mph.
Range: 570 miles
Service Ceiling: 26,300 ft.

Thumbnail List

Boeing P-12 Fabled Four.

Army version, P-12D fitted with an "E" type tail.

P-12E with all metal fuselage and fairing behind cockpit.

All-metal fuselage of P-12E was developed from the XP-9 and XP-15 aircraft.

National Air And Space Museum. Actual aircraft flown by father of present director, John Dailey.

Final production version of the famous 'Boeing bipes', the F4B-4 with a larger fin and headrest.

BuAer No. 9012 showing the underslung fuel tank that added to its range.

BuAer No. 8918 of Sauron VF-3.

Visit the Boeing P-12 Fabled Four Photo Gallery!
If you have any photos the Ol'Kunnel
would like to hear from you!