North American AT-6 Texan

The North American T-6 Texan, played two distinctively different roles in Air Force history. It was one of the most widely and best-known trainers used in World War II. In the Korean War, the Texan became a combat aircraft, marking enemy positions, and was dubbed the Mosquito. Because of its slow speed in a jet-age war, few were lost to enemy action. The Texan following and displayed at the USAF Museum was received from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

This Aircraft is currently in Storage off public display The AT-6 advanced trainer was one of the most widely used aircraft in history. Evolving from the BC-1 basic combat trainer ordered in 1937, 15,495 Texans were built between 1938 and 1945. The USAAF procured 10,057 AT-6s; others went to the Navy as SNJs and to more than 30 Allied nations. Most AAF fighter pilots trained in AT-6s prior to graduation from flying school. Many of the "Spitfire" and "Hurricane" pilots in the Battle of Britain trained in Canada in "Harvards," the British version of the AT-6. To comply with neutrality laws, U.S. built Harvards were flown north to the border and were pushed across.

In 1948, Texans still in USAF service were redesignated as T-6s when the AT, BT and PT aircraft designations were abandoned. To meet an urgent need for close air support of ground forces in the Korean Conflict, T-6s flew "mosquito missions" spotting enemy troops and guns and marking them with smoke rockets for attack by fighter-bombers.

The aircraft on display is one of 1,802 T-6s remanufactured under a 1949 USAF modernization program, redesignated as T-6Gs, and given new serial numbers. It was acquired from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in 1957 and is painted as an AT-6 based at Randolph Field, Texas in 1942.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 42 ft.
Length: 29 ft. 6 in.
Height: 10 ft. 10 in.
Weight: 5,617 lbs. loaded
Armament: None (some AT-6s used for gunnery/bombing training)
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 of 600 hp.
Cost: $27,000

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 210 mph.
Cruising speed: 145 mph.
Range: 770 miles
Service Ceiling: 23,200 ft.

-- USAF Museum Info

The following items are found in my 'today-in-history' bulletin for April 1, 2004...

In 1935, first flight of the North American NA-16, the prototype of the AT-6 Texan and BC-1 trainer, at Dundalk, Maryland. ... In 1939, the prototype for the Mitsubishi A6M1 Reisen, or Zero Fighter (Allied code name "Zeke") makes its first flight at Kagamigahara, Japan.

It occurred to me that the use of the Texan in today's air shows cooincides with the rebuilding of some into World War II Japanese air forces look-a-likes. Check out the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. One wonders how many aircraft designs were 'borrowed' by other countries from American prototypes. Any of your comments will be appreciated in the IRBFlying Forum....