At the beginning of the 1930s, North American Aviation designed one of the most popular aircraft of all time, the T-6 Texan. Over 24,404 planes in 260 versions and variants were produced. This WWII vintage, propeller-driven aircraft is covered in its various forms and uses, including combat and training. Detailed specifications, unit insignia, and historical and present-day photographs are provided.
This title concerns the the T-6 Texan, a major tool of the Allied pilot training scheme in World War II. It continued to serve with many air forces until the 1970s, but since then its major role is participating in airshows worldwide.
Thomas, in the only combat account of World War II Torpedo Bomber pilot ever published, relates his 25 months of service with Torpedo Squadron 4 (VT-4) on the USS RANGER, USS BUNKER HILL, and USS ESSEX. Thomas served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters, and in some of the most important World War II battles. While on the RANGER, he participated in OPERATION LEADER, the most significant attack on Northern Europe by a US carrier during the war. During LEADER, while attacking a freight barge carrying 40 tons of ammunition, Thomas' plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Surprisingly, in spite of the considerable engine damage, the plane made it back to the RANGER, where Thomas crash-landed. That landing was his 13th official carrier landing. In the Pacific, Thomas participated in the numerous actions against Japanese targets in the Philippines, including strikes on Ormoc Bay, Cavite, Manilla, Santa Cruz, San Fernando, Lingayen, Mindoro, Clark Field and Aparri. Following these actions, Thomas' squadron made strikes on Formosa, French Indo-China, Saigon, Pescadores, Hainan, Amami O Shima, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan. The attack on Japan was the first attack on Japan from an aircraft carrier since the "Doolittle Raid." While on the ESSEX, just after Thomas had returned from a strike on Santa Cruz, the ship was hit by a Kamikaze piloted by Yoshinori Yamaguchi, Yoshino Special Attack Corps. Yamaguchi was flying a Yokosuba D4Y3 dive bomber. The Kamikaze attack killed 16 crewman and wounded 44. Returning from a strike on Hainan, off the Chinese coast, Thomas' plane ran out of fuel. After a harrowing water landing, Thomas and squadron photographer Montague succeeded in inflating and launching one rubber boat and his crewman Gress another. After a long day in pre-Typhoon weather with 40 foot swells, the three were rescued by the USS SULLIVANS. In recounting the events in this book, Thomas draws upon his daily journal, his letters home, and extensive interviews and research conducted over 40 years with fellow pilots and crewman. The book cites 20 interviews and 5 combat journals, and contains 209 photos documenting the ships, planes, men, and combat actions of Torpedo Squadron 4. Many of the photographs were collected by Thomas during the war and include gun photo shots, recon photos, and, remarkably, a picture of the tail of Thomas' Torpedo plane as it sinks in the China Sea following his water crash landing.
Explore the WWII history of the company that later became a part of Boeing and made more aircraft from 1938 to 1944 than any other company in the United States. During World War II, Los Angeles was the ultimate boom town. By the end of the war, the L.A. area had produced 17 percent of all of America's war needs. North American Aviation, Inc. (NAA), operating out of their main Inglewood, California, plant, which is south of and adjacent to the city, was a key player in that work. From 1938 to 1944, NAA built over 40,000 aircraft, more than any other company in the United States. The bulk of them were of three iconic types designed by NAA: - The P-51 Mustang, arguably the best fighter of WWII. - B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, which saw worldwide combat. - Two-seat military pilot trainers, such as the AT-6 Texan. This is a fascinating story of a remarkable time in aviation history, when American businesses helped fund the arsenal of democracy that helped defeat the Axis powers. Warbird Factory tells this story with over 200 photographs, many of which come directly from the NAA/Boeing archives, where they have resided since WWII. This is an essential book for anyone interested in warbirds, aviation, Boeing/NAA, WWII, and/or the history of Southern California!
Mustang Designer tells the story of American wartime fighter development, including engines and armaments, as part of a nationwide program of aircraft builders and fliers, focusing on Edgar Schmued, the designer of the Mustang. The P-51 Mustang is widely regarded as the best propeller-driven fighter that ever flew. What many might not realize is that the plane's developer was a German migrant. This book tells of how Schmued created a weapon that would ultimately prove lethal to the aspirations of those who had seized control over his native land.
The book is a complete history of T-6/SNJ/HARVARD (Texans) Closed Course Pylon racing from Cleveland 1946 to Reno 2019 with details of all races, a who's who of who raced, when, what aircraft they flew, who finished, who crashed and photos of every aircraft that carried a race number from #0 to #736. A narrative of each venue that held Texan racing is provide by location and dates races were held with race results and participants.
As late as 1940, the majority of Army Air Force trainees received flight lessons in biplanes such as the PT-17. The advent of high-performance combat aircraft led the USAAF to seek a new plane for primary training, that would better simulate a modern fighter aircraft. Fairchild's M62, a two-seat monoplane with a higher stalling speed that required careful flying, beat out 17 competitors for the job. Designated PT-19, the rugged aircraft was produced in large quantities beginning in 1941. The basic model was equipped with a 200 hp Ranger engine, had a 36'wingspan, and could achieve 132 mph in flight. Variants included the PT-19B designed for instrument training, the PT-23 which had a 220 hp Continental radial power-plant, and the PT-26 "Cornell" which featured an enclosed cockpit. By war's end PT-19s and variants were built by Fairchild, Aeronca, Howard, St. Louis Aircraft Corp. and Fleet Aircraft. The USAAF accepted over 6000 PT-19s and variants, and Cornells flew for the air forces of Canada, Norway, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile and many other nations. This pilot's flight handbook dates from 1943, and covers the PT-19, PT-19A, PT-19B, PT-23 and PT-26. Originally restricted, it was declassified long ago, and is reprinted here in its entirety.
Originally designated as the "advanced trainer" AT-6, North American's single-engine training aircraft was extensively used by the U.S. Army Air Forces, U.S. Navy (as the "SNJ"), Royal Air Force (as the "Harvard") and allied air forces during WWII. The prototype first flew in 1935, and by the time production ceased over 15,000 T-6s of all types were built. This included the AT-6B, which could hold a machine gun and was used for gunnery training, the AT-6G which offered a steerable tailwheel and advanced hydraulic system, and the Navy's SNJ-3C with arresting gear to permit carrier training. Aside from training duties T-6s saw service as forward air controllers, and served in combat on several occasions including for the French during the Algerian war. The T-6 remains a popular aircraft for Hollywood (in Tora! Tora! Tora! painted T-6s impersonated Japanese Zeros) and at air shows, where its throaty engine and classic "warbird" looks make it a crowd pleaser. This pilot's flight handbook dates from 1945, and features details on the AT-6C / SNJ-4 and Harvard IIA airplanes. Originally restricted, it was declassified long ago, and is reprinted here in its entirety.
