 |
| The Boeing P-26 Peashooter |
Introduction
The Boeing P-26 Peashooter was the first all-metal fighter and first monoplane fighter produced for the United States Army Air Corps. The prototype first flew in 1932, and the type remained in service as late as 1941, in the Philippines.
Development
In April of 1931, Boeing completed the B-9 bomber for the United States Army Air Corps. This twin-engine design was the fastest bomber in the world – too fast. No fighter in service with the USAAC was fast enough to intercept the B-9. Many observers felt that the day of the fighter was at an end. However, Boeing was confident that they could produce a fighter which was capable of combating the B-9.
Boeing funded the project and produced the Boeing Model 248 in September 1931, with the USAAC providing the engine and instruments. This design had an open cockpit, fixed landing gear, and externally braced wings. The type first flew on March 20, 1932. Due to its high landing speed, there were several accidents later on, and it was fitted with landing flaps to reduce the landing speed. The USAAC contracted three prototypes, given the designation of XP-936.
Despite the new flaps, the aircraft was still tricky to land, and occasionally would flip forwards and end up on its back because of the short nose. With nothing but an unarmored headrest, the pilots had virtually no protection, and there were several injuries. Production model P-26A’s fitted a larger headrest.
 |
| The Boeing P-26 |
The USAAC ordered 111 production P-26’s on January 11, 1933. The number was later increased to 136. This order was the largest single contract for aircraft since 1921. Deliveries began in December of 1933. Two aircraft were completed as P-26B’s, powered by a fuel-injected Pratt & Whitney R-1340-33 radial. Production P-26C’s had a carbureted model of the same engine, and a modified fuel system. Twelve Model 281 export versions of the P-26C’s were built, one sent to Spain, and eleven to China. The Chinese P-26’s were partially funded by Chinese Americans, and many Chinese restaurants in the US would place donation boxes on their counters.
The P-26 Peashooter was faster than any previous American fighters by 27mph, despite the fact that several of its features were outdated in its time. In 1935, both the Messerschmitt Bf-109 and Hawker Hurricane, featuring enclosed cockpits, a retractable landing gear, and monocoque wings were flown. However, the P-26 was easy to fly, and a good aircraft, and remained in service into WWII.
 |
| P-26A |
Operational History
Deliveries of the P-26 began in December of 1933, and production ended in 1936. Twenty-two US squadrons used the type, and it was the front-line fighter of the USAAC until 1938. A total of twenty P-26’s were lost due to accidents between 1934 and the beginning of World War II.
In 1935, the 17th Pursuit Group became the 17th Attack Group, and in 1938 their P-26’s were transferred to the 16th Pursuit Group at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone. In 1940, those P-26’s were given to the 37th Pursuit Group, who flew them until May of 1941. Some P-26’s remained in service with the 32nd Pursuit Group, but only nine were operational in Central America when World War II began. Between 1938 and 1940, several P-26’s were sent to Wheeler Field, Hawaii, to supplement the P-35’s there. They were also used by the 3rd Pursuit Group, based in the Philippines, and between 1937 and 1941, thirty-one of them were sold to the Philippine Army Air Corps.
 |
| P-26's of the 20th Pursuit Group |
The P-26’s first combat debut was actually made with the Chinese Air Force. On August 15, 1937, eight Chinese P-26’s based in Chuyung attacked twenty Mitsubishi G3M2 medium bombers from the Kisarazu Air Group, who had been sent to bomb the Nanking Aerodrome. The Chinese aircraft contributed four kills, while taking no losses. Eventually, engagements between Chinese P-26’s and Japanese A5M ‘Claude’ aircraft became the first aerial dogfights and kills between two monoplane fighters.
The single P-26 serving with the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil war had no combat victories, and was shot down in 1936.
After Pearl Harbor, nine P-26’s were left in the Panama Canal Zone. In 1942-43, Vuerza Aerea de Guatemala obtained seven P-26’s from the US Government by smuggling them in as Boeing “PT-26A” trainers, so as to get around the restrictions. The last two P-26’s flying with Guatemala were retired in 1956, after being replaced by P-51’s. Their last combat operations was in 1954, during a coup.
 |
| P-26C in the colors of the 19th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, Wheeler Field, Hawaii |
Endnote
The Boeing P-26 Peashooter was the last fighter built by Boeing, until the Boeing company was acquired by McDonnell-Douglas, with the production and support contracts for the F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet in 2002.
Variants
XP-936: Three prototypes built for the USAAC, powered by a 525hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-21 Wasp.
P-26A: Single-seat fighter, powered by a 600hp R-1340-27; 111 built.
P-26B: Single-seat fighter, powered by a fuel-injected 600hp R-1340-33; two built.
P-26C: Single-seat fighter, powered by a carbureted R-1340-33 and utilizing a modified fuel system; 23 built.
Model 281: The export version; 11 built for China, 1 for Spain.Specifications
P-26A
Length: 23ft 7.25in
Height: 10ft
Wingspan: 27ft 11.5in
Wing Area: 149.62 sq ft
Empty Weight: 2,196lb
Loaded Weight: 3,360lb
Powerplant: 1x 600hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-7 “Wasp” 9-cylinder air-cooled single-row radial engine
Maximum Speed: 234mph @ 6,000ft
Range: 635 miles
Ceiling: 27,400ft
Armament: 2x 7.62mm M1919 Browning machine guns; 1x 200lb bomb
Sources:
www.aviation-history.com
www.boeing.com
www.militaryfactory.com
www.wikipedia.org
No comments:
Post a Comment