History

The North American T-6 Texan was one of the most important aircraft designs of the Second World War era. With so many Texans built, it was inevitable that the T-6 would be used not only for its original design brief purpose as a trainer but also in a wide variety of other roles including advanced trainer, fighter, interceptor, fighter-bomber, forward control aircraft and counter insurgency aircraft. Sporting a variety of different names, it has served the air forces in over 55 countries; the type has seen action in three major conflicts - World War II, Korea and Vietnam and a proliferation of minor hostilities.

Starting life as a North American training aircraft with the designation NA-16, the type first flew on 1 April 1935. Deliveries began after some design modifications in the form of BT-9 (the BT standing for Basic Trainer) in the spring of 1936. Thus began a litany of models and variants which included the famous designation AT-6 (the AT standing for Advanced Trainer). Ultimately, this was changed to simply T-6 by the U.S. Air Force in 1947. Known as the Texan in the U.S. because initial production was undertaken in Dallas, Texas, the type was allotted a rich variety of different names in different countries and for different roles…Yale, Wirraway, J-Bird, Mosquito, SNJ and commonly, T-6.

In pre-war Britain, it was being realised the demand for training aircraft could not be met in England, especially with the commencement of pilot training through the Empire Air Training Scheme. The British placed an order for BC-1 s to be built with British specified equipment. These were designated Harvard Mk 1and the first production model flew on 28 September 1938 arriving in England on 24 October. In excess of 300 aircraft were ordered. Later, at the height of the war, training units were moved abroad to make room for combat airfields in England and to provide a safer environment for cadet training. Aircraft were then delivered direct to Canada and South Africa. Improvements in the BC-1, specifically all metal fuselages manifested as BC-1A which the RAF designated Harvard Mk II when fitted with British equipment. The British Government initially ordered 600 but eventually took delivery of over 1000, many going to the Royal Canadian Air Force and only 145 to the Royal Air Force. They were delivered in Trainer Yellow paint scheme. British demand for the type continued to grow and as a consequence, various US marks were re-designated giving rise to Harvard Mk IIA/B and Harvard III. Some 2800 were produced in Canada and some 1300 in Dallas.

Many combat pilots spent 75 hours or so training in the T-6 and, as a consequence, it was often nicknamed “the pilot maker”. Another favourite nickname in the U.S. was “old growler” by the distinctive growl of the Pratt and Whitney radial engine. In the U.K., the nickname “window breaker” was coined as the propeller blades when set to fully fine pitch and at military power settings sometimes pushed the propeller tips to supersonic speeds with glass shattering results!

The U.S. finally struck the last T-6 off charge in the late 1950’s but many air forces elsewhere continued. Indeed, there were 14 air forces still with T-6s on charge in 1985. The South African Air Force continued with the type up until 1995 when the last of their 100 military airframes was retired.

Of the over 17,000 aircraft produced, only approximately 350 survive in airworthy condition today, mainly in the United States.

Be a part of the history of the Harvard by taking a flight in one of these distinguished aircraft.

History of the "Combat Flight Experience" Harvard

Our aircraft is designated as a North American T-6G. She was one of 691 airframes re-manufactured from earlier T-6/SNJ airframes under a contract NA-168 dated 15 October 1949. Our aircraft has a Constructor’s Number 168-313. We think this may mean she was airframe number 313 and we understand that she was re-built at Downey, Los Angeles, California because she bears the location code NI on the manufacturer’s plate. She also carries a serial number 49-3209. This may be a military number and the 49 may refer to the re-manufacture year which coincides with the contract date. We believe that the airframe was first build in 1943 but cannot support that belief with any documentation.

T-6G modifications included raising the rear seat six inches, fitting P51 Mustang steerable and locking tailwheel assemblies, improved visibility by removing some of the “ironwork” from the canopy metal frames and increasing fuel capacity by the addition of fuel bladders in each of the outer wing panels.

Our aircraft was delivered to USAF 3545th primary training wing at Goodfellow, Texas on 10 April 1951. She moved to 3305th primary training wing at Maldon AFB 7th January 1952 and then to 3300th primary training wing at Graham AFB, Florida 21 March 1953. From there, she went into storage at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma 2nd July 1953 before being sold to the Haitian Air Force 28th April 1954 with the serial number 3209. We believe that she saw action in an abortive coup in Haiti in the late fifties, probably fitted with external machine guns and ordnance.

By 1960, she was back in the U.S. where she was sold to a succession of private owners culminating, 12 February 1987, in being sold to Jim Carbin of Delray Beach, Florida who thoroughly reconditioned the aircraft before she was sold to the late Paul Morgan in the U.K. 2 April 1990.She wears a colour and markings scheme taken from the California Air National Guard with her military serial number 493209. As this is a genuine military scheme, the Civil Aviation Authority has granted an exemption from the obligations of the Air Navigation Order to fly in the UK bearing the nationality and registration marks assigned by the CAA. Her UK registration mark is G-DDMV.

In March, 2005, we acquired the aeroplane from Paul’s wife, Elizabeth with the aim to continue to maintain the aircraft in pristine condition and to share with others the pleasure of flying this wonderful example of the famous type.