Missing P-numbered planes

gary1930 · Post by **gary1930** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:52 pm

I'm curious as to what happened to all the WWII pursuit planes that were given numbers, but which we never hear of. The P-36, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51 are well-known. What planes do the missing numbers refer to?

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:25 pm

IIRC, and this is from a OLD I mean 10 year back issue of Warbirds INT. there was a P-43 IIRC, that was supposed to go to Thailand..I have the issue in a drawer in the referance filing cabinet(yea I am a nerd like that)

I think it was called the P-43 I need to google it.

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:28 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-43_Lancer

P-43 went to China

P-64s went to Thailand(or were going to before the Japanese invaded)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-43_Lancer

interesting history

Peru purchased seven aircraft for the Peruvian Air Force, with deliveries completed in May 1939. In Peruvian service these aircraft were fitted with bomb racks under the fuselage for light bombs. The Peruvian NA-50s took part in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian war of July 1941, supporting Army of Peru ground forces.[1]

In 1940, the Royal Thai Air Force ordered six aircraft similar to the NA-50A that were designated NA-68. The changes in the NA-68 included a modified landing gear, heavier armament, and redesigned tail surfaces similar to that adopted in later production advanced trainers. These aircraft were en route to Thailand when seized and returned to the United States where they were disarmed, assigned the P-64 designator and used for advanced fighter training.

Another single seat fighter that evolved from the basic NA-16 trainer design is the Australian Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-12 Boomerang fighter.

The only P-64 survivor is one of the six Thai-bound P-64s, that was used for training and liaison, and is now on display in the Eagle Hangar of the EAA AirVenture Museum. One original NA-50 stills survives in Peru where it is displayed next to the Mausoleum of Captain José Quiñones.

RAD 2112 · Post by **RAD 2112** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:36 pm

Some had a Y- or X- prefix for Evaluation or Prototype.

Pursuit, 1924-1948/Fighter, 1948-1962

gary1930 · Post by **gary1930** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:34 pm

RAD 2112 wrote:Some had a Y- or X- prefix for Evaluation or Prototype.

Pursuit, 1924-1948/Fighter, 1948-1962

Thanks. Very interesting.