North American NA-40

1939

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North American NA-40

The NA-40 was North American's offering to a 1938 Air Corps request for a twin engine attack bomber. The all-metal plane had the relatively new tricycle landing gear and a narrow fuselage, seating the pilot and co-pilot in tandem. Provisions were made for a crew of five and 540kg of bombs. A fuel capacity of 1800 litres fed the two 1100hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S6C3-G Twin Wasp engines. Gross weight was 8850kg.

In January, 1939, the NA-40 was first flown, but the top speed of 425km/h was considered insufficient. A month later, as the NA-40-2, it again took to the air, but power was increased to 1,300hp per engine with a pair of Wright R-2600-A71 Cyclones. The new engines boosted the top speed to 460km/h, and the gross weight to 9500kg.

In March, the NA-40-2 was delivered to Wright Field for Air Corps testing. During this program, the plane showed outstanding performance characteristics, and up to seven further versions of the design were proposed. Unfortunately, the development of the NA-40 was halted when one of the test pilots lost control of the aircraft during a landing approach and, although the crew escaped, the single NA-40 prototype was destroyed by fire following the crash.

As an attack bomber, the NA-40 was to carry one 7.62mm M-2 machine gun in a rotating nose blister, one in the dorsal turret, and another firing through the rear floor. Two fixed 7.62mm's were planned for installation in each wing.

The NA-40 did not receive a military designation or serial number.

3-View 
North American NA-40A three-view drawing (500 x 665)

Specification 
 MODELNA-40-2
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight9534 kg21019 lb
  Empty weight6338 kg13973 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan20.12 m66 ft 0 in
  Length14.71 m48 ft 3 in
  Height4.62 m15 ft 2 in
  Wing area55.56 m2598.04 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Ceiling7620 m25000 ft
  Range1932 km1201 miles

Comments
Timothy Potter, e-mail, 21.03.2016 15:23

Gosewinus, 42-87366 was a North American NA-40 attack bomber. The NA-40 was North American's offering to a 1938 Air Corps request for a twin engine attack bomber. The all-metal plane had the relatively new tricycle landing gear and a narrow fuselage, seating the pilot and co-pilot in tandem. Provisions were made for a crew of five and 540kg of bombs. A fuel capacity of 1800 litres fed the two 1100hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S6C3-G Twin Wasp engines. Gross weight was 8850kg.

Hope this helps.

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Gosewinus, e-mail, 14.02.2016 12:44

Oorschot: Now 14-2-2016, still non comments

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Klaatu, e-mail, 20.08.2011 02:19

This airplane was designed to fulfill a requirement for a light attack-bomber, similar to the Martin Maryland and the Douglas DB-7 (later known as the Boston, Havoc and A-20). Although this North American prototype proved unsuccessful, it was subsequently re-designed as a medium bomber, which became the famous B-25 Mitchell.

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alex, e-mail, 27.09.2010 22:31

We were on Basilan Island 10 miles south of Zamboanga mainland Mindanao, Philippines.
Elements of the 41st. Div. had landed on Zamboanga the day before. We could clearly hear the naval gunfire and aerial assault happening across Basilan straight
Harry and I were on the Provincial highway heading East towards my Father's sawmill tracking the cow. because the road was paved with crushed rocks we were walking on the foot path on each side of the high way.( By the way we were both bare foot as our shoes had worn out years before) When all at once the high way exploded in an uproar of noise an rock splinters. Harry jumped to the right and I to the left while I was air borne I noticed the distinctive twin rudder of the B-25. we have just been strafed by 2 B-25s. We had been watching the B-25 and 2 PT boats obliterate the town of Isabela the last few days.
Neither of us was hurt. In 1954 My wife ,our 2 children I immigrated to the US
In 1956 I was hired by North American Aviation Downey Plant. In the course of conversations with my fellow employees the would ask me why I hired in at NAA. I said while I was airborne during the attack I swore I would get even. So first chance I got, I hired in.
After years of searching through library records and finally the internet I identified the B-25 unit that operated out fo Zamboanga`s Moret field. It was the Marine MAG-61 PBJ Bombers specifically the VMB-611 LT. COL. George A. Sarles commanding.
I communicated with a Jim Collins a member of the squadron until some time in 1994 he stopped answering my e-mail.
God Bless you Jim.

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Gosewinus, e-mail, 10.09.2010 11:04

I Looking for information with the number 42-87366.
The plane was in operation at 18th squadron NEI-AF, but I cannot found any info.
Regards,
Guus F.

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