North American
T-6
Texan / Mosquito
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Photo: Robert Deering 6/15/2013
Denton Municipal Airport (DTO)
Denton, Texas
 
Photo: Robert Deering 6/15/2013
Denton Municipal Airport (DTO)
Denton, Texas
 
Photo: Robert Deering 6/15/2013
Denton Municipal Airport (DTO)
Denton, Texas
 
Photo: Robert Deering 6/15/2013
Denton Municipal Airport (DTO)
Denton, Texas

Photo: Robert Deering 6/15/2013
Denton Municipal Airport (DTO)
Denton, Texas
The North American T-6 Texan was known as "the pilot maker" because of its important role in preparing pilots for combat. Derived from the 1935 North American NA-16 prototype, a cantilever low-wing monoplane, the Texan filled the need for a basic combat trainer during WW II and beyond. The original order of 94 AT-6 Texans differed little from subsequent versions such as the AT-6A (1,847) which revised the fuel tanks or the AT-6D (4,388) and AT-6F (956) that strengthened as well as lightened the frame with the use of light alloys. In all, more than 17,000 airframes were designed to the Texan standards.

North American's rapid production of the T-6 Texan coincided with the wartime expansion of the United States air war commitment. As of 1940, the required flight hours for combat pilots earning their wings had been cut to just 200 during a shortened training period of seven months. Of those hours, 75 were logged in the AT-6.

U.S. Navy pilots flew the airplane extensively, under the SNJ designation, the most common of these being the SNJ-4, SNJ-5 and SNJ-6.

During the Korean War, airborne forward air controllers (FACs) chose the T-6 as the best available aircraft because it could operate from small, rough airstrips and was easy to maintain. More importantly, the T-6 was faster and more rugged than the light liaison aircraft they initially flew. Even though this World War II trainer was not designed to fly in combat, it performed well in its role as an airborne FAC (or "Mosquito"). The T-6, originally known as the Texan, was the sole single-engine advanced trainer for the USAAF during WWII, and 15,495 were built between 1938 and 1945. The T-6 continued to train pilots in the newly formed USAF. 

The T-6D on display at the museum (S/N 42-84216) flew as an early Mosquito with the 6147th Tactical Air Control Group during the first two years of the Korean War. Ironically, it was converted to a mosquito spraying aircraft in 1952. Two years later, the USAF transferred it to the fledgling Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). After retiring this aircraft, the ROKAF placed it on display outside for several years. The National Museum of the United States Air Force acquired it in 1995, and after restoration it went on display in 2001.

 
Photo: Robert Deering 10/18/2012
National Museum of the USAF
Dayton, Ohio

Photo: Robert Deering 1969
K-2 Air Base
Daegu, Korea

Photo: Robert Deering 1991
Midland International Airport (MAF)
Midland, Texas
  
   
Photo: Robert Deering 1970
Greater Southwest Airport (GSW)
Fort Worth, Texas
SPECIFICATIONS: PERFORMANCE:
Span: 42 ft.
Length: 
29 ft. 6 in.
Height:  10 ft. 10 in.
Empty Weight:  
4,158 lbs.
Gross Weight: 
5,617 lbs. loaded 
Crew:
Maximum speed: 206 mph 
Cruising speed:
Range:
750 miles; 1,000 miles with a 55-gallon drop tank 
Service ceiling:
Engines:
Armament:
   
SOURCE: National Museum of Naval Aviation & Warbird Alley  
 
Photo: Robert Deering 6/15/2013
Denton Municipal Airport
Denton, Texas
 
VARIANTS:

SNJ
Texan