Northrop A-17A Attack Bomber
USAAC Single-engine two-seat low-wing attack bomber monoplane


Northrop A-17A (A.C. 36-0207), Photo: National Museum of the United States Air Force

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USAAC Northrop A-17A Attack Bombers

Overview — Northrop A-17 / 8A / Nomad Series

The Northrop A-17 / 8A / Nomad series of attack bombers was a development of the Northrop Gamma 2F. The aircraft was a two-seat single-engine attack bomber monoplane built in 1935 by the Northrop Corporation for the US Army Air Corps.

Development and Design

The Northrop Gamma 2F was an attack bomber derivative of the Northrop Gamma transport aircraft, developed in parallel with the Northrop Gamma 2C, (of which one was built, designated the Northrop YA-13 and Northrop XA-16. The Northrop Gamma 2F had a revised tail, cockpit canopy and wing flaps compared with the Gamma 2C, and was fitted with a new semi-retractable undercarriage. It was delivered to the United States Army Air Corps for tests on 6 October 1934, and after modification, including fitting with a conventional fixed undercarriage, was accepted by the Air Corps. A total of 110 aircraft were ordered as the Northrop A-17 in 1935.

The resulting Northrop A-17 was equipped with perforated flaps, had fixed landing gear with partial fairing. It was fitted with an internal fuselage bomb bay that carried fragmentation bombs and well as external bomb racks. Northrop developed a new undercarriage, this time completely retractable, producing the Northrop A-17A variant. This version was again purchased by the Army Air Corps, who placed orders for 129 aircraft. By the time these were delivered, the Northrop Corporation had been taken over by Douglas Aircraft Company, export models being known as the Douglas Model 8.

Operational History

The Northrop A-17 entered service in February 1936, and proved to be a reliable and popular aircraft. However, in 1938, the Air Corps decided that attack aircraft should be multi-engine, rendering the Northrop A-17 surplus to requirements. From 14 December 1941, Northrop A-17s were used for coastal patrols by the 59th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal.

In June 1940, 93 ex-USAAC aircraft were purchased by France, and refurbished by Douglas, including being given new engines. Not having been delivered before the fall of France, 61 were taken over by the British Purchasing Commission for the RAF and given the name Nomad. They were assessed as being obsolete and sent to South Africa for use as trainers. The remaining 32 aircraft from the French order were transferred to Canada, where they were also used as advanced trainers and target tugs. The last remaining Northrop A-17s, used as utility aircraft, were retired from USAAF service in 1944.

Variants

Operators

Northrop A-17A Specifications and Performance Data

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

References

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