The Curtiss O-52 Owl is an observation aircraft used by the United States Army Air Corps before and during World War II . They were used for anti-submarine searches in Americas and by lend-lease also used on the Eastern Front in Europe by the Soviets.
6-690: Developed in 1939, the Curtiss O-52 was the last "heavy" observation aircraft developed for the US Army Air Corps. The concept of the two-seat observation aircraft, classed as the "O" series aircraft, dated to World War I, and in 1940, the Army Air Corps ordered 203 Curtiss O-52s for observation duties. Curtis designated it the Curtiss Model 85, and it was powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine . Upon delivery,
12-652: A number were lost on the North Arctic Route. Of these only ten were accepted into service. They were used operationally for artillery fire spotting and general photographic and observation platforms in north and central areas on the Russian Front during spring–summer 1943. One O-52 was shot down by Luftwaffe fighters. In the report on military tests, the Soviet pilots recognized that the American machine
18-604: Is an aircraft engine of the reciprocating type that was widely used in American aircraft from the 1920s onward. It was the Pratt & Whitney aircraft company's first engine, and the first of the famed Wasp series . It was a single-row, nine- cylinder , air-cooled , radial design, and displaced 1,344 cubic inches (22 L); bore and stroke were both 5.75 in (146 mm). A total of 34,966 engines were produced. As well as numerous types of fixed-wing aircraft , it
24-636: The 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron, which flew them out of Puerto Rico and Trinidad, to search for Nazi U Boats. The O-52 was the last "O" type aircraft procured in quantity for the Air Corps. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor , the "O" designation was discontinued and the "L" series for liaison-type aircraft was adopted instead. In November 1942, the USSR ordered 30 O-52 Owls through the Lend-Lease program. Twenty-six were shipped, with only 19 delivered as
30-628: The aircraft was used in military maneuvers with the USAAC, but following America's entry into World War II, the USAAF determined that the aircraft did not possess sufficient performance for "modern" combat operations in overseas areas. As a result, the O-52 was relegated to courier duties within the U.S. and short-range submarine patrol over the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans O-52 were used by
36-552: Was superior to the outdated Polikarpov R-5 , and Polikarpov R-Z spotters used at the front. The aircraft was generally disliked in Soviet use although some were still flying into the 1950s. Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947, American Warplanes of World War II General characteristics Performance Armament Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era [REDACTED] Media related to Curtiss O-52 Owl at Wikimedia Commons Pratt %26 Whitney R-1340 Wasp The Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp
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