The Boeing P-26 Peashooter is famous as the U.S. Army Air Corps' first all-metal, monoplane pursuit and was exported in small numbers. Guatemala was one country where they had a lengthy service life.
Less well-remembered is the swept-wing version that formed the bulk of fighter strength for the small, congested Republic of Snot-a-maula.
This tiny central American nation, known for the nasal quality of its local dialect, was under the rule of a stuffy despotic strong-man.
He applied for and received U.S. Military Assistance Program (MAP) grants to buy modern fighter jets (preferably American), but a loop-hole allowed this to be used for upgrading aircraft already in service. Only 2% of the money was spent as actually intended since there were more pressing priorities.
Snot-a-maula "modernized" their P-26s by adding a bubble canopy and most notably, a new swept-wing to increase the Peashooter's critical Mach number.
While the increase in critial Mach from 0.26 to 0.27 was not that impressive, it was enough to fudge the books so the
Gringos wouldn't catch on.
Also, from the right altitude and angle, these aircraft could be mistaken for F-84Fs, making the Snot-a-maulan Air Force (
Fuerza Aero Ahh-Choo) seem far more potent than it actually was.
Unfortunately, all this subterfuge would be undone in the heat of battle when Snot-a-maula was dissolved in the terrible Ten Hour War.
The shortness of this anti-histamine conflict may have something to do with why it's not included in many history books. Tragically, none of the swept-wing Peashooters survived, most having crashed due to various stoppages and the rest cannibalized for parts.
Still, for one brief moment this incredibly speedy-looking pursuit faced the future bravely even if the so-called "experts" insist it's all just too stuffed up to make any sense.
Brian da Basher