Author Topic: North American NA-60A Notenkraker  (Read 2510 times)

Offline apophenia

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North American NA-60A Notenkraker
« on: October 26, 2019, 11:19:04 AM »
USAAC Attack-Observation - Circular Proposal 39-279 Becomes XC-105

The Attack-Observation category proved not to be one of the Air Corps' brighter ideas. The sole finalist in the USAAC's search for an 'AO' was North American Aviation's NA-60A. The NAA concept was simple - modify the existing NA-51 (O-47B) design to satisfy Requirement XC-105 for the new combined classification. To accomplish this, the O-47's distinct 'paunch' was removed. For the Attack role, the 'gap' was filled with a small, enclosed bomb-bay. For Observation, a thoroughly glazed underbelly 'bulge' was installed - providing all-around visibility below for the observer as well as a defensive gun position to the rear.

North American's key advantage was that the O-47 design was already in USAAC service and NAA promised quick turn-around in modifying an O-47 as a prototype for their new AO-1. The prototype NA-60A conversion would be based upon an O-47A (25-595) which had suffered a gear-up crash landing. This XAO-1 conversion was to be delivered to Wright Field by January 1940. After testing, the Attack-configured would be returned to NAA for adapting to the Observation role. However, just as the XAO-1 was completed, the USAAC cancelled the Observation requirement and NAA abandoned work on the glazed belly position. Shortly afterwards, the XAO-1 conversion was re-designated as the North American XA-27.

Bottom North American Aviation NA-60A prototype nearing completion at Mines Field (now LAX) in early 1940. This aircraft became the sole XAO-1, later re-designated XA-27.

North American Aviation NA-60A Goes to Europe

The XAO-1/XA-27 was essentially built to service requirements other than retaining its standard O-47A powerplant - a 975 hp Wright R-1820-49 radial. Even before the XAO-1 was rolled out, NAA had begun work on conversions for pre-series Y1AO-1s. These aircraft were similar to the XAO-1 other than being fitted with higher-powered 1,060 hp Wright R-1820-57 engines (as per O-47B). However, with the USAAC's early March 1940 change in policy, these aircraft would all be completed as Y1A-27s with permanently-fitted bomb bays. All dozen Y1A-27 conversions were completed but only two were delivered to the USAAC. Belatedly, the Air Corps had decided to clean their hands of the entire A-27 program.

Since the NAA Y1A-27s were Wright-powered, it was decided that all O-47 conversions should join other US Cyclone-engined aircraft being donated to Belgium. [1] Reverting to their corporate NA-60A identities, the North American attack aircraft were shipped by sea to Antwerp. Assembled by NAA technicians, the former XA-27 and eleven ex-Y1A-27s joined the Belgian AéMI unit 7/IV/2 Ae, replacing Avions Fairey Fox biplanes. In Belgian service, the aircraft were known as the NA-60A Notenkraker (Nutcracker). [2]

Top NA-60A Notenkraker of the AéMI's 7/IV/2 Ae. Flown by Adj. Alphonse d' Hondt, '417' was shot down by a Bf 109E on 12 May. Both pilot and navigator went down with their aircraft at Lonzee. Observer Sous-Lieutenant Camilie Mogenet was able to bail out successfully.

The rather camouflage and Belgian national markings were hastily painted on in the US (all Belgian NA-60A's presented a similarly 'patchy' appearance). Over this scheme are applied Adj. d' Hondt's personal emblem (on the fuselage side) and a 'DrapAmi' ('Friendship Flags' from Drapeaux de l'amitié, aka 'VvV' or Vlaggen van vriendschap) above the aircraft number on the cowling.

The last of these airframes was delivered to Gossoncourt for immediate operational use early in the morning of 11 May 1940 - the day after the German assault begain. The situation in Belgium was desperate. On 10 May, half of the NA-60A unit's aircraft had been destroyed on the ground during Luftwaffe strafing attacks. Within a week all of 7/IV/2 Ae's Notenkrakers had been destroyed or become unserviceable. The unassembled NA-60A airframes remaining at Antwerp and seemed to have been demolished by advancing German forces when the city fell on 19 May. In any case, the NA-60As played no further part in the "18 Days' Campaign".

__________________________________

[1] These donations included obsolete Martin Model 139BE (ex-USAAC B-10Bs, 775 hp Wright R-1820-33 engines) and Brewster Model B-239BE fighters (ex-USN F2A-1s, 940 hp R-1820-34s).

[2] The Notenkraker was after the Nutcracker (Sicaryocatactes macrorhynchos), a rare avian visitor to Belgium.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2019, 11:20:55 AM by apophenia »
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Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: North American NA-60A Notenkraker
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2019, 08:17:57 PM »
Absolutely stunning, apophenia!

The Belgian angle is an excellent idea and these North American NA-60As look every bit the business.

Once again, your talent for rendering natural metal finishes is without peer.

Most excellent!

Brian da Basher
« Last Edit: October 26, 2019, 08:22:22 PM by Brian da Basher »