North American NA-64 Yale

Last updated
NA-64/NA-64 P-2/Yale
North American NA.64 Yale CWH Hamilton MDF 0350.jpg
Restored North American NA-64 Yale at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario
RoleTrainer
Manufacturer North American Aviation
First flight12 February 1940 [1]
Introduction1940
Retired1 October 1946 (RCAF) [1] [2]
1949 (Armee de l'air)
StatusWarbird
Primary users Royal Canadian Air Force
French Air Force
French Navy
Luftwaffe
Produced1940
Number built230
Developed from North American BT-14
Developed into North American Harvard

The North American NA-64 (NA-64 P-2 or NAA-64 P-2 in French service, Yale in Canadian service) is a low-wing single piston engine monoplane advanced trainer aircraft that was built for the French Air Force and French Navy, served with the Royal Canadian Air Force, and with the Luftwaffe as a captured aircraft during World War II.

Contents

Design and development

Ordered as a follow-on to the NA-57 as a two-seat advanced trainer, the NA-64 P-2/NAA-64 P-2 represented a major structural improvement, with a longer all-metal fuselage replacing the fabric covered fuselage of the NA-57. As well as metal skin replacing the fabric on the fuselage, the fin was changed from having a corrugated skin to being a smooth stressed skin structure and was moved slightly aft, lengthening the rear fuselage while the engine was moved forward to maintain the center of gravity. The rudder was also changed from the rounded shape used previously to one with a roughly triangular shape with the broadest part being at the bottom to improve handling at high angles of attack. In one respect however, it was a step backwards from its immediate predecessor, the BT-14, with which it is often confused, in that the earlier straight wings were used with the result that in RCAF service, when compared to the later and more powerful Harvard II it was flown alongside, it had different handling characteristics and lower performance. [3]

Operational history

France

French Air Force NAA-64 in service after World War 2, in French controlled Morocco with a replacement rudder. French North American NAA-64 trainer in Morocco after WW2.jpg
French Air Force NAA-64 in service after World War 2, in French controlled Morocco with a replacement rudder.

The NA-64 P-2 was built for the French Armée de l'Air and Aéronavale in 1939–1940, which ordered 200 and 30 respectively. Of these, 111 had been delivered before France surrendered to the Germans after the Battle of France. [2] In France, the NA-64, like the NA-57 before it, was known as the North, [4] and was designated as NAA-64 P-2 (abbreviated from North American Aviation modèle 64 perfectionnement, 2 places (North American Aviation model 64 advanced trainer, 2 seats) [4] ) but were sometimes attached to reconnaissance units. A small number escaped the Germans to be used by the Vichy French Air Force. Two examples in North Africa survived into the postwar years, having been operated alongside NA-57s, the last only being retired in 1949.

Canada

RCAF Yale shortly after being taken on strength as an intermediate trainer, at Camp Borden. North American NA-64 Yale ExCC.jpg
RCAF Yale shortly after being taken on strength as an intermediate trainer, at Camp Borden.

The remaining 119 undelivered aircraft were bought up by the British Purchasing Commission and transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan between August and September 1940, [2] and all were operational by November [5] The type was named the Yale Mk.I [note 1] following British naming practice of naming trainers after education institutions and US-supplied aircraft after American locations, in this case, Yale University, and were used initially as intermediate pilot trainers taking pilots from the de Havilland Tiger Moth and Fleet Finch to the much faster and more complex North American Harvard, [4] until this category was dispensed with as being unnecessary. They were then relegated for use as airborne wireless radio trainers, along with the contemporary Fleet Fort intermediate trainer in 1943. [6] [7] Prior to service entry, the throttle and engine mixture controls were modified from the system used by the French whereby the throttle was pulled back to increase power, and the mixture control pulled back to lean out the mixture, to the system used on the Harvard. [5] The Yale appeared in the movie Captains of the Clouds . The RCAF sold all surviving examples off as scrap in 1946 but over 30 survive today as a result of a large number of them being bought surplus by a single farmer, with about 15 currently in airworthy condition.

Germany

The NAA-64s captured from the French were used by the German Luftwaffe for all types of flight training, from basic flying to advanced fighter tactics. Dive bomber schools and target tug units and even combat squadrons all used the NAA-64, as they were designated by the Luftwaffe, from the tail markings of the French examples. At least one was used by the Zirkus Rosarius to familiarize German aircrew with the handling of American aircraft before they evaluated captured aircraft. [5]

Operators

Yale 3416, which appeared in the movie, Captains of the Clouds North American NA-64 Yale Canada - Air Force 3416, CNC4 Guelph Airpark, ON, Canada PP1383118077.jpg
Yale 3416, which appeared in the movie, Captains of the Clouds
Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada
The first North American NAA-64 P-2 NX13397 before delivery. Due to the fall of France, this aircraft was instead delivered to Canada as a Yale Mk.I, and still exists. North American NAA-64 P-2 NX13397 first example before delivery.JPG
The first North American NAA-64 P-2 NX13397 before delivery. Due to the fall of France, this aircraft was instead delivered to Canada as a Yale Mk.I, and still exists.
Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of France (1794-1958).svg  Vichy France
Flag of Free France (1940-1944).svg  Free France
North American NAA-64 in its shipping crate for delivery to France. Most of those that made it to France had not even been unpacked when the Germans overran northern France. North American NAA-64 in shipping crate.JPG
North American NAA-64 in its shipping crate for delivery to France. Most of those that made it to France had not even been unpacked when the Germans overran northern France.
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Surviving aircraft

Ex-RCAF North American NA-64 Yale painted to represent a USAAC BT-14, in a diorama at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio North American NA-64 Yale USAF Museum Dayton,OH MDF 4864.jpg
Ex-RCAF North American NA-64 Yale painted to represent a USAAC BT-14, in a diorama at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio

There are many surviving NA-64 Yales today because of Ernie Simmons, a farmer from near Tillsonburg, Ontario. Simmons bought 39 Yales in 1946, [25] along with seven Fairey Swordfish and a Westland Lysander [26] and kept them on his farm until he died in 1970. [27] [28] Most were auctioned the same year, and many have been restored by museums and warbird enthusiasts. Most surviving Yales are from the Simmons collection, but there are at least six surviving Yales that came from Western Canada. Three Yales have been subsequently lost, a major hangar fire took the Musée de l'air et de l'espace's NA-64 3415/64-2224, and 3454/64-2165 & 3395/64-2159 [29] were destroyed as the result of flying accidents. Several Yales have been painted or partially modified as BT-14s. Additionally, over a dozen are privately owned in Canada, the US, and Europe or are not accessible, and additional airframes may be held by some museums as a source of spares.[ citation needed ]

RCAF
Serial		NAA
Serial		Museum or organizationLocationStatusNotes
346464-2033Privately owned Ft Worth, TX airworthy [30]
334964-2171 Imperial War Museum Duxford Duxford, England airworthy [31]
335064-2206 Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Hamilton, Ontario airworthy [32]
336164-2183 Milestones of Flight Museum Lancaster, California airworthy – R-985 fitted [33]
336764-2175Privately owned Sherwood Park, Alberta airworthy [34]
337264-2186Privately owned Tillsonburg, Ontario airworthy
338164-2194 Commemorative Air Force Midland, Texas stored
338364-3037 Far North Queensland Aviation Museum Newcastle, New South Wales stored
339064-3033Privately Owned Woodstock, Ontario restoration [35]
339664-2161 Musée aéronautique de Presqu'île côte d'Amour La Baule-Escoublac, Francerestoration [36]
339764-2150 Pima Air & Space Museum Tucson, Arizona on display [37]
339964-2160 Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association Tillsonburg, Ontario airworthy [38]
340064-2149 Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Hamilton, Ontario airworthy [39]
340464-2157 Bomber Command Museum of Canada Nanton, Alberta restoration [40]
340664-2144Eric Downing Maryland Heights, Missouri airworthy
340964-2158 Canadian Aviation Museum Windsor, Ontariostored, unrestored
341164-2167 National Air Force Museum of Canada Trenton, Ontario on display
341664-2169No. 6 RCAF Dunville Museum Dunnville, Ontario on display [41]
341764-2168 National Museum of the United States Air Force Dayton, Ohio on display as 'BT-14' [42]
343064-2223 Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada Winnipeg, Manitoba on display [43]
3445UnknownPrivately ownedNorwood, Ontariorestored
345064-2214 Musée aéronautique de Presqu'île côte d'Amour La Baule-Escoublac, Francerestoration [36]
345664-2221Privately owned Whistler, British Columbia airworthy
345864-3024 Reynolds-Alberta Museum Wetaskiwin, Alberta stored [44] [45]
346264-2190 Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Brandon, Manitoba stored, unrestored
346364-2207Privately Owned Casa Grande, Arizona airworthy – R-985 fitted [46]

Specifications

3 view line drawing of North American NA-64 Yale trainer North American NA-64 Yale drawing.jpg
3 view line drawing of North American NA-64 Yale trainer

Data from North American Aviation, Manuel de Pilotage de l'Avion NA-64 P-2 (Avion de Perfectionnement), 1940, pp.8–9

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ As there was no Yale Mk.II, the Mk.I part of the designation was rarely used.
  1. 1 2 Smith, 2000, p.29
  2. 1 2 3 Hagedorn, 1997, p.48
  3. ↑ Fletcher, 1990, p.37
  4. 1 2 3 Fletcher, 1990, p.36
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Fletcher, 1990, p.38
  6. 1 2 3 Fletcher, 1990, p.42
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Fletcher, 1990, p.45
  8. 1 2 Fletcher, 1990, p.40
  9. 1 2 3 Fletcher, 1990, p.172
  10. ↑ Fletcher, 1990, p.170
  11. 1 2 Fletcher, 1990, p.171
  12. ↑ Fletcher, 1990, p.43
  13. ↑ "EOM 82 Niger", www.traditions-air.fr (in French), retrieved September 30, 2017
  14. ↑ Peter D Evans, "LEMB Stammkennzeichen Database", The LEMB Stammkennzeichen Database Project, archived from the original on 5 August 2014, retrieved March 31, 2014
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ""stamm Dx+xx" The LEMB Stammkennzeichen Database Project". luftwaffe-experten.org. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  16. 1 2 ""stamm Nx+xx" The LEMB Stammkennzeichen Database Project". luftwaffe-experten.org. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "stamm Rx+xx". luftwaffe-experten.org. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "stamm Vx+xx". luftwaffe-experten.org. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  19. 1 2 3 "Cx+xx". luftwaffe-experten.org. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  20. 1 2 "stamm Kx+xx". luftwaffe-experten.org. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  21. ↑ "stamm Hx+xx". luftwaffe-experten.org. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  22. ↑ "stamm Px+xx". luftwaffe-experten.org. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  23. ↑ Fletcher, 1990, p. 41
  24. ↑ "Restoration of North American NA-64 Yale 3383". legendofaces.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  25. ↑ Fletcher, 1990, p.48
  26. ↑ Fletcher, 1990, p.49
  27. ↑ Fletcher, 1990, p.51
  28. ↑ "The Ernie Simmons Story." Spitfire Emporium. Retrieved: 24 December 2011.
  29. ↑ https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20020917X04036 [ bare URL ]
  30. ↑ "N13397 (NORTH AMERICAN NA-64 owned by CYRIER MARK) Aircraft Registration ✈ FlightAware". FlightAware. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  31. ↑ "Imperial War Museum Duxford - Museums". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  32. ↑ "Aircraft Details". Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  33. ↑ "Milestones of Flight Air Museum - Lancaster - California - USA". www.aviationmuseum.eu. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  34. ↑ "Harold A. Skaarup, author of Shelldrake". silverhawkauthor.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  35. ↑ "Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American T-6/AT-6/SNJ Texan / Harvard, s/n 3390 RCAF, c/n 64-3033". www.aerialvisuals.ca. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  36. 1 2 "Musee Aeronautique Presqu'ile Cote d'Amour - la Baule-Escoublac - France". www.aviationmuseum.eu. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  37. ↑ "YALE". www.pimaair.org. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  38. ↑ "NA-64 Yale." Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association. Retrieved: 24 December 2011.
  39. ↑ "Aircraft Details". Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Retrieved 24 March 2019.{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  40. ↑ Bomber Command Museum of Canada – North American NA-64 Yale Archived 2017-11-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: 31 March 2014
  41. ↑ Aircraft 3416 Photo access date: 2 April 2014
  42. ↑ "Factsheets : North American BT-14 (NA-64)". 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-05-08. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  43. ↑ Marcel. "Western Canada Aviation Museum – Winnipeg - Reportage avionslegendaires.net". avionslegendaires.net. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  44. ↑ "Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame - Wetaskiwin, Alberta - Aviation Museums on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  45. ↑ "Aviation". Reynolds Museum. Government of Alberta. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  46. ↑ "Aircraft Data N64FL, North American NA-64 C/N 64-2207". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 Canadian Wings.com accessdate: March 2014
  48. ↑ North American Aviation, 1940, p.29
  49. ↑ North American Aviation, 1940, p.22
  50. ↑ North American Aviation, 1940, p.28
  51. ↑ North American Aviation, 1940, pp.17

Bibliography

  • Fletcher, David C; MacPhail, Doug (1990). Harvard! the North American Trainers in Canada. San Josef BC/Dundee ON: DCF Flying Books. ISBN   0-9693825-0-2.
  • Fletcher, David (1995). "North American Yale". Random Thoughts. 17 (2). International Plastic Modellers Society of Canada: 31.
  • Griffin, John A. (1969). Canadian Military Aircraft Serials & Photographs 1920 – 1968. Publication No. 69-2. Ottawa: Queen's Printer.
  • Hagedorn, Dan (1997). North American NA-16/AT-6/SNJ (WarbirdTech Volume 11). North Branch, MN: Speciality Press. ISBN   0-933424-76-0.
  • Kostenuk, S.; Griffin, J. (1977). RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft: 1924–1968. Toronto, ON: Samuel Stevens, Hakkert & Co. ISBN   978-0888665775.
  • Milberry, Larry; Halliday, Hugh A. (1990). The Royal Canadian Air Force at War, 1939–1945. Toronto, ON: CANAV Books. ISBN   978-0921022046.
  • North American Aviation (1940). Manuel de Pilotage de l'Avion NA-64 P-2 (Avion de Perfectionnement). Rapport No 1552. Inglewood, CA: North American Aviation.
  • Skaarup, Harold A. (2000). Canadian Warbird and War Prize Survivors, Updated Edition. Lincoln, NE: Writers Club Press. ISBN   978-0595122165.
  • Smith, Peter Charles (2000). North American T-6: SNJ, Harvard and Wirraway. Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press. ISBN   1-86126-382-1.
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