SNJ-3 Texan 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Base Quantico, 1942 (1:72)

The North American T-6 Texan was known by many names. The USN called it the SNJ, the USAAF the AT-6 and the British Commonwealth countries called it the Harvard. Regardless of the name this aircraft truly is '_THE PILOT MAKER'_. Thousands upon thousands of men from over 30 nations earned their wings in this aircraft. Between 1938 and 1945 there were 15, 495 of these aircraft manufactured in several variants. A true icon of the aviation world there still are hundreds of these amazing little planes flying 60 years after they first appeared.

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing was activated at Marine Corps Base Quantico Virginia on July 7, 1941 where they used the SNJ-2s for training aircraft. That same year the first of its SNJ-3s started to arrive and by the end of the year they had 15. Two SNJ-3s as well as two SNJ-2s were assigned to Base Air Detachment One (BAD-1) at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Quantico, Virginia. Meanwhile the other 13 SNJ-3s were assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron One Hundred Eleven (VMF-111) and VMF-121 at MCAS Quantico; VMF-211 at MCAS Ewa, Territory of Hawaii; and VMF-221 and Marine Observation Squadron Two Hundred Fifty One (VMO-251) at NAS San Diego, California. These aircraft were used during WWII as squadron and station utility aircraft and allowed personnel to maintain their proficiency.

Specifications North American SNJ-3 (Texan)

Role '_ Scout / Trainer

Crew '_ 1 x Instructor / 1 X Student

Manufactured '_ 1939 '_ 1948

Engine '_ 1 X Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 / 600 hp

Dimensions
Length '_ 27 ft 2 in (8.2 m)
Height '_ 13 ft 3 in (4.0 m)
Wing span '_ 42 ft 0 in (12.8 m)
Wing area '_ 248 sq. ft (23 sq m)

Weight
Empty '_ 3,250 lb (1,473 kg)
Gross '_ 4,440 lb (2,013 kg)

Armament
2 X M-2 .30 cal Machine Guns
1 firing through the propeller
1 flex gun in the rear, canopy enclosure was hinged forward and down then gunner seat would rotate, he would remove stowed gun onto a track.
These aircraft didn'_t have bomb racks and were dedicated gunnery trainers that would shoot targets being towed behind another SNJ or other type of aircraft.