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American Combat Planes of the 20th Century is an incredible reference for anyone who is interested in any American Combat Plane History. There are 758 pages and 1700 b/w photos in this substantial labor of love by Ray Wagner, who has been passionately researching and writing about aircraft for over 50 years. Whether you are already familiar with his past works, or just discovering this accomplished author for the first time... This is the book that you've been waiting for!

If you'd like to see the book's Table of Contents ... Click here. You can also browse the entire Index Section to get an idea of the extensive amount of information that is covered within this book.

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Thomas Morse Observation Aircraft

Page 1

Observation Biplanes, 1928-1931
The next trio of prototypes was designed as light-weight, unarmed two-seaters for training National Guard pilots. Ordered December 12, 1927, and completed around November 23, 1928, the Douglas XO-14 had a Wright Whirlwind, as did the Keystone XO-15 ordered the same week. THOMAS-MORSE XO-19

In April 1928, a Consolidated PT-3 trainer using the same engine was tested with observation equipment as the XO-17, and it was decided the most economical way of meeting the requirement was by use of standard primary trainers. Twenty-nine O-17s were purchased for the National Guard in 1928, along with one O-17A (R-790-3 engine), ending any need for the XO-14/15 types.

Thomas-Morse received a contract for four all-metal, air-cooled observation biplanes on June 16, 1928, with two more added on December 20. They were constructed of riveted dural tubing with corrugated dural covering the fuselage and control surfaces. The fabric-covered wings had the Clark Y airfoil. THOMAS-MORSE YO-20

The first prototype was the XO-19 of April 1929, with an R-1340-3 Wasp, fixed Browning gun, and a Lewis gun on the observer’s ring, while the R-1340-9 was used on the O-19. Next was the YO-20 in September 1929 with an R-1690-1 Hornet, and the fourth prototype became the XO-21 with a Curtiss H-1690-1, which later changed to the XO-21A with a Wright R-1750. A second prototype contract produced another Wasp-powered O-19 and an O-19A with a smaller, 88-gallon, fuel tank.

Thomas-Morse also produced a prototype with a water-cooled V-1570-1 Conqueror engine. The YO-23 or dered November 3, 1928, was tested September 18, 1929, but lost out to the Douglas O-25 as the Army’s Conqueror-powered two-seater. THOMAS-MORSE XO-21

Another company tried to compete with the O-19 as the Wasp-powered observation type. Chance Vought’s O-28 was an Army version of the Navy’s O2U-3. Purchased May 5, 1928, off the Vought production line, the O-28 had an R-1340 Wasp C rated at 450 hp, but actually yielding 625 hp. The Air Corps choice, however, was the Thomas-Morse design.

Seventy O-19B aircraft were ordered August 16, 1929, a few days after the Thomas-Morse Company had been sold to Consolidated Aircraft. A new assembly line in Buffalo delivered the O-19Bs from March to June 1930. Armed with one Browning fixed and one Browning flexible gun with 900 .30-caliber rounds, the O-19B could carry a 40-gallon drop tank or two 116-pound bombs under the fuselage. The useful load could include a 102-pound radio, 96-pound camera, or add 63 pounds for a pair of night landing lights under the wings. THOMAS-MORSE YO-23

Seventy-one O-19Cs ordered June 12, 1930, began appearing in November 1930 with ring cowls and tail wheels. The O-19D was a C converted to transport service while a new R-1340-15, supercharged to 5,000 feet, powered 30 O-19Es ordered February 21, 1931, and delivered beginning in September. They became the last aircraft built by Thomas-Morse, whose few assets merged with Consolidated. VOUGHT O-28

The O-19 series totaled 177 aircraft and served with eight of the 13 Army observation squadrons in 1931. These included all four overseas units (the 2nd in the Philippines, 4th and 50th in Hawaii, and the 7th in the Canal Zone) as well as the 12th, 15th, 22nd and 88th in the United States. They also served to demonstrate the suitability of all-metal construction for Army aircraft.

Thomas-Morse had been less successful in adapting their aircraft to the more powerful Curtiss Conqueror engine with Prestone cooling. A geared V-1570-11 was installed in the first O-19B, rebuilt and flown on April 23, 1930, as the YlO-33, but the Douglas O-25C and Curtiss O-39 got the Air Corps contracts for observation types with this engine.

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