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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.

Search our site for other combat planes. A- 1 Eaton A- 4 Skyhawk A- 6 & A- 7 Air Weapons AV- 8 to A- 10 A- 20 Havoc A- 22 Martin Maryland A- 23 Martin Baltimore A- 24 Douglas A- 26 Douglas Invader Attack Planes B- 2A, F-111, F-117 Stealth B- 17 Flying Fortress B- 24 Liberator B- 25 North American B- 26 Marauder B- 29 Superfortress B- 32 Dominator B- 35 Flying Wing B- 36 B- 47 Stratojet B- 50 Boeing B- 52 Stratofortress B- 57 Canberra B- 58 Hustler Biplanes Biplanes, Army Pursuits Bombers, B- 70 to Stealth Bombers, First Big Curtiss Falcon CO- 1 DH- 4 De Havilland F3D- Douglas Skyknight F3H- McDonnell Demon F4D- 1 Skyray F4F Grumman Wildcats F- 4U Corsair F6F Grumman F7F Grumman F7U Vought F9F G. Cougar F9F G. Panther F- 16 Fighting Falcon F- 84 F- 86 Sabre F- 89 to F-94 F- 100 to F-108 First Fighters Flying Boats GAX Iraq to Afghanistan Martin Bombers Missile Era Fighters Navy Fighers Navy Flying Boats O- 2 Douglas P- 35 Seversky P- 36 to 42 Curtiss P- 38 Lightning P- 39 Airacobra P- 40 Line P- 47 Thunderbolt P- 51 Mustang Fighter P- 61 Black Widow P- 63 Kingcobra P- 79 to P-81 P- 82 Twin Mustang SB2C Helldiver TBF-TBM Avenger Thomas-Morse Torpedo Planes V- 11 Vultee XB -28 XP -48 / 77

O-2 Douglas

Page 1

Douglas O-2 Series
The most important event in observation aviation was the work of the officer’s board convened to select a standard replacement for the DH-4B. By December 1, 1925, seven officers led by Captain Gerald Brower had begun flight trials on eleven two-seat biplane types.

What was wanted was a “good general utility ship” for the observation squadrons, and speed was not a major objective. The Liberty engine would be the power plant, although the airframe should be adaptable to more recent units like the Packard. As stated in the board’s report, the new type should have these characteristics:

a. Ability to get in and out of small, poor fields easily and safely with comparatively inexperienced pilots.
b. Best possible safety features (flying characteristics, structure, tank location, etc.).
c. Tank capacity sufficient for long cruising range.
d. Good vision for cross-country work in bad weather.
e. Provision for carrying quantities of freight, baggage, etc., on airways, transport and similar work, including the ability to carry varying loads without changing the balance of the airplane.
f. Best possible accommodations, arrangements, vision, gun fire, comfort, etc., in the rear cockpit for observation work, attack work, gunnery training, transformation flying, and passengers on cross-country.
g. Rugged construction, ability to withstand rough handling by inexperienced mechanics, accessibility of parts, ability to stand weathering in all climates.
h. Adaptability to being fitted with skis and pontoons.

The board was unanimous in recommending that the Douglas O-2 be adopted as the standard observation type, adding: DOUGLAS XO-2

“This airplane with Liberty engine proved to be without doubt the logical successor to the DH-4B. Its flying qualities appeared to be perfect, it was very maneuverable and controlled beautifully, it could not be made to spin from a stall and when attempts were made to force it in, it brought itself out immediately. It appeared to have no tricks, landed very easily and handled well on the ground. An outstanding characteristic was that each one who flew it felt perfectly at home in it from the first moment. For observation work, the plane was exceptionally good. The angles of vision and of flexible gun fire were excellent, the cockpit location nearly ideal and the arrangement very well worked out. The flexible guns were operated at high speed in dives and zooms with very pleasing results, the slipstream not affecting the accuracy of fire. The pilot’s angles of vision were very good for cross-country. In construction, the plane is a very simple and straightforward chrome molybdenum steel tube, wire-braced, fuselage, with single-bay wire-braced wings and wide tread axle less landing gear....”

Douglas had already won Army favor with their successful “World Cruiser” planes of 1924, and the new XO-2’s simple and neat proportions seemed to fit its role. Ordered in July 1924, the XO-2 was built by the Santa Monica firm in time for McCook Field tests to be completed December 11. A second airframe for static tests was supplied in May 1925. Fabric covered the usual steel tube fuselage and wood wing structure, and the new Clark Y airfoil was used. DOUGLAS XA-2

The prototype had a Liberty with a smoothly shuttered chin radiator, but was also tested on January 12, 1925, with the 500-hp Packard lA-1500 and shorter wings. Top speed rose from 137 mph to 150 mph due to the reduced weight and size. That engine seemed unready for service adoption, however, so Liberty engines were specified for 75 production aircraft ordered February 16, 1925. It was the largest contract Douglas had received to date, and the largest Army two-seater contract since 1918.

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