The Northrop A-17, a development of the Northrop Gamma 2F model, was a two-seat, single-engine,

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...

, attack

bomber A bomber is a military combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping air-to-ground weaponry (such as bombs), launching aerial torpedo, torpedoes, or deploying air-launched cruise missiles. The first use of bombs dropped ...

built in 1935 by the

Northrop Corporation Northrop Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its 1994 merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, most successfully the B-2 Spiri ...

for the

United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical r ...

. When in British Commonwealth service during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the A-17 was called Nomad.

Development and design

The Northrop Gamma 2F was an attack bomber derivative of the Northrop Gamma transport aircraft, developed in parallel with the Northrop Gamma 2C, (of which one was built), designated the YA-13 and XA-16. The Gamma 2F had a revised tail, cockpit canopy and wing flaps compared with the Gamma 2C, and was fitted with new semi-retractable landing gear. It was delivered to the

for tests on 6 October 1934, and after modifications which included fitting with a conventional fixed landing gear, was accepted by the Air Corps.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' May–June 1998. pp. 63–64. A total of 110 aircraft were ordered as the A-17 in 1935."A-17/8A Light Attack Bomber."
''Boeing''. Retrieved: 11 February 2008. The resulting A-17 was equipped with perforated flaps, and had fixed landing gear with partial fairings. It was fitted with an internal fuselage bomb bay that carried fragmentation bombs and well as external bomb racks. Northrop developed new landing gear, this time completely retractable, producing the A-17A variant. This version was again purchased by the Army Air Corps, who placed orders for 129 aircraft.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' May–June 1998, p. 65. By the time these were delivered, the Northrop Corporation had been taken over by

Douglas Aircraft Company The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer based in Southern California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas; it then operated as ...

, export models being known as the Douglas Model 8.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' May–June 1998, p. 66.

Operational history

United States

The A-17 entered service in February 1936, and proved a reliable and popular aircraft.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' May–June 1998, pp. 64–65. However, in 1938, the Air Corps decided that attack aircraft should be multi-engined, rendering the A-17 surplus to requirements.Fact Sheet – A-17A
National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 16 July 2017. From 14 December 1941, A-17s were used for coastal patrols by the

59th Bombardment Squadron The 59th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first activated in Panama in 1941 during the expansion of the United States Army Air Corps before World War II. Following the Attack on Pearl Harbor the squadron ...

(Light) on the Pacific side of the

Panama Canal The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit ...

. The last remaining A-17s, used as utility aircraft, were retired from USAAF service in 1944.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' May–June 1998, p. 67.

Other countries

Argentina

Argentina purchased 30 Model 8A-2s in 1937 and received them between February and March 1938; their serial numbers were between 348 and 377. These remained in frontline service until replaced by the

I.Ae. 24 Calquin The I.Ae.24 Calquin (a Mapudungun word which means "Royal Eagle") was a tactical bomber designed and built by the ''Instituto Aerotécnico'' at Córdoba, Argentina, Córdoba, in Argentina in the immediate post-World War II era. Although superfici ...

, continuing in service as trainers and reconnaissance aircraft until their last flight in 1954.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 1998, p. 2.Bontti 2003, p. 21.

Peru

Peru ordered ten Model 8A-3Ps, these being delivered from 1938 onwards. These aircraft were used in combat by Peru in the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War of July 1941.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 1998, p. 6. The survivors of these aircraft were supplemented by 13 Model 8A-5s from Norway (see below), delivered via the United States in 1943 (designated A-33). These remained in service until 1958.

Sweden

The Swedish government purchased a licence for production of a Mercury-powered version, building 63 B 5Bs and 31 B 5Cs, production taking place from 1938 to 1941. They were replaced in service with the

Swedish Air Force The Swedish Air Force ( sv, Svenska flygvapnet or just ) is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. History The Swedish Air Force was created on 1 July, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the es ...

by SAAB 17s from 1944.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 1998, pp. 12–13. The Swedish version was used as a

dive bomber A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target simplifies the bomb's trajectory and allows the pilot to keep visual contact througho ...

and as such it featured prominently in the 1941 film '' Första divisionen''.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands, in urgent need of modern combat aircraft, placed an order for 18 Model 8A-3Ns in 1939, with all being delivered by the end of the year. Used in a fighter role for which they were unsuited, the majority were destroyed by

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

attacks on 10 May 1940, the first day of the German invasion.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 1998, pp. 3–4.

Iraq

Iraq purchased 15 Model 8A-4s, in 1939. They arrived in Iraq in September 1940. Twelve of them were destroyed in the Anglo-Iraqi War in 1941, and one of the three remaining aircraft crashed in early 1944.

Norway

Norway ordered 36 Model 8A-5Ns in 1940. These were not ready by the time of the German Invasion of Norway and were diverted to the Norwegian training camp in Canada, which became known as '' Little Norway''.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 1998, p. 4. Norway decided to sell 18 of these aircraft as surplus to Peru, but these were embargoed by the United States, who requisitioned the aircraft, using them as trainers, designating them the A-33. Norway sold their surviving aircraft to Peru in 1943.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 1998, pp. 4, 6.

Great Britain

In June 1940, 93 ex-USAAC aircraft were purchased by France, and refurbished by Douglas, including being given new engines.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 1998, p. 3. These were not delivered before the

fall of France The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France during the Second World ...

and 61 were taken over by the British Purchasing Commission for the British Commonwealth use under the name Northrop Nomad Mk I.

South Africa

After the RAF assessed the Northrop Nomad Mk Is as "obsolete", most of the Nomads were sent to

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

for use as trainers and target tugs.Donald 1995, p. 212.Pelletier ''Air Enthusiast'' September/October 1998, p. 12. The Nomads suffered shortages of spare parts (particularly engines) and from 1942 were gradually replaced by

Fairey Battle The Fairey Battle is a British single-engine light bomber that was designed and manufactured by the Fairey Aviation Company. It was developed during the mid-1930s for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a monoplane successor to the Hawker Hart and Hi ...

s. The last Nomads were retired in 1944.

Canada

The

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

received 32 Nomads that had been part of a French order of 93 aircraft. When France fell in 1940, this order was taken over by Great Britain who transferred 32 of the aircraft to Canada where they were used as advanced trainers and target tugs as part of the

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), or Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) often referred to as simply "The Plan", was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zea ...

. These were serialed 3490 to 3521; all were assigned to

No. 3 Training Command RCAF No. 3 Training Command RCAF was a training command of the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II established to administer the schools of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. History No. 3 Training Command was formed as No. 2 Trainin ...

Variants

;A-17 :Initial production for USAAC. Fixed gear, powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1535-11 Twin Wasp Jr engine; 110 built.Francillon 1979, pp. 212–213. ;A-17A :Revised version for USAAC with retractable gear and R-1535-13 engine; 129 built.Francillon 1979, pp. 213–214. ;A-17AS :Three seat staff transport version for USAAC. Powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp engine; two built.Francillon 1979, p. 215. ;Model 8A-1 :Export version for Sweden. Fixed gear. Two Douglas built prototypes (Swedish designation B 5A), followed by 63 licensed built (by

ASJA ASJA may refer to: * Asja, a given name (including a list of people with the name) *American Society of Journalists and Authors *Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association, Trinidad and Tobago *AB Svenska Järnvägsverkstädernas Aeroplanavdelning, a for ...

) B 5B aircraft powered by

Bristol Mercury The Bristol Mercury is a British nine-cylinder, air-cooled, single-row, piston radial engine. Designed by Roy Fedden of the Bristol Aeroplane Company it was used to power both civil and military aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s. Developed from ...

XXIV engine; 31 similar B 5C built by SAAB. ;Model 8A-2 :Version for Argentina. Fitted with fixed gear, ventral gun position and powered by

Wright R-1820 The Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 is an American radial engine developed by Curtiss-Wright, widely used on aircraft in the 1930s through 1950s. It was produced under license in France as the Hispano-Suiza 9V or Hispano-Wright 9V, and in the Soviet Uni ...

-G3 Cyclone; 30 built.Francillon 1979, p. 218. ;Model 8A-3N :Version of A-17A for Netherlands. Powered by

Pratt & Whitney R-1830 The Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp is an American air-cooled radial aircraft engine. It displaces and its bore and stroke are both . The design traces its history to 1929 experiments at Pratt & Whitney on twin-row designs. Production began ...

Twin Wasp S3C-G engine; 18 built.Francillon 1979, pp. 219–220. ;Model 8A-3P :Version of A-17A for Peru. Powered by GR-1820-G103 engine; ten built (c/n 412 to 421).Francillon 1979, pp. 218–219. ;Model 8A-4 :Version for Iraq, powered by a GR-1820-G103 engine; 15 built.Francillon 1979, p. 220. ;Model 8A-5N :Version for Norway, powered by GR-1830-G205A engine; 36 built. Later impressed into USAAF service as

Douglas A-33 The Douglas A-33 (Model 8A-5) was an American attack aircraft built in small numbers during World War II. It was an updated version of the Northrop A-17, with a more powerful engine and an increased bomb load. While the A-33 was intended initial ...

. ;Nomad Mk.I :RAF and RCAF designation for A-17A's refurbished for French use but delivered to the UK and Canada.

Operators

; *

Fuerza Aérea Argentina "Argentine Wings" , mascot = , anniversaries = 10 August (anniversary) 1 May (Baptism of fire during the Falklands War) , equipment = 139 aircraft , equipment_label = , battles = * Operation Independence * Operation Soberanía * Falklan ...

** ''Grupo "A" de la Escuela de Aplicación de Aviación'' ("'A' Group, School of Aviation Administration"), El Palomar Air Base ** ''

Regimiento Aéreo Nº3 The regimiento, cabildo de regidores or concejo cerrado ("closed council") was a system of local government established from the 14h century onwards in the Crown of Castile.; ; A feature of the progressive oligarchization of the form of government ...

de Bombardeo Liviano'' ("3rd Light Bombing Air Regiment"), El Plumerillo Air Base ; *

** No. 3 Training Command ; * Republic of China Air Force ; *

Royal Iraqi Air Force The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF or IrAF) ( ar, القوات الجوية العراقية, Al Quwwat al Jawwiyah al Iraqiyyah}) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Iraqi Armed Forces. It is responsible for the defense of Iraqi airspace as well ...

; * ''

Luchtvaartafdeeling , colours = , colours_label = , march = ''Parade March of the Royal Netherlands Air Force'' , mascot = , anniversaries = , equipment ...

'' ; *

Norwegian Air Force The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) ( no, Luftforsvaret, , The Air Defence) is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian Armed Forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peacetime establishment is approximatel ...

** Norwegian Training Unit ; * Peruvian Air Force ; * South African Air Force ; *

; *

** General Headquarters Air Force **

3d Attack Group The 3rd Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 3rd Wing. It is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska, and is assigned to Pacific Air Forces' Eleventh Air Force. The group is a comp ...

, Barksdale Field **

17th Attack Group The 17th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The group was last stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The Group is a direct successor to the 17th Pursuit Group, one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the ...

March Field March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the second of seven months to have a length of 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of Ma ...

16th Pursuit Group The 1st Special Operations Wing (1 SOW) at Hurlburt Field, Florida is one of three United States Air Force active duty Special Operations wings and falls under the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The 1st Special Operations Wing is ...

, Albrook Field *** 74th Attack Squadron

Survivors

* A-17A, U.S. Army Ser. No. ''36-0207'' c/n 234, ex-3rd Attack Group (Barksdale Field), On display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at

Wright-Patterson AFB Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place just east of Dayton, Ohio, in Greene and Montgomery counties. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wri ...

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Day ...

* 8A-3P c/n 415, registration FAP-277. This aircraft crash landed January 12, 1957 at San Sebastián de Sacraca, Ayacucho,

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

. The remains are preserved as monument at the town's main square. * 8A-3P c/n 417, registration FAP-279, ex-31^o Escuadrón de Ataque y Reconocimiento. On display next to Armando Revoredo's mausoleum, Grupo Aéreo N°8, Callao,

, painted as "XXXI-1" to resemble the aircraft flown by Revoredo in 1940 during the "Los Zorros" raid over South America. * RCAF Nomad 3521 crashed in Lake Muskoka, Ontario December 13, 1940. The wreck was found in July 2010 and both aircraft and the crew's remains were recovered by the RCAF. The recovered aircraft will be put on display at the National Air Force Museum of Canada, Trenton, Ontario.Downed Second World War plane recovered from Lake Muskoka
/ref>

Specifications (A-17A)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* *Andrade, John M. . ''U.S Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909''. Leicester: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. . * Bontti, Sergio and Jorge Núñez Padín, eds. "Northrop 8A-2 (in Spanish)". ''Serie Fuerza Aérea Argentina #8,'' October 2003. * Donald, David, ed. ''American Warplanes of World War II''. London: Aerospace, 1995. . * Francillon, René J. ''McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920''. London: Putnam, 1979. . * Gerdessen, F. "Round-Out". '' Air Enthusiast'', No. 79, January/February 1999. p. 79. . * Pelletier, Alain J. "Northrop's Connection: The Unsung A-17 Attack Aircraft and its Legacy – Part 1". '' Air Enthusiast,'' No. 75, May–June 1998, pp. 62–67. . * Pelletier, Alain J. "Northrop's Connection: The Unsung A-17 Attack Aircraft and its Legacy – Part 2". '' Air Enthusiast,'' No. 77, September/October 1998, pp. 2–15. . * Widfeldt, Bo and Åke Hall. ''B 5 Störtbombepoken'' (in Swedish). Nässjö, Sweden: Air Historic Research AB U.B., 2000. . * *Swanborough, F. G. and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Military aircraft since 1909''. London: Putnam, 1963, 1971, 1989. .

External links

Northrop A-17A
– National Museum of the United States Air Force
"Bullet Nose Fighter Flies 200 Miles An Hour" ''Popular Mechanics'', September 1937
{{Authority control

A-17 A17, A 17, A.17 or A-17 is a three-letter acronym that may refer to: * A17 Cutty Sark, a 1930 British Saro aircraft * A17 road, in several countries * Aero A.17, a 1922 Czech sailplane * ARM Cortex-A17, a microprocessor core * British NVC community ...

A-17, Northrop Single-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1935