03.07.2010, 05:06
The Ryan Fireball was developed and built during WWII but was never flown in combat during the war. The A-20 is already in the sim it just needs the proper armament and the addition of radar to turn it into the P-70 nightfighter.In October 1940, the USAAC felt a need for long-range fighters more than attack bombers, so some of the production run of A-20s were converted to P-70 and P-70A night-fighters. They were equipped with SCR-540 radar (a copy of British AI Mk IV), the glazed nose often painted black to reduce glare and hide the details of the radar set, and had four 20 mm (.79 in) forward-firing cannon in a ventral bomb bay tray. Further P-70 variants were produced from A-20C, G and J variants. The singular airframe P-70B-1 (converted from an A-20G) and subsequent P-70B-2s (converted from A-20Gs and Js) had American centimetric radar (SCR-720 or SCR-729) fitted. The P-70s and P-70As saw combat ONLY in the Pacific during World War II and only with the USAAF. The P-70B-1 and P-70B-2 aircraft never saw combat but served as night fighter aircrew trainers in the US in Florida and later in California. All P-70s were retired from service by 1945.
The A-17 was never used by the Americans in WWII. The A-17 entered service in February 1936, and proved a reliable and popular aircraft.[4] However, in 1938, the Air Corps decided that attack aircraft should be multi-engined, rendering the A-17 surplus to requirements.[5]
In 1939 [6], 93 ex-USAAC aircraft were purchased by France and given new engines. Not having been delivered before the fall of France, 61 were taken over by the British Purchasing Commission for the RAF and given the name Nomad. They were assessed as being obsolete and sent to South Africa for use as trainers.[7] The remaining thirty two aircraft from the French order were transferred to Canada, where they were also used as advanced trainers.[8]
The last remaining A-17s, used as utility aircraft, were retired from USAAF service in 1944.[9]
The Republic of China Air Force received a mixed shipment of forty-five Northrop Gamma 2E and A-17 aircraft, along with two C-19 Alpha. The Gamma 2E and A-17 were used extensively in combat to attack Japanese shipping lines at Shanghai by the 1st and 2nd Groups, before being retired from front line service to training duties.
The A-17 was never used by the Americans in WWII. The A-17 entered service in February 1936, and proved a reliable and popular aircraft.[4] However, in 1938, the Air Corps decided that attack aircraft should be multi-engined, rendering the A-17 surplus to requirements.[5]
In 1939 [6], 93 ex-USAAC aircraft were purchased by France and given new engines. Not having been delivered before the fall of France, 61 were taken over by the British Purchasing Commission for the RAF and given the name Nomad. They were assessed as being obsolete and sent to South Africa for use as trainers.[7] The remaining thirty two aircraft from the French order were transferred to Canada, where they were also used as advanced trainers.[8]
The last remaining A-17s, used as utility aircraft, were retired from USAAF service in 1944.[9]
The Republic of China Air Force received a mixed shipment of forty-five Northrop Gamma 2E and A-17 aircraft, along with two C-19 Alpha. The Gamma 2E and A-17 were used extensively in combat to attack Japanese shipping lines at Shanghai by the 1st and 2nd Groups, before being retired from front line service to training duties.