TheNorth American O-47 is an American observationfixed-wing aircraft monoplane designed in the mid-1930s and used by theUnited States Army Air Corps during theWorld War II. It has a low-wing configuration, retractable landing gear, and a three-blade propeller.
The O-47 was developed as a replacement for theThomas-Morse O-19 andDouglas O-38 observation biplanes. It was larger and heavier than most preceding observation aircraft and its crew of three sat in tandem under the long canopy. Windows in the deep belly overcame the obstacle that the wings presented to downward observation andphotography. The design for the XO-47 prototype originated in 1934 withGeneral Aviation Manufacturing, a subsidiary of North American Aviation, as the GA-15.[2] The Air Corps ordered 174 O-47s in 1937 to 1938, 93 of which were assigned toNational Guard units. In 1938, the Army ordered 74 O-47Bs with a redesigned engine cowling for better cooling, an uprated engine, and improved radio equipment.[citation needed]
Training maneuvers in 1941 demonstrated the shortcomings of the O-47. Single-engined light airplanes like thePiper L-4 andStinson L-5 proved more capable of operating with ground troops, whilefighters and twin enginebombers showed greater ability to perform recon and photo duties. Thus, O-47s duringWorld War II, except for those caught at overseas bases by the Japanese attacks, were relegated to secondary duties such as towing targets, coastal patrol, andanti-submarine patrol.[3]
^"North American O-47A".Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian Institution. Archived fromthe original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved30 July 2018.
^abGoodall, Geoffrey (14 June 2018)."North American"(PDF).Geoff Goodall's Aviation History Site. Geoffrey Goodall. Retrieved30 July 2018.
^"FAA REGISTRY [N73716]".Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived fromthe original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved30 July 2018.
^"North American O-47B".National Museum of the US Air Force. 7 April 2015. Retrieved30 July 2018.
