P-26 Peashooter

Very much an interim aircraft, Boeing’s P-26 introduced the Army to low-wing pursuit monoplanes with metal stressed skin construction. But although capable of exceeding 230mph, the P-26 still had such archaic features as fixed landing gear and an open cockpit. Thus, the Peashooter had a short service life as P-35s and P-36s arrived, although a few in the hands of the Philippine Air Force did briefly see combat in late 1941.

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Bibliography:

Photo: P-26C 33-194 / 17th Pursuit Squadron Air Pictorial October 1970 p.373

Photo: XP-26, with small headrest Air Classics June 1984 p.57