NORTH AMERICAN AT-6B TEXAN

Design of what would become North American's most successful and long lasting program began in 1935 as a basic trainer for the Army Air Corps. Over the next few years the aircraft evolved into the famous AT-6 Texan. Several versions of the aircraft entered service between 1936 and 1939 when the version designated AT-6 first appeared. More pilots trained in the Texan than in any other single type of aircraft during World War II. The U.S. Army and the Navy as well as many foreign nations used them. Over 21,000 aircraft were built between 1935 and 1946. In 1949, the U.S. Air Force began a program to remanufacture existing T-6 airframes into the T-6G. Aircraft were brought to North American's Downey, California plant and completely disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled with new engines, propellers, and instruments. The aircraft were all given new serial numbers and returned to serve for many more years.