Northrop A-17A s/n 36-11

Information about Pacific Theatre aircraft currently flying or under restoration.

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wmccollum
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Northrop A-17A s/n 36-11

Post by wmccollum »

I have a photo of my uncle Cpl Walter N. Cook Jr, standing by the tail of what appears to be a Northrop A-17. It has the number 611 on the side of the fuselage just behind and beneath the canopy. All I have been able to find out about the A-17 is that it went into production in the spring of 1935 and 110 were built with s/n ranging from 35-51 to 35-160. I'm assuming that this number means that this aircraft was 36-11. Since he entered service in 1939 and was stationed at Barksdale, LA and Savannah Army Air Base until his unit (3rd Bomb/Attack Group) was sent to Australia in early 1942, I'm guessing that the photo was taken at one of those two places. Can anyone provide more information? Thanks.

wmccollum
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Re: Northrop A-17A s/n 36-11

Post by wmccollum »

My apologies. A little more research turned up the fact that the A-17A was in the inventory of the Army Air Corps at Barksdale Field, LA in the late 1930s. The last one known to exist, 36-207, is on display and is marked in the colors of the 90th Attack Squadron, 3rd Attack Group. That was my uncle's squadron in Australia, although it was redesignated the 90th Bombardment Squadron (L) It now makes sense.

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