(United States)

Notes: The primary American trainer for American forces throughout WWII, the Texan served on long after the conflict ended. The T-6 entered service in 1937. A total of 15,495 were built between the late 1930s and early 1950s, in America and under license in Australia and Canada. The Texan was a simple, straightforward trainer that was extremely durable yet forgiving to pilots. The last military user was South Africa, which retired the Texan as it’s primary trainer in 1996. About 420 survive worldwide today, many in flying condition.

Israeli independence war: The Syrian AF received a shipment of Texans in a brief several-month period between Syria’s and Israel’s independence when American foreign policy was warm towards Damascus. The Syrian T-6’s were used as fighter bombers, attacking Ramat David airbase and shooting down an Israeli Avia S.199 fighter. The Syrians, in turn, lost several Texans to AA fire and retired them after the war. One survives in a museum in Damascus.

Korean War: The USAF and RAF used Texans (“Harvard” in RAF nomenclature) as forward-air control planes during the Korean conflict.

Algerian war: The French AF had a squadron of Texans stationed in Algeria when that colony began it’s fight for independence during the late 1950s; they were quickly pressed into service as COIN planes. A typical armament was two twin MG pods and FFAR rockets, napalm tanks were also employed.

Kenyan conflict: The RAF used Harvards equipped with 20lb bomblets as COIN planes during the conflict against insurgents in Kenya during the mid-1950s. Although their were far more capable types in RAF service, the T-6 was appreciated for it’s ability to operate from high mountain airstrips.

100 Hours War: The El Salvador AF used Texans as spotter planes during it’s short 1969 war with Honduras.

Mozambique: The Portuguese AF had a flight of Canadian-built Harvard MkIV trainers stationed in Mozambique; when they abandoned the colony these were left behind and assimilated into the new MAF; which used them in the COIN role (with underwing MG pods) during that country’s long civil war.

Vietnam war: The USAF again used the Texan as a FAC plane during the early stages of the Vietnam conflict, until more advanced types became available.

Biafra: A total of eight ex-French T-6’s found their way to Biafra in late 1969, via a complicated smuggling scheme and assistance from European refurbishment companies. They were flown by Portuguese mercenary pilots. On 10 November 1969, the joined Biafran MFI-9Bs in a brazen raid of the Nigerian airport at Port Harcourt, destroying a MiG-17 “Fresco” and a DC-3 on the ground. The planes were up-armed with two twin 7.62mm gun pods, and ten 50kg bombs. Alternate armaments observed included Matra rocket pods and (reportedly) napalm tanks. After Nigerian troops overran the final Biafran airstrip, the surviving planes fled to Gabon where they were assimilated into that country’s air force.

Katanga: In 1962, the breakaway nation of Katanga obtained ten T-6 Texans via the international black market and used them with undwerwing rockets and MG pods against Zairian troops. After Katanga was overrun by Zaire in early 1963, the survivors were incorporated into the Zairian AF and used until spares ran out.

USERS: United States, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Biafra, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Honduras, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Katanga, Mexico, Morocco (pictured), Netherlands, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, West Germany, Yugoslavia, Zaire