Saturday, 13 June 2020

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford, part seven, American Users

The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a British twin-engined multi-role aircraft that was designed and manufactured by Airspeed Ltd. With more than 8.500 machines manufactured it was exported to many countries, among them, the following ones:

  • Argentina: The Argentine 'Fuerza Aérea Argentina' (Argentine Air Force) bought three ex-Royal Air Force Oxfords in 1947, together with some more Airspeed Consuls. They were modified to be used as air ambulances, delivered in 1948 and assigned to the 'Agrupación Transporte' (Transport Group). They served through the 1950s and were phased out shortly later. 
  • Canada: Twenty-five Oxfords were ordered by the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1938. They were taken from British stocks and sailed unassembled to Canada one year later, in 1939 to be assembled at Canadian Vickers in Montreal. They were initially assigned to the Canadian Central Flying School, but later, as part of the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme, they were assigned to Nos. 32, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 39 Service Flying Schools as trainers. 
  • United States of America: The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) employed a total of 137 Oxfords loaned from the Royal Air Force. Most of them were used as communications and general-purpose aircraft by USAAF units stationed in the United Kingdom. From June 1942 onwards they were also used for beam approaching training. By the end of 1944 as the American types were available and delivered, the Oxfords were returned to the Royal Air Force.
    An unknown small amount of Oxfords were also loaned to the USAAF by the Royal Australian Air Force for use by those USAAF units stationed in Australian soil. The United States Navy also used two Oxfords in some unit stationed in the United Kingdom.









Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspeed_Oxford#Operational_history
2. https://aviationsmilitaires.net/v3/kb/aircraft/show/1112/airspeed-as10-oxford (translated)
3. http://www.asociacionatta.com.ar/aviones/avion16.htm (translated)
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_Commonwealth_Air_Training_Plan_facilities_in_Canada

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