Boeing Stearman Model 75, part six. The Stearman in America, part three. Even more American users.

 

The Boeing Stearman Model 75 was an American double-winged two-seater trainer that was employed all around the globe. Among its users, we can count the following ones:

• Guatemala: In mid 1943 the Guatemalan Air Corps acquired two PT-17s as a planned expansion for their Air Force.
  
  
• Honduras: On 6th February 1946 the Honduran Air Force acquired ten PT-17 Kaydets (though some sources claim they were just six) for use at their Air School. They were followed by twelve additional PT-13 two years later, in 1948. Anyway, all twenty-two (or eighteen) of them served as trainers for the next fifteen years, until 1963, when they were written off and were gradually replaced by more modern types such as the North American T-28 Trojan.
  
  
• Mexico: In July 1951 the Mexican Navy bought some Boeing Stearman N2S-5 (a variant of the PT-13D designed for use with the US Navy) to replace their Fairchild PT-19 trainers. They were assigned to the Mexican Naval Aviation School, to train their naval aviators. Three years later, in 1954, two additional machines were acquired. The N2S served with the Mexican Navy until 1969 when they were replaced by three Beechcraft Model 45 Mentor.
  The Mexican Air Force (MAF) employed the PT-17 too, having a total of up to 35 units destined to basic training at the Military Aviation School.
  
  
• Paraguay: Allegedly the Paraguayan Air Force employed the Stearman Model 75, however, we couldn't find any graphical evidence or description and only text references, and both the drawing and its data should be considered as speculative.
  
  
• Peru: The Peruvian Aeronautical Corps acquired a total of eighteen Stearman Model A75N1 (a export version of the PT-17), known locally as PT-27 in 1942. They replaced the ageing Italian Caproni Ca. 113. 
  
  
• Venezuela: In 1940 the Venezuelan Military Aviation signed a deal to buy three Stearman A75L3 and five A75B4 machines. The A75L3 being the export version of a regular PT-13A, while the A75B4 was the export variant of the PT-17 with some minor improvements such as an improved engine and provisions for light armament. 
  They also acquired five A76B4 (the export version of the Model 75 with cowled engine upgrade and light armament) in 1941. 
  According to some sources a total of 29 Stearmans served with the Venezuela Aviation, but other sources claim they were just 17. Anyway, they were employed as trainers and their ultimate fate is unknown.
  
  

Sources:

1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing-Stearman_Model_75

2nd https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Aeronaves_militares_históricas_de_Honduras#Década_de_1940_(1940-1949) (translated)

3rd https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuerza_Aérea_Guatemalteca (translated)

4th https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_de_la_Fuerza_Aérea_del_Perú (translated)

5th https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuerza_Aérea_Paraguaya (translated)

6th https://www.facebook.com/SentinelMexico1/photos/a.439533016150357/5214703231966621/?type=3&locale=es_LA (translated)

7th https://www.uswarplanes.net/pt13pt17.pdf (translated)

8th https://maquetas.mforos.com/353330/13018102-stearman-pt-17-venezolano-revell-1-48/ (translated)

9th https://iehap.pe/noticias/avion-stearman-pt-17-nuevo-atractivo-del-iehap/ (translated)

10th https://maquetas.mforos.com/353330/13018164-stearman-a76-b4-y-a75-l3-venezolanos-lindberg-1-48-2-aviones/ (translated)

Boeing P-26, Chinese and Central-American users

The Boeing P-26 Peashooter, was the first American all-metal to serve in the United States Army Air Corps. It was designed by Boeing in the early 1930s and flew for the first time in 1932. It was exported to many nations:

• Republic of China: The Republic of China ordered eleven Boeing Model 281 which was the demonstrator of the P-26C. The first Model 281, which arrived to China in September 1934, was destroyed in an accident when its pilot was making a demonstration flight. The rest arrived gradually at the Chinese port of Canton during the next 15 months, with the last one arriving in January 1936 and forming, therefore, the 17th Fighter Squadron, as part of the 3rd Wing. Those aircraft scored some victories against Japanese fighters and bombers and some Chinese pilots adquired the ace status flying the type, like Cpt. John Wong. The aircraft had to be retired from active service due to the lack of spare parts.
• Guatemala: During late 1942, when there were just 9 active Peashooters in the USAAC, at the Panama Canal Zone, the Guatemalan Government showed interest for the type. However, as the United States Congress had issued a veto on combat weapons exportations to Latin-American countries, except for Mexico and Brasil, the US Government smuggled them under the fake name of PT-26 to disguish them as Fairchild PT-26 trainer airplane, being seven of them delivered in early 1943. They were employed in the Guatemalan coup d'état of 1954 and, by the end of 1956 there were only two of them left. Both of them were sold to be restored by the Plames of Fame Air Museum, in Chino, California and the National Air and Space Museum.
• Panamá: Apparently at least one aircraft was sold to the Panaman government during the years of the World War II. However as we couldn't find any graphical information, the drawing should be considered as speculative.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-26_Peashooter

2. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-26_Peashooter (translated)

3. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters