Boeing P-26 Peashooter
Technical Information

Background
Designed by Boeing in 1931 designated the Model 248 using a radial engine and instruments provided by the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). In early March 1932 the USAAC ordered three prototypes and one of the prototypes XP-936 made a first flight on March 20, 1932. The production model designated Model 266 that became the P-26A Peashooter that was the first U.S. all metal production aircraft and first pursuit monoplane used by the USAAC. Nicknamed "Peashooter". The type would have three production models: P-26A, P-26B and P-26C plus the Model 281 export version

Military Service
By December 1933, the P-26 entered service and was the USAAC front line fighter until 1938 when the type began to be replaced by the Seversky P-35 and Curtiss P-36 Hawk. P-26 served in the United States and U.S. territories including Hawaii, Philippines and Panama. In Hawaii, the P-26 with the 18th PG and 15th PG operated at Wheeler Field on Oahu. In Panama, operated with 17th PG and 37th PG at Albrook Field until the start of World War II. Until May 1943, six P-26A remained in use with the 6th Air Force (6th AF). In the Philippines, the P-26A operated with the 4th Composite Group (4th CG) until 31 were sold to the newly organized Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) as their first pursuit aircraft.

Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC)
By December 1941, U.S. fighter strength in the Philippines included 28 P-26s, including twelve P-26A assigned to the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC), 6th Pursuit Squadron at Zablan Airfield. On December 10, 1941 a P-26 Peashooters including Captain Jesús A. Villamor engaged A6M Zeros over Zablan Airfield. On December 12, 1941 P-26 Peashooters defended Batangas Airfield. Villamor claimed a Type 96 Nell / G3M shot down, his second aerial victory claim before they were intercepted by Zeros. Although the Peashooters were obsolete, their aggressive harassing tactics minimized the damage the airfield. For his actions, he later earned an oak leaf cluster for his Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). On December 24, 1941 the remaining P-26s were burned to prevent their capture by the Japanese Army.

Model 281 export version
The Model 281 was an export version of the P-26C with one sold to Spain and eleven sold to China. In Spain, a single Model 281 served with the Spanish Republican Air Force, but no kills were made with it before it was shot down on October 21, 1936. In China, On August 15, 1937, eight 281s from the Chinese Nationalist Air Force 3rd Pursuit Group, 17th Squadron, based at Chuyung Airfield, engaged eight of twenty G3M Nells from Kisarazu Kokutai (Kisarazu Air Group) bombing Nanking that claimed three shot down with four lost.

Production
A total of 151 were built of all models.

Technical Details (P-26A)
Crew  One (Pilot)
Engine  1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-27 Wasp 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 600 hp with two bladed propeller.
Wingspan  28' / 8.5m
Length  23' 7" / 7.19m
Height  10' / 3.0m
Maximum Speed  234 mph / 377 kmh
Range  360 miles / 635 miles (ferry)
Armament  (nose) 2 x .30 caliber machine gun and 1 x .50 caliber machine gun
Bombload  2 x 100 lb bombs or 5 x 31 lb anti-personnel bombs