10TH AIRFORCE AIR CRAFT

AIRCRAFT

The 10th, like all Army Air Forces during World War II used a variety of aircraft to carry out its many different missions: from fighters to transports to observation aircraft, all types were represented in the inventory of the 10th.

BOMBERS

The 10th used a variety of bombers to complete it's many offensive missions, everything from the light attack type aircraft such as the A-26 to the heavy bomber represented by the B-17 and B-24. In addition, the bombers of the 10th often had to double as transports, ferrying gasoline, bombs, troops and supplies over the "The Hump" to bases in China.

TYPE	MANUFACTURER	DESIGNATION	NAME
Light Bomber	Douglas	A-26	Invader
Light Bomber	Vultee	A-31	Vengance
Light Bomber	North American	A-36	Apache
Medium Bomber	North American	B-25	Mitchell
Heavy Bomber	Boeing	B-17	Flying Fortress
Heavy Bomber	Consolidated	B-24	Liberator

FIGHTERS

The 10th used a number of different fighter aircraft to accomplish its many missions. In addition to the primary roles of defending the bombers from enemy aircraft, and attacking enemy bombers, the 10th used its fighters for ground attack, close in air support of troops, "bridge busting", attacks on shipping and ground transportation, and a variety of other roles.

TYPE	MANUFACTURER	DESIGNATION	NAME
Fighter	Lockheed	P-38	Lightning
Fighter	Curtiss	P-40	Tomahawk
Fighter	Republic	P-47	Thunderbolt
Fighter	North American	P-51	Mustang
Night Fighter	Northrup	P-61	Black Widow

OBSERVATION

Observation work was a dangerous, and often thankless task. Flying slow moving, unarmed and unarmoured aircraft at low altitudes, observers were in constant danger both from fighters and ground fire.

TYPE	MANUFACTURER	DESIGNATION	NAME
Liason	Stinson	L-1	Vigilant
Liason	Piper	L-4	Cub
Liason	Stinson	L-5	Sentinel
Utility	Noorduyn	UC-64	Norseman

RECONAISANCE

Next to observation work, photo reconaissance was probably the most dangerous mission undertaken by any flyer. Often operating alone photo reconaissance aircraft gathered vital intelligence information which was used to plan bombing missions, assess target damage, and plan ground actions.

TYPE	MANUFACTURER	DESIGNATION	NAME
Light Reconaissance	Lockheed	F-5	Lightning
Light Reconaissance	North American	F-6	Mustang
Heavy Reconaissance	Consolidated	F-7	Liberator

SEARCH AND RESCUE

The 10th Air Force pioneered the use of helicopters for search and rescue operations.

TYPE	MANUFACTURER	DESIGNATION	NAME
Helicopter	Sikorsky	YR-4B	Hover Fly

TRANSPORT

Perhaps even more so than the bomber crews and fighter pilots, the true heros of the 10Th Air Force were the transport crews. Flying unarmed and often unescorted through some of the worst weather and terrain immaginable, they moved more goods and supplies than could the Burma Road, supplying an army and an air force with everything they needed to complete their missions, and laying the groundwork for the Berlin Airlift.

TYPE	MANUFACTURER	DESIGNATION	NAME
Cargo Glider	Waco	CG-4A	Hadrian
Troop Glider	Aeronca	TC-5
Cargo	Curtiss	C-46	Commando
Cargo	Douglas	C-47	Sky Train
Cargo	Douglas	C-54	Sky Master
Cargo	Consolidated	C-87	Liberator
Tanker	Consolidated	C-109	Liberator

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