The Interwar Aviation series covers aircraft that were developed and used between World War I and World War II, and was known as the “Golden Age of Aviation.”

In the two decades between the end of World War I and the start of World War II, military aviation underwent a complete transformation.  The typical combat aircraft of 1918 was a fabric-covered externally braced biplane with fixed landing gear and open cockpits.  Few aero engines developed as much as 250 horsepower, and top speeds of 200 km (120 miles) per hour were exceptional.  By 1939, the first-line combat aircraft of the major powers were all-metal monoplanes with retractable landing gear.

The Boeing P-26 was the first all-metal monoplane mass-produced for the USAAC.  The prototype first flew in 1932, and orders were placed for 136 aircraft.  The initial order was delivered in June 1934 and, although it had only a short service life, it was to become one of the best known aircraft of the pre-war era.

All P-26 aircraft were withdrawn from front line service when WWII began, for the USA in 1941.  However, some remained in service with the governments of Panama and the Philipines.  One P-26 is credited with shooting down the first Japanese aircraft during attacks on the islands.

A small number of aircraft were sold to Guatemala and these were still in service there in 1955.

The 17^th PURSUIT GROUP in 1935, consisted of the 34^th, 73^rd and 95^th Pursuit Squadrons.  These Boeing P-26’s were the most decorated and famous aircraft of their era.  The group developed a style of markings which still allowed each squadron to retain its own identity.  The main features to the style were the large tapered fuselage flash repeated in reduced scale on the wheels, spats, and scalloped trim to the headrest and leading edges of the fin and tail planes.

The 34^th applied their markings in black and white.
The 73^rd used red and yellow.
The 95^th used blue and yellow.

Each squadron retained their own squadron insignia on the fuselage and carried large ID numbers on the upper decking and belly, the upper number being the individual aircraft number and the lower the squadron number.

The 73^rd Pursuit Squadron was one of the three squadrons of the 17^th Pursuit Group at this time.  Their colour scheme applied red and yellow fuselage stripes, fin, tail, and head rest scallops and wheel trims.  They also followed the practice of the 34^th Pursuit Squadron of displaying the squadron number on the fuselage belly and aircraft number on the fuselage upper decking.  Radio equipment was still limited during this period, and many aircraft did not have the aerial wires and antennas.  These were often reserved for squadron and flight commanders only.

These colourful P-26’s were sadly only in service with the 17^th Pursuit Group for only a year, after which they were transferred to other groups.

Info: P-26A Peashooter, 73rd Pursuit Squadron, 17th Pursuit Group, March Field, California, 1934, Inter-War Aviation