April 2004                                                    The Megaphone                                                     Page 4

Elwood High School's One and Only Aircraft

North American AT-6 "Texan"

*In the front of the 1947 Crescent and later published in "ELWOOD, Our Story Through Pictures," there's a photograph of a military aircraft trainer that belonged to Elwood High School. I vividly remember seeing that plane when it was parked between the high school and the gymnasium but I knew little about the story behind it. What follows is the information we've gathered to date about that plane. If we receive additional information about this aircraft, it will be edited into this page at a later date. If you have additional information or corrections relative to this story, e-mail them to mcrim1361@att.net .

  "The AT-6 trainer is presented by Senior Class President Perry Mangas '47

(pictured in his senior cords) to Keith Scott along with Don Orbaugh." 

                                                                                                                        Linda (Meltzer) Harris '57

                                                                                                                        DeBary, FL
               

"I did go to page 110 of the Elwood history book, OUR STORY THROUGH PICTURES, and it says that the seniors purchased the airplane and presented it to the school for Manual Training classes and that it sat for many years in the grassy area between the school and the gym. The three men in the picture are Perry Mangas (President of the 1947 Senior class), Keith Scott (Superintendent of Schools), and Don Orbaugh (Elwood Airport owner.)  I think the plane was military surplus and Dad (Don Orbaugh) flew the plane to Elwood for the Class of 1947. 

My sister might remember more of the story about the plane. Georgia Mangas Skalkotas (Perry's sister) and Georgia Mangas Ernst (Perry's widow) might also know more about this. Obviously, other members of the Class of 1947 would also be good sources. Remember, I was only six when this happened. I had more important things to think about -- like Dick and Jane and riding my tricycle."
         
Ann (Orbaugh) Brewer
Class of 1959
West Elwood
                     

From 1940 thru 1955 this venerable bird served as a trainer for all U. S. military pilots. The "North American" trainer was one of the most important aircraft to emerge from the 1930s. The AT-6 earned the name of "Pilot Maker" as a basic and advanced trainer. It was used to teach carrier landings, aerial fixed gunnery, glide bombing, flexible hand-held gunnery, aerial photography, and instrument flying.

Few aircraft in history can claim the mantle of legend. Certainly the Sopwith Camel, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, P-51 Mustang and DC-3 belong in that class. To that list must be added the T-6 Texan, arguably the most important military trainer ever built. Not only were over 15,000 T-6's of all types produced, but the Texan served more than fifty different nations training tens of thousands of military pilots for decades and it still continues to fly today.

The AT-6 was the final generation of a line of trainers built by North American Aviation for the Army Air Corps in the Thirties. The original aircraft, the NA-18, had featured fixed landing gear and relied heavily on fabric covering on the fuselage. Minor changes to the airframe design followed over the years, but the basic NA-18 configuration remained virtually static until the Navy became interested in procuring a new trainer in 1938. The Navy called for a series of modifications for its own order: all-metal fuselage, retractable landing gear, and an engine with more power. What resulted was the SNJ, and the Army took notice. After evaluating the improvements and requesting its own changes to the tail design, the Army ordered 177 under the designation AT-6 (Advanced Trainer). The Navy in turn, later adopted the Army's redesign of the tail to the AT-6.

Over the course of the Second World War, the AT-6 continued to evolve. Upgrades to engine performance and armament configuration were made, as well as the substitution of construction materials to conserve those needed for combat aircraft. Navy Texans acquired tail hooks for use on board aircraft carriers while foreign purchases of the AT-6 swelled. Canada, Great Britain and the Soviet Union were only a few of the numerous nations placing orders. Built under license, Canada produced the AT-6 under the name of Harvard, while the Australians built their own version called the Wirraway. As a side note...an Australian pilot is credited with shooting down a Japanese Zero during World War II while flying a Wirraway.

The end of the Second World War did not end T-6 operations (in 1947, the Air Force dropped the A from the designation). During the Korean War, the T-6 was employed by the U.S. Air Force as a forward air controller, directing fighter-bombers during ground attack operations. Foreign Texans were used as fighters and attack bombers, many of those went to South America and Africa seeing intense combat.

*Just before landing at the Elwood Airport, Don Orbaugh turned the controls over to Ann.

  We have no information regarding the disposition of this aircraft. 

Submitted by . . . 

The Panther Den Online