Northrop Vengeance I
Northrop · United States · first flew 1941 · bomber
The Northrop Vengeance I was an American-built single-engine dive bomber ordered by the British Purchasing Commission in 1940, designed by Northrop and subsequently also built by Vultee Aircraft. It served primarily with the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth air forces in the secondary theatres of World War II.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.66 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- British-specification dive bomber with cranked gull-type inner wing
- Single Wright Cyclone radial engine
- Large dive brakes under outer wing panels
A low-wing single-engine monoplane with an unusually wide fuselage to accommodate the rear gunner, large perforated dive brakes under the wings, and a high canopy; similar in concept to the Dauntless but distinctly heavier in appearance.
Specifications
- The Northrop Vengeance I has a length of 11.66 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.63 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 443 km/h (275 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Vengeance was designed to a British specification for a two-seat dive bomber following the apparent success of German Ju 87 Stuka operations in 1940. It entered RAF service in 1942 but was found unsuitable for operations in Europe due to poor performance and was diverted to the Burma and India theatres, where dive bombing could be performed with limited fighter opposition. It was effective in close support of ground forces.
Variants
The Vengeance ran from Mk I through Mk IV, with the Mk I being the initial British delivery standard. The Mk II introduced minor improvements. The USAAF used the type as the A-35 for training.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RAF, Royal Australian Air Force, Indian Air Force, and Brazilian Air Force. The main operational theatre was Burma-India, where it flew against Japanese positions until replaced by more capable types in 1944.
Related aircraft
- Northrop N-3PB
- P-61 Black Widow
- Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet
- Northrop YB-35
- Avro Lancaster
- Avro Lancaster B.I
- Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress
- Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Woomera
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