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United States' Vultee Vengeance dive bomber¹

Vultee Vengeance A-35B

Vultee Vengeance, RAAF Squadron 24, Markham Valley, February 25, 1944

Design

As a result of the success of the Junkers Ju 87 in the Spanish Civil War Britain wanted a dive bomber for the Royal Air Force (RAF).¹

Prototype

The Vultee prototype first flew in July 1941.¹

Production

In 1940 700 Vultee V-72s were ordered by the British.¹

• A-31 / Vengeance Mk I: 400¹
• A-31 / Vengeance Mk IA: 200¹
• V-72 / Vengeance Mk II: 300¹
• A-31 / Vengeance Mk III: 100¹
• A-35A: 100¹
• A-35B / Vengeance Mk IV: 831¹
• Total: 1,931¹
  • Manufacturer: Vultee¹, Northrop¹

Variants

• V-72:
• A-31:
• A-35A:
• A-35B:
• XA-31A/B: Engine test aircraft for the B-29's engine, the Wright R-3350.¹
• YA-31C: Engine test aircraft for the B-29's engine, the Wright R-3350.¹

Usage

The Vultee Vengeance was used by Australia (342), Brazil (29), Britain (1,220), India(~30), and the United States.¹

Unkind Words

In 1943 a United States Army Air Force (USAAF) General stated that the Vengeance was "a shining example of waste of material, manpower, and time.¹

Britain

Britain started to receive deliveries of the V-72 in late 1942.¹

Australia

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had five squadrons equipped with Vengeances operating in New Guinea.¹ After it was discovered the Vengeance was unstable they were converted to communication and target tug aircraft.¹

United States

The USAAF received 99 A-35s and 243 of the Vengeance Mk IIs that were diverted from Britain's order.¹ These too eventually became target tugs.¹

	Vultee Vengeance1	Vultee Vengeance A-311	Vultee Vengeance A-35A1	Vultee Vengeance A-35B1
Type	Dive bomber1
Crew	21
Engine (Type)		Wright R-2600-19 Cyclone1	Wright R-2600-19 Cyclone1	Wright R-2600-13 Cyclone1
Cylinders		Radial 141	Radial 141	Radial 141
Cooling
HP		1,6001	1,6001	1,7001
Propeller blades		31	31	31
Dimensions
Span	48'1 14.63 m1
Length	39' 9"1 12.11 m1
Height	15' 4"1 4.67 m1
Wing area
Weight
Empty				10,300 lb1 4,672 kg1
Loaded		14,300 lb1 6,486 kg1		16,400 lb1 7,439 kg1
Performance
Speed @ 13,500' / 4,115 m				279 mph1 449 kph1
Cruising speed				230 mph1 370 kph1
Climb				1,200'/minute1 366 m/minute1
Climb to 15,000' / 4,570 m				11.3 minutes1
Service ceiling				22,300'1 6,800 m1
Range				600 miels1 965 kph1
Maximum range				2,300 miles1 3,700 km1
Armament
Wings		4: 0.303" MG1	4: 0.5" MG1	6: 0.5" MG1
Rear cockpit		2: 0.303" MG1	1: 0.5" MG1
Bombs		2,000 lb1 907 kg1

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

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