P-26 "Peashooter"

This was the first monoplane fighter produced for the Army Air Corps, the first all-metal production fighter, and the last front-line AAC fighter with an open cockpit. It was also the last Boeing-designed fighter and the last fighter program the company was involved with until the current F-22. The P-26 was a joint development between Boeing and the Air Corps. The company financed building the first three prototypes, which after testing, were purchased by the service. The aircraft had a relatively high landing speed (82 mph), and pilots referred to it as "landing a high-speed rock." Deliveries began in 1933, and the P-26 equipped three units (20th Pursuit Group at Barksdale Field, La., 1st PG at Selfridge Field, Mich., and 17th PG at March Field, Calif.). By 1937, the aircraft were relegated to the Philippines, the Panama Canal Zone, and Hawaii. At least 13 aircraft were at Wheeler Field, Hawaii, at the time of the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. In the Philippines, Capt. Jesus Villamor was credited with destruction of a Japanese bomber while flying a P-26 on December 12, 1941. Many aircraft in the Philippines were burned to prevent capture. A number of aircraft stationed in the Canal Zone were sold to Panama and Guatemala, and, in fact, two P-26s were in use as trainers in Guatemala as late as 1957.

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