United States' Vultee A-35 Vengeance dive bomber

Vultee Vengeance A-35B:	Vultee Vengeance, RAAF Squadron 24, Markham Valley, February 25, 1944:
Vultee A-35 Vengeance dive bomber:

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).^1,2

Prototype

The Vultee prototype first flew in July 1941.¹

Production

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

• Vultee A-31 / Vultee Vengeance Mk I: 400¹
• Vultee A-31 / Vultee Vengeance Mk IA: 200¹
• Vultee V-72 / Vultee Vengeance Mk II: 300¹
• Vultee A-31 / Vultee Vengeance Mk III: 100¹
• Vultee A-35A: 100¹
• Vultee A-35B / Vultee Vengeance Mk IV: 831¹
• Total: 1,528², 1,931¹
  • Manufacturer: Vultee Aircraft Inc.^1,2, Northrop¹

Variants

• Vultee V-72:
• Vultee A-31: First version of the Vengeance.² Later changed to A-35.²
• Vultee A-35A:
• Vultee A-35B:
• Vultee XA-31A/B: Engine test aircraft for the B-29's engine, the Wright R-3350.¹
• Vultee 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 (1,205² / 1,220), India(~30), and the United States (323²).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.^1,2

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.^1,2

	Vultee Vengeance1	Vultee Vengeance A-311	Vultee Vengeance A-35A1,2	Vultee Vengeance A-35B1
Type	Dive bomber1		Bomber2
Crew	21		22
Engine (Type)		Wright R-2600-19 Cyclone1	Wright R-2600-13 Cyclone2, Wright R-2600-19 Cyclone1	Wright R-2600-13 Cyclone1
Cylinders		Radial 141	Radial 141,2	Radial 141
Cooling			Air2
HP		1,6001	1,6001, 1,7002	1,7001
Propeller blades		31	31	31
Dimensions
Span	48'1 14.63 m1		48'2
Length	39' 9"1 12.11 m1		39' 9"2
Height	15' 4"1 4.67 m1		15' 4"2
Wing area
Weight
Empty				10,300 lb1 4,672 kg1
Loaded		14,300 lb1 6,486 kg1	16,400 lb2	16,400 lb1 7,439 kg1
Performance
Speed @ 13,500' / 4,115 m			279 mph2	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			22,300'2	22,300'1 6,800 m1
Range			2,300 miles2	600 miels1 965 kph1
Maximum range				2,300 miles1 3,700 km1
Armament			5: MG2
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	2,000 lb2