AT-6 Texan in attack role in USAAF colors?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by bearoutwest

It is interesting, that the AT-6 designation which most of us understand as the Attack Trainer (Attack, modified use) (Trainer - primary use) - didn't really become formalized until 1962.

The Texan/Mosquitos in Korea were generally referred to as Mosquitos, Texans or T-6s.

I wonder if these armed T-6s would have had better success against the Po-2/Yak-11 Bed-pan-Charlie attacks. Perhaps the RAAF should have offered some ready-armed Wirraway OTU-trainers.

geoff

Geoff
You have to differentiate between the various designation systems the USAAF and USAF have had during the years.
With the USAAF the AT designation only stood for Advanced Trainer. When the USAF was formed all trainer prefixes were dropped, so no more AT, BT or PT but just T, hence T-6D, T-6G in the Korean war period.

The basic North American design was very adaptable and it was no surprise really with the number available that it should also be used in Korea.
If you look at the so called LT-6G (Liasion/Trainer) in Korea you can see that they were all equipped with racks to carry loads of various sorts, meaning on those racks you could basically carry any kind of light armament available, gun pods (.30 caliber), rockets (up to 12 x 2.5 inch or four x 5 inch HVAR) and small bombs (4 x 100 Lbs for example). Most of these aircraft were used by the 6147th TACS (Tactical Air Control Squadron) out of Pohang and Taegu.
So yes, the T-6 were used offensively on combat missions in Korea by the USAF!

No, the T-6 would not have been a good "night fighter" in Korea or anywhere else. To fly at night and harass the enemy you "only" have to be a good pilot with a basic night flying skill. However to intercept something which flies at night, you need something far more potent than someone on the ground directing you, you need something within your own aircraft which can detect your enemy! Ergo, you need a radar. The T-6 never had one.

Cheers
Stig