Originally Posted by
JohnnyS
OK, let's get back to an easy one:
1. First military contract for this manufacturer.
2. Built in USA and Norway.
Sounds like the Douglas DT bomber. Thanks; Ernie P.
The Douglas DT
bomber was the
Douglas Aircraft Company's first military contract, forging a link between the company and the
United States Navy. Navy Contract No. 53305 of April 1, 1921, required only 18 pages to set out the specifications that resulted in the purchase of three DT (D for Douglas, T for
torpedo) folding-wing
aircraft.
The DT used a welded steel fuselage with aluminum covering the forward and center sections and fabric covering the rear section. Douglas built 46 DT-1 and DT-2 torpedo bombers for the U.S. Navy, Norwegian Navy, and
Peruvian Navy. 20 DT-2 aircraft were built under license by
Lowe-Willard-Fowler Engineering Company, six by the
Naval Aircraft Factory, and 11 by
Dayton Wright Company. Another seven were built for
Norway under license by
Marinens Flyvebåtfabrik. Although still in service
when the Germans invaded Norway, the Norwegian DTs did not see action in the
Norwegian Campaign. The DT could be fitted either with pontoons or wheeled
landing gear and could carry a 1,800
lb (816 kg) torpedo.
The first flight was in November
1921 and production continued until
1929. The DT operated off the U.S. Navy's first aircraft carrier, the
USS Langley, from land bases, and from
seaplane tenders. Several were flown by the
Marine Corps.
Variations of the DT-2 aircraft were designated DT-4, DT-5, DT-6, and DTB. Machines licence-built by
Dayton-Wright were internally designated SDW by that company. The type became the basis for the
Douglas World Cruiser.