Curtiss O-52 Owl - Pima ASM, Tucson, AZ - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

The Curtiss O-52 "Owl" is an observation aircraft used by the US Army Air Corps (USAAF) before and during WW II.

Developed in 1939, the Curtiss O-52 was the last "heavy" observation aircraft developed for the USAAF. The concept of the two-seat observation aircraft, classed as the "O" series aircraft, dated to WW I, and in 1940, the USAAF ordered 203 Curtiss O-52s for observation duties. By 1941, the O-52 was no match for modern combat conditions.

Upon delivery, the aircraft was used in military maneuvers with the USAAC, but following America's entry into WW II, the USAAF determined that the aircraft did not possess sufficient performance for "modern" combat operations in oversea areas. As a result, the O-52 was relegated to courier duties within the US and short-range submarine patrol over the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The O-52 was the last "O" type aircraft procured in quantity for the USAAF. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the "O" designation was discontinued and the "L" series for liaison-type aircraft was adopted instead.

In November 1942, the USSR ordered 30 O-52 Owls through the Lend-Lease program. Twenty-six were shipped, but only 19 were delivered as a number were lost on the North Arctic Route. Of these only 10 were accepted into service. They were used operationally for artillery fire spotting and general photographic and observation platforms in north and central areas on the Russian Front during spring–summer 1943. One O-52 was shot down by Luftwaffe fighters. The aircraft was generally disliked in Soviet use although some were still flying into the 1950s.

Source: Wikipedia

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Curtiss O-52 Owl Tail Number: (S/N): s/n 40-2746 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Located in hangar 1N at Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, AZ inside / outside: inside Other Information:: Pima Air & Space Museum 6000 E Valencia Rd Tucson, Arizona 85756 Phone 520-574-0462 Open 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Daily Last admittance at 4:00 PM $15.50-Adults $12.50-Pima Co Residents $12.75-Seniors $ 9.00-Children FREE---Children 6 & under $ 7.00-AMARG $13.50-Group Rate Access restrictions: None

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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Date Logged Log User Rating   01/10/2019 Castor007 visited it