North American Harvard

The North American Harvard, also known as the AT-6 Texan in the United States, was a key aircraft used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during World War II. Designed as an advanced trainer, it played a crucial role in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), which was one of the largest air training programs in history. Developed in 1937 in response to a proposal from the US Air Corps for an advanced trainer. The first of these aircraft, the Harvard Mk. I, was ordered by the Canadian Government and delivered to the RCAF in July 1939. The Harvard was particularly prized for its reliability and versatility, which made it an ideal choice for training pilots in various aspects of combat flying.

As the BCATP aimed to train aircrew from Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand to support the Allied war effort. the Harvard was used extensively across Canada, where vast open spaces provided the perfect environment for training. Thousands of pilots gained their wings on the Harvard, which prepared them for the transition to more complex and powerful frontline aircraft. The RCAF utilized the Harvard to train pilots not only in basic flying skills but also in more advanced tactics such as formation flying, aerial gunnery, and instrument navigation. Its rugged design and forgiving flight characteristics made it an invaluable asset in the successful training of many wartime pilots, contributing significantly to the Allied air superiority during the conflict.

The Museum’s Harvard

Harvard Mk IV #20419 was built in Canada in 1952. It is very similar to the wartime Mk II’s although this version features an improved cockpit canopy and a larger fuel capacity. It initially served at #2 Advanced Flying School at MacDonald, Manitoba and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. In 1957 it was transferred to #4 Flying Training School at Penhold, Alberta. On 9 October, 1962 #20419 suffered Category “A” damage when it made a forced landing one mile west of Penhold after an engine failure while commencing an overshoot. The aircraft was struck off strength on 8 November, 1962. It was acquired by the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation in Langley, British Columbia and in 1996, the aircraft became the property of the Bomber Command Museum of Canada.

 

The Museum’s restoration Project.

The current objective of the Bomber Command Museum (BCMC) Harvard 4 restoration project is to restore the aircraft to a condition where the engine can be run and the aircraft can be taxied, all in a safe manner. This is the initial stage of the project and further restoration work, to complete various parts of the aircraft cockpits (there are front and rear cockpits) to the original state, may be undertaken at a later date as funding and other resources become available.