Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

A magazine advert for the O-52, circa 1940.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image

An Owl's Tail

An early production O-52 at the Buffalo Airport, February 24th, 1941.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Owlets

One of the first few production O-52s, seen at Buffalo Airport on May 30th, 1941.
In the background are three more Owls and a Model 81 P-40. On the extreme right of
the photo is a would-be successor to the P-40; the XP-46A, serial 40-3054.


NASM (Rudy Arnold photo) - Larger Image

A bit of a closer look at the main subject of the photo...


NASM (Rudy Arnold photo) - Larger Image

... and a closer look at the other three Owls and the P-40...


NASM (Rudy Arnold photo) - Larger Image

...and a tiny glimpse of the XP-46A.


NASM (Rudy Arnold photo)

An O-52 cruises along in Western New York skies. This may be the same ship shown
in the above photo. This photo and the one above are both from a series taken by the
legendary Rudy Arnold at the Buffalo Airport in Cheektowaga, NY on May 30th, 1941.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Number Four

The fourth production O-52, serial 40-2691, photographed at Wright Field, probably in June
or July of 1941. This ship was involved in at least two accidents during that same year; she
suffered a belly landing at Patterson Field, OH on July 25th and, a little less than a
month later, on August 13th, a landing gear collapse at Eglin Field, FL.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Ceremonial Owl

An O-52 flies by during the dedication ceremonies for Curtiss Plant #2 at the Buffalo
airport in Cheektowaga, New York on August 15th, 1941.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

A closer if not-so-clear look at the Owl...


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

War Games

I have conflicting info as to the date and location of this photo, but it was
taken during the US Army Maneuvers that took place in the latter half of 1941.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Tropical Owl?

I have no information for this photo, but that pith helmet and sidearm are of interest. Might
this be one of the few O-52s to have been sent to the Philippines? Or is it just another stateside
ship... possibly another photograph taken during the Army Maneuvers of late 1941?


Bob Collignon collection - Larger Image

Anonymous Owl

Again, no information... but it's photographic proof of how handsome a bird the O-52 was.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image

Top Kick and the Owl

First Sergeant Ted Richards about to climb into the cockpit of an Owl, May 1942.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

A closer look at 1SG Richards and the cockpit area of the ship, which
reveals some interesting if difficult to discern details.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Texas Owl

O-52 40-2759 of the Observer Training School at Brooks Field, Texas. She suffered
damage during a ground loop on January 10th, 1942 with 2Lt. George Sloan behind the stick
but was repaired, and is seen here flying out of Ellington Field, Texas in July of 1942.

This ship survives today in the collection of the Yanks Air Museum in Chino,
California and, as of this writing in 2024, is the world's only airworthy O-52.


From: WWII War Eagles - Global Air War in Original Color by Ethell & Bodie - Larger Image
Fred E. Bamberger, Jr. photo

An Owl Goes Fishing

Aircrew approach O-52 40-2719 during late 1941 or 1942, possibly at Langley Field, Virginia.
Info on the reverse of the photo says that they were headed out for an anti-submarine patrol.

I have conflicting info as to which unit this Owl was with, but she was written off after a
ground loop on takeoff from Pope Field, North Carolina on October 9th, 1942. The accident report
indicates that she was with the 23rd Observation Squadron, 65th Observation Group and based
at Langley Field at the time. But the 23rd OS was apparently never a part of the 65th OG.
Perhaps the 23rd was temporarily assigned to the 65th? Maybe a clerical error?

Whatever the case, more digging is required.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

A closer look...


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

And just for the heckuvit, a closer look at another Curtiss bird in the background...


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Broken Owl

O-52 40-2762 of the 13th Observation Squadron, 74th Observation Group came down
in a field near Leesville, Louisiana after engine trouble on November 6th, 1942.
The pilot was Richard E. Heflich, and the ship was based at DeRidder AAB, Lousiana.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

A closer look... she appears to carry the number '40' on the nose.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

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