The 1st Pursuit Group was the second Army Air Corps combat group to receive production P-36s...
the first recipient being the 20th Pursuit Group. However, of the 1st's three squadrons, the 17th,
27th, and 94th, only the latter two were equipped with the type. And apparently neither squadron
ever recieved a full complement, operating the Hawks alongside their older P-35s. The first deliveries
took place in 1938, and these ships were allocated to the 94th PS while the 27th received its Hawks
in 1939. This delay was due to the numerous teething troubles that cropped up shortly after the P-36
entered service with the 20th PG. By the time these wrinkles were ironed out, production of the type
was pretty much finito and the initial production variant, the P-36A, had been superceded by the P-36C.

So far, all of the photographic evidence we've collected seems to indicate that the 94th PS operated
P-36As while the 27th PS operated P-36Cs... though at least one source we've come across states that
the 27th initially received a handful of P-36As... ahhhhhh... a researcher's work is never ended.

Boss Bird

At some point, presumably before delivery of the production aircraft, one of the
three Y1P-36 service test ships was given to the 1st PG and assigned to the Group CO.


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

A closer look at the 1st Pursuit Group emblem on the nose...


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

P-36C #48 of the 27th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field, Michigan.


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

P-36A #71 of the 94th Pursuit Squadron.


Project 914 Archives

P-36A #90, serial number 38-38, of the 94th PS cruises high above a snow-covered landscape.


San Diego Air & Space Museum - Larger Image

A pilot of the 94th Pursuit Squadron holds P-36A #99 as still as possible
for the camera, while his wingman cavorts in the background.


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

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