Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Single-seat fighter

Power Plant:

[P-43A-1]

One 895 kw (1,200 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-57 fourteen-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial engine

Specifications:

Armament:

Four 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns; one 91 kg (200 lb) or six 9 kg (20 lb) bombs

History:

The Republic P-43 Lancer was a development of the Seversky P-35, and in turn was developed to become the P-47 Thunderbolt.  In 1938 the Seversky Aircraft Corp worked on the development of the P-35, the AP-2 and the AP-4, each differing only in the positioning of the turbo-supercharger.  In the event, the AP-2 became the XP-41, and the AP-4 became the P-43.  The prototype AP-4 was destroyed on 22 March 1939 when the engine caught fire and the pilot abandoned the aircraft. Thirteen AP-4s were obtained for the USAAF as the YP-43 (39-704 to 39-716) from September 1943. The P-43 was a single-engine, all metal, low-wing fighter monoplane with a retractable undercarriage and flush riveting.

The P-43 differed from the prototype AP-4 in having a razorback fuselage, the General Electric B-2 turbocharger being moved from under the port wing to under the engine, and having R-1830-35 engine. However, by this time the Company changed its name to Republic Aviation Corp, and the P-43 became the Lancer.  An order was placed for 54 P-43s for the USAAF in late 1940 (41-6668 to 41-6721) and these had the 895 kw (1,200 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-47 engine, the first being delivered on 16 May 1941 and the last on 28 August that year.

By 1941 the Lancer had become out-dated following the rapid advances in aircraft technology taking place around the world. Because it suffered from poor manoeuvrability and climbing ability, and lack of armour protection and self sealing fuel tanks, the US Army decided not to obtain any more aircraft beyond those on order. A further 80 had been ordered as the P-43A (40-2891 to 40-2970), deliveries beginning in September 1941. The P-43A was essentially the same as the earlier model but had the R-1830-49 engine which provided 895 kw (1,200 hp) up to 7,620 m (25,000 ft).

First USAAF unit to receive the type was the 1st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan, followed by the 55th at Portland Field, Oregon and the 14th at March Field, California.  By September 1940 all development work on the P-43 series ceased in favour of the R-2800 Double Wasp powered P-47.  Meanwhile, further P-43s were completed as a stop-gap measure pending production of the P-47 getting underway. Republic went on to design the P-44, known as the Rocket, which was to have the 1,044 kw (1,400 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1 engine, but reports from the war in Europe indicated the P-44 would not be suitable for combat, so the order for 80 was cancelled. A further order for 54 P-43s was placed to keep the production line open.  Republic built the P-44 only in mock-up form, the design being cancelled and Republic going on to develop the P-47.  A total of 272 P-43s was completed.

In June 1941 some 125 P-43A-1s were ordered from Lend-Lease funds for the Chinese Air Force from the Farmingdale, New York production line (41-31448 to 41-31572), production of this batch concluding in March 1942.  Some 108 were supplied, although a number were lost on ferry flights due to inexperienced pilots, but it saw only limited combat operational use with the Chinese Air Force as they proved unable to match the performance of the Japanese fighters in that theatre.  These aircraft were fitted with two 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns in the wings and no armament in the nose. The armament varied amongst the models, some having two 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns in the nose and two 7.62 mm (0.30 in) machine guns in the wings.

Most Lancers built which remained in the United States were used in the training role. By 1942, as they were not considered to be useful for combat, most survivors being converted for photo-reconnaissance work and re-designated P-43B, being fitted with cameras in the rear fuselage. Some 150 Lancers, including those not delivered to China, were converted to P-43B standard.

The P-43C series was also a photo-reconnaissance aircraft variant, these being new build aircraft, but two P-43As received some modifications (40-2894 and 40-2897) mostly related to equipment and became P-43Cs.  The P-43D was similar to the P-43C and only differed in minor detail.  The P-43Ds (41-6685, 41-6687, 41-6692, 41-6695, 416707, and 41-6718) were also photo-reconnaissance variants and differed only slightly from the P-43C.  The P-43E was also destined for this role but was not built. In October 1942 the surviving P-43s were re-designated RP-43, the ‘R’ indicating restricted from combat use.

In August 1942 six Lancers were transferred from USAAF stocks to the RAAF for operation by No 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit based at Coomalie in the Northern Territory. These aircraft were: A56-1 and A56-2 (ex 41-6692 and 41-6707), both P-43Ds; and A56-3 to A56-6 (ex 41-31495, 41-31497, 41-31494 and 41–31500), all P-43A-1s.  Two more, A56-7 and A56-8 (ex 41-6718 and 41-6685), both P-43Ds, were delivered in November 1942. Their service history is not well documented but it is known they suffered from problems with the brake system, this causing a number of accidents when the brakes failed on landing. A56-5 Mischief was badly damaged landing at Coomalie Creek, NT on 14 December 1943 when the brakes failed and the aircraft swung, causing the port undercarriage to collapse, breaking the wing.  It was taken to No 4 RSU on 30 December.  Later it was conveyed to Laverton, VIC, arriving at No 1 AD on 8 April but, the following month, probably due to a lack of spare parts, it was decided it would not be repaired and it was placed into storage. It was returned to the USAAF in its damaged condition in July that year.

A56-6 was badly damaged in an accident, possibly at Laverton, VIC, and was reduced to components. A56-7 was lost on a flight from Wagga Wagga, NSW on 28 April 1943, the wreckage not being found near Healesville, VIC until 1958. Some parts of this aircraft were recovered from the crash site.

The six survivors were returned to the 5th Service Group of the USAAF 5th Air Force at Charters Towers, QLD in 1943 and were probably broken up in Australia at Eagle Farm, Brisbane along with other types such as the Brewster Buffalo, as of no further use. No examples of the P-43 are known to survive, but the Reevers Air Museum in South Australia has been collecting parts from P-43s in the long term hope to restore an example for static display.