North American (A)T-6 Texan

The North American AT-6 Texan was built in greater numbers than any other trainer of World War II. More than 15,000 were produced between 1938 and 1951. Built in 1940, its design began as an upgraded version of the BT-9, first called the BC-1. The end result of the upgrade was a trainer that closely matched the performance and handling of many operational types of combat aircraft. In 1948 it was designated as T-6 and those remaining in service were remanufactured as T-6Gs. Its first use was as an advanced trainer in the final phase of student pilot training. In its last days as a trainer, it was used in the initial phase of training.

The Texan was used by many Allied countries, as well as the Army Air Corps and the Navy, where it was called the SNJ. In Britain, it was called the Harvard, while an Australian derivative was called the "Wirraway". Harvards were produced in several countries and in all, over 20,000 aircraft were produced. Harvards were used by the RAF as trainers until 1955.

American T-6's served mostly as trainers, but foreign versions did see combat. One Wirraway was even credited with the downing of a Japanese Zero. The T-6 also saw service in Korea, where they served as forward air controllers with the 6147th Tactical Control Group, designated as LT-6. They carried an observer in the back seat and were armed with smoke rockets to mark targets for fighter-bombers.

The display aircraft at Castle Air Museum was built in 1940 for the RAF who called it "Harvard Mk. II". It was used in the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme in Canada. It is painted in the colors of a trainer as it would have appeared in the mid 1950's.