The Birth Pangs of Portland ANG Base – Part II: Major Units Arrive

The A-17 series attack aircraft was a direct descendent of the pace-setting Northrop Gamma, made famous by the aerial explorer Lincoln Ellsworth. It replaced the Curtiss A-8 and A-12 Shrike and was the last of the pre-World War II single-engine attack aircraft ordered into production by the Army Air Corps. In 1938 when the Army Air Corps determined that all future attack aircraft procured would be multi-engine models and remaining examples not sold to overseas customers were used as advanced trainers and squadron support aircraft, most ending up as ground maintenance trainers. Portland Army Air Base received one A-17 aircraft in 1941. This Northrop A-17A is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, wearing the colors and markings of the 90th Attack Squadron, 3rd Attack Group, at Barksdale Field in June, 1938. (U.S. Air Force photo)