The Curtiss-Wright AT-9
The Other Jeep

by Dan Hagedorn

MMP Books

Reviewed by David Couche

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The Curtiss-Wright AT-9 was a twin-engined advanced trainer aircraft used by the United States during WWII to bridge the gap between single-engined trainers and twin-engined combat aircraft. It became known as the “Jeep: in the United States Army Air Force (USAAF).

This book has been written by the senior curator with the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle, Dan Hagedorn. It examines the genesis of the AT-9 design, its competitors and, eventually, comrade-in-arms, with whom AT-9’s were always the best and brightest.

Dan looks in great depth at the fielding of the aircraft to the 24 initial stations as well as an astonishing number of unusual and special assignments – including to line tactical units. After producing 791 aircraft between September 1941 and January 31, 1943 and assigning every single one of them, and having served actively and continuously through to VJ-Day, only one complete AT-9 survives today.

The text is in easy to read English and covers a wealth of information and reference materials

The book is made up of 8 sections with these being;

1. Setting the CW-25 and AT-9 in Place and Time

2. AT-9 The Nuts and Bolts

3. Flying the AT-9: The School Solution

4. Customer Air Army Corps Air Training Establishment

5. Major Operating Stations and Units

6. Assignments of AT-9 Aircraft to Tactical Units

7. Other AT-9 Assignments

8. AT-9 Colours and Markings

The first 2 sections covers the development of the initial CW-25 concept and prototype through to the creation of the AT-9, as well as technical details, including many line drawings of plans, parts etc to go with the great text information.

The next 2 sections covers the requirements of what was needed at these flying schools and itemised lists and details of pilot expectations.

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The largest section comes next, with the Major Operating Stations, where Dan looks in depth at every location where the At-9 operated. This section has 60 pages dedicated to it. Following this are the units which flew the AT-9 in a tactical form.

I must admit, until I received the book to review I had no knowledge of this aircraft. I have searched for models of this aircraft and only found a 1/72 Pavla kit and an early Collect-Air 1/48, both which are out of production currently. The Pavla model can still be found at swap meets and an odd one on Ebay.

When you think of the number of US twin engined combat aircraft used through WWII you realise how important a role this relatively unknown aircraft played in the training of their pilots. This book has been produced both for the modeller and aviation enthusiast of US trainer aircraft, providing many excellent photographs and plenty of detail to help, especially the modellers, in the creation of aircraft schemes or dioramas. This book is well recommended.

Thanks to MMP Books  for the sample.

All MMP Books are available direct from the publishers, who now accept credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Switch)  

North American distributors are MMD, Australian distributors are Platypus Publications. In Europe, the books are available from any good bookshop (via our UK distributors, Orca). Contact MMP direct in case of difficulties. 

Thanks to Roger at MMP Books  for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2018 by David Couche
This Page Created on 19 November, 2019
Last updated 19 November, 2019

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