The Boeing P-12/F4B was an American pursuit aircraft that was operated by the United States Army Air Corps , United States Marine Corps, and United States Navy.
P-12s were flown by the 17th Pursuit Group at March Field, California, and the 20th Pursuit Group at Barksdale Field, Louisiana.
Older P-12s were used by groups overseas, the 4th Composite Group in the Philippines, the 16th Pursuit Group in the Canal Zone, and the 18th Pursuit Group in Hawaii.
The P-12 remained in service with first-line pursuit groups until replaced by Boeing P-26s in 1934–1935.
Survivors were relegated to training duties until 1941, when most were grounded and assigned to mechanic’s schools.
23 P-12Cs, P-12Ds and P-12Es were transferred to the Navy for use as advanced trainers.
These aircraft were redesignated as F4B-4As
Variants
Model 83
One prototype with spreader bar landing gear and 425 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-8 engine, later designated XF4B-1 for Navy evaluation.
Model 89
One prototype with split axle undercarriage and provision for a 500 lb bomb on ventral rack, later designated XF4B-1 for Navy evaluation.
P-12
Model 102, U.S. Army Air Corps version of the F4B-1 with a 450 hp R-1340-7 engine.
XP-12A
Model 101, 10th built P-12 with NACA cowl a 525 hp R-1340-9 engine and shorter undercarriage, one built.
P-12B
Model 102B, as P-12 with larger main wheels and improvements tested on XP-12A.
P-12C
Model 222, as P-12B with ring cowl and spreader bar undercarriage.
P-12D
Model 234, as P-12C with a 525 hp R-1340-17 engine.
P-12E
Model 234, as P-12D with semi-monocoque metal fuselage, redesigned vertical tail surfaces, some were later fitted with tail wheels instead of skids.
P-12F
Model 251, as P-12E with a 600 hp R-1340-19 engine.
XP-12G
P-12B modified with a R-1340-15 engine with side-type supercharger, one converted.
XP-12H
P-12D modified with a GISR-1340E experimental engine, one converted.
P-12J
P-12E modified with a 575 hp R-1340-23 engine, and special bomb sight, one conversion.
YP-12K
P-12E and P-12J re-engined with a fuel injected SR-1340E engine, seven temporary conversions.
XP-12L
YP-12K temporary fitted with a F-2 supercharger, one converted.
A-5
Designation for proposed use of P-12 as a radio-controlled target drone
(Cancelled)
XF4B-1
Designation given to two prototypes for Navy evaluation, the former Model 83 and the former Model 89.
F4B-1
Boeing Model 99 for the United States Navy, split-axle landing gear and ventral bomb rack.
F4B-1A
One F4B-1 converted to unarmed executive transport for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, fuel tank moved to upper wing centre section.
F4B-2
Boeing Model 223, spreader bar landing gear, Frise ailerons, tail wheel replacing skid.
F4B-3
Boeing Model 235, as F4B-2 but with semi-monocoque metal fuselage and equipment changes.
F4B-4
Boeing Model 235, as F4B-3 but with redesigned vertical tail surfaces, 550 hp R-1340-16 engine, under wing racks for two 116 lb bombs, last 45 built had an enlarged headrest, this housed a life raft, 92 built and one built from spares.
F4B-4A
23 assorted P-12 aircraft transferred from USAAC for use as a radio controlled target aircraft.
Model 100
Civil version of the F4B-1 with upper wing tank.
Model 100A
Two-seat civil version for Howard Hughes, later converted to a single-seater, one built.
Model 100D
One Model 100 temporary used as a P-12 demonstrator.
Model 100E
Export version of the P-12E for the Siamese Air Force, two built,
One later transferred to the Japanese Navy under the designation AXB.
Model 100F
One civil variant of the P-12F sold to Pratt & Whitney as an engine test bed.
Model 218
Prototype of the P-12E/F4B-3 variant, after evaluation sold to the Chinese Air Force.
Model 256
Export version of the F4B-4 for Brazilian Navy
Model 267
Export version for Brazil with an F4B-3 fuselage and P-12E wings
