The O-46, which entered service in 1936, was overtaken by the need for observation aircraft to be nimble, small and able to use rudimentary airfields. The O-46 was a large, lumbering aircraft that would have been a sitting duck for fighters. A few were in the Philippines at the start of the Pacific war in 1941 but mostly they were US based with the Air National Guard or on mundane utility work. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

From 824 Naval Air Squadron, on static display at the heliport during Portland's Open Day. RNAS Portland closed in 1999, following the closure and sale of the RN dockyard in 1996.

Part of the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society's collection at Biggin Hill, donated by the Italian Air Force. This was the second aircraft to be allocated G-ATBF, delivery of the first one MM19477 having fallen through. This airframe was one time XB733 with the A&AEE at Boscombe Down. It was subsequently painted as "17617" in USAF colours and then "JA-120" in Luftwaffe colours. It passed to Lavenham in 1969 and Hullavington finishing up at Blackpool in 1970 where the remains of the collection were auctioned in 1972. Note the people all over the wings of NX611 in the background!

826 squadron aircraft, written off in an accident half a year later