WW2 non-combat aircraft that saw combat?

[buffnut453]

The threat "WWII - Aircraft produced in large quantities that did not see combat - or very little" got me thinking about the flip-side of the question. What about non-combat aircraft that ended up seeing combat?

For this discussion, I'm not thinking of aircraft like the Wirraway which, although developed from a trainer, was actually intended to have a combat function. I'm thinking more about dedicated trainers/transport aircraft that, through force of circumstance, ended up in combat situations.

I have a few initial suggestions but will hold onto them until others have pondered the topic a wee bit.

 

[gumbyk]

Although there were multiple variants, the Polokarpov Po-2 comes immediately to mind.
Used by the Soviet "Night Witches" on night bombing/harassment missions.

 

[eagledad]

Gentlemen,

My understanding is that the Lockheed Hudson was a military conversion of the Lockheed Model 14, Super Electra. So, if that fits your original question, that would get my vote.

Eagledad

 

[buffnut453]

Gentlemen,

My understanding is that the Lockheed Hudson was a military conversion of the Lockheed Model 14, Super Electra. So, if that fits your original question, that would get my vote.

Eagledad

I wasn't including aircraft that were converted by a manufacturer to a military role. I was focusing on non-combat aircraft that ended up having a combat role. Gumbyk's example of the Po-2 is perfect. It was designed as a basic trainer but it was still being used in combat roles during the Korean War (think "Washing Machine Charlie" from MASH).

 

[eagledad]

Buffnut453

Roger that. The Stinson L-5 was designed as a liaison aircraft, but also used for artillery spotting.

Eagledad

 

[Glider]

The Airspeed Oxford was used as a light bomber

 

[buffnut453]

The Airspeed Oxford was used as a light bomber

Yeah, that was one of the examples that came to my mind. No.4 Flying Training School at Habbaniyah converted some 27 of their Oxford trainers to carry light bombs. They were used to attack Iraqi forces that were threatening the base.

 

[GrauGeist]

One example that comes to mind, was the Ford Trimotor. While only a few were made to order for the military, only two saw combat. One was used to evacutate personnel from the Philippines and the other was used by the RAAF during the Kokoda campaign.

 

[The Basket]

Ju-52.
Used as a bomber pre, during and post war.

 

[GrauGeist]

The Beech 17 "Staggerwing" saw military service with several nations including Japan (Tachikawa C17E).
The Spanish Republicans even used theirs as a bomber.

 

[michael rauls]

Don't know if this qualifies but the DC3/ C47 was designed as a airliner/ transport but some were fitted with gun ports and although I can't sight any specific incidents it's hard to imagine that at least a few didn't use those gun ports in combat.

 

[nuuumannn]

Used by the Soviet "Night Witches" on night bombing/harassment missions

While the U-2 (changed to Po-2 on the death of Polikarkov in 1944) was designed as a two seat multi-purpose aircraft, the variants used as night bombers were actually designed as such, so it's arguable that they specifically can be included. They weren't basic military variants, the Po-2VS (or Voiskovoi Seria - Military Variant) converted for the role, the night bomber was the Po-2LNB for Lyegkii Nochnoi Bombardirovschchik, or Light Night Bomber, built as such incorporating various modifications off the production line.

The U-2/Po-2 was built in so many different variants for different roles, both civil and military, so it's a hard one to argue for or against. There were specific combat roles that the type was built for; there was a LSh or Lyegi Shturmovik - Light Attacker variant as well as a simple Po-2Sh (Shturmovik) variant as well - dunno what the difference between these two were but they were sub types of the basic design rather than hastily converted military variants.

 

[nuuumannn]

The Short Empire flying boats in service with Tasman Empire Airways Ltd in New Zealand were used for long range maritime patrol after the German surface raiders Orion and Komet sank the New Zealand registered passenger liner Rangitane in November 1940. Empire Boat ZK-AMA Aotearoa found the site of Rangitane's sinking and searched for the German raiders, but missed them, although the German ships reported seeing the aircraft from afar.

 

[Shortround6]

C-47 gun ports.

They allowed the troops on board to fire their personal weapons out the windows.

I am sure it was done on a few occasions.

 

[nuuumannn]

Used as a bomber pre, during and post war.

Again, the Ju 52/3m is a difficult one, because the version used as a bomber was built as such, the military version was the Ju 52/3mg3e, which was designed as a 'heavy bomber', to quote from a book I have to equip the emerging Luftwaffe. 450 of these were delivered to the LW to KG 152 Hindenburg in 1934 - 35, so again, it wasn't simply a transport thrust into a combat role, but the version was built as such as a bomber transport and delivered to a bomber unit.

Furthermore, the units became KGrzbV or Kamfgruppe zur Besonderen Verwendung (Bomber Group on Special Operations), a title given to German transport units. This indicated that their role was as bomber transports and could be used as either when the requirement suited. Again, a tough one because they were equipping the LW in the bomber role.

 

[gumbyk]

While the U-2 (changed to Po-2 on the death of Polikarkov in 1944) was designed as a two seat multi-purpose aircraft, the variants used as night bombers were actually designed as such, so it's arguable that they specifically can be included. They weren't basic military variants, the Po-2VS (or Voiskovoi Seria - Military Variant) converted for the role, the night bomber was the Po-2LNB for Lyegkii Nochnoi Bombardirovschchik, or Light Night Bomber, built as such incorporating various modifications off the production line.

The U-2/Po-2 was built in so many different variants for different roles, both civil and military, so it's a hard one to argue for or against. There were specific combat roles that the type was built for; there was a LSh or Lyegi Shturmovik - Light Attacker variant as well as a simple Po-2Sh (Shturmovik) variant as well - dunno what the difference between these two were but they were sub types of the basic design rather than hastily converted military variants.

The design of the Po-2 also lends itself to modification very easily. Its hard to tell if the modification was what drove the operation or the operation type was what drove the necessary modifications to the LNB version. (e.g. the whole upper rear fuselage appears to be able to be removed and fitted with specialist equipment.) What may have started out as a converted military variant may well have ended up as a sub-type.

 

[nuuumannn]

Its hard to tell if the modification was what drove the operation or the operation type was what drove the necessary modifications to the LNB version.

Well, not really, the Po-2LNB variant was built specifically as a night bomber, so it wasn't a simple conversion, it was built that way and used as such. Its designation was Po-2LNB to indicate its specific role. The Soviets designated different variants for different roles they were intended to carry out rather than modify the design based on what they thought they might need it for, 'in the field' as such. Yes, the type could be modified because of its utility design, but specific roles were incorporated into the aircraft, as that graphic you posted shows.

As I said, it's a tough one because the design was so utilitarian; a typical Soviet product! So far from being a simple trainer impressed as a night bomber, the Po-2LNB was built as such. This is unlike the Yak-18s that were used as BedCheck Charlies during the Korean War; these were simply trainers modified in the field as night bombers. There was no specific night bomber variant of the type.

 

[swampyankee]

The FW200 may have pretty much began the trend of passenger aircraft becoming maritime patrol aircraft.

 

[Dimlee]

USSR.

Li-2 (former PS-84, originated from DC-3). Most probably there were no plans for military use before June 1941. After the German invasion, some 1,100 of militarised version were produced. Used in various roles, including night bomber.

UT-1. Originally a trainer but used in 1941-1942 as CAS aircraft in small numbers.
Yakovlev UT-1 - Wikipedia

 

[Glider]

The FW200 may have pretty much began the trend of passenger aircraft becoming maritime patrol aircraft.

A slightly odd one is the Ju86 being used by the SAAF