- Yes
- No
History
On September 30 1936 the Chinese Warlord Chang Hsueh-liang ordered a Boeing 247Y after previously acquiring a Boeing 247D. The 247D was used extensively by him and was even used in the Xi’an incident where Generalissimo Chiang Kai Chek was imprisoned by him and made to cooperate with the Chinese communists for their looming fight against the Japanese. After this incident Chang was imprisoned and his Boeing 247’s were handed over to Chiang Kai-Chek’s personal use.
The Boeing 247Y was originally a regular 247D s/n 1952 delivered to United Airlines early in its life. However it was sent back to Boeing after being retired and in January 1937 underwent conversions to install 2 x 0.50 cals in its nose, a rear dorsal turret, and four cabin fuel tanks. These conversions decreased the cabin capacity from 10 passengers to 6.
It was delivered to China in the summer of 1937 and was used as Soong Meiling’s (Chiang’s wife/First Lady of the ROC and secretary general of the Aviation commission) personal plane. Not much else is known about the aircraft’s service however it more than likely crashed into a mountain near the Indochina border in January 1939.
Specifications
Span: 74ft
Length: 51ft 7in
Height (overall): 12ft 1.75 inch
Wing area: 836·13 sq ft
Empty weight: 9,144 lb +
Gross weight: 13,650 lb +
Powerplant: Pratt and Whitney Wasp S1HG 550 HP
Max speed: ~200 mph (320 km/h)
Cruising speed: ~189 mph (304 km/h)
Rate of climb: ~1,150 ft/min
Armament:
2 x 0.50 cal in the nose (more than likely Colt MG53)
1 x 0.50 cal dorsal turret (also possibly Colt MG53)
Photos of gun positions and interior:
Spoiler
In game
Being an armed passenger aircraft with only 2 x 0.50 cals in the nose and a defensive dorsal 0.50 cal it would more or less be a low tier bomber intercepter/ ground attacker. Its speed is slow but not as slow as some of the low tier bombers it would face and hunt down. Moreover being armed with those 2 x nose 0.50 cals it could do serous damage to a bomber while weathering return fire.
Sources
http://cwlam2000.epizy.com/cafx32.htm
Boeing aircraft since 1916 by Peter M Bowers
中國軍機圖誌 1912-1949 作者： 朱飛虎
