Jan 19, 2024
The P-64 started life as the NA-68, and first flew in September of 1940. The NA-68 was an upgraded version of the earlier NA-50, which was designed as a low-cost fighter that could be sold for export. Seven NA-50s had been built for the Peruvian Air Force, and six NA-68s were produced for the Royal Thai Air Force, but were never delivered. Those six airplanes were confiscated mid-shipment around the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, and their invasion of Thailand the following day. The NA-68s were stripped of their armament, redesignated P-64 (P for “pursuit”) and assigned to a training squadron in Arizona.
