I am reducing the number of clues here, as this quiz can only be fully answered by naming the one correct aircraft model sought. What open cockpit monoplane fighter aircraft had a 25 year span of military operations?

1. Nomenclature and common name?

2a. Designer? 2b. Builder?

3. Date of first flight?

4a. Out of last military service date? 4b. By what country?

5a. Unusual shoot-downs by this aircraft of another country's military aircraft? 5b. Over what country?

This is my best shot

1. P-26 Peashooter

2a. Stumped on this. 2b. Boeing

3. 20th March 1932

4a. 1957 4b. Guatemala

5a. Philippino pilots shot down a Mitsubishi G4M 'Betty' bomber and also 2 or 3

Mitsubishi' A6M Zeros. 5b. Over the Philippines.

Pretty good shooting! Again, I must congratulate you Rob, for your good and quick response. The 2a. Designer was also Boeing.

The U.S. Army Air Corps P-26 Peashooter was a speculative Boeing design between wars to drum up some business. It was also the last AAC fighter with fixed landing gear and the last with externally braced wings. Its top speed then of 234 mph could catch the fastest contemporary Martin B-10 bomber. Boeing had to retrofit split flaps to the low braced wings to slow it for landing safety. With the heavy P&W R-1340 of 600 Hp in a short nose fuselage, it had a tendency to wind up on its nose (or back) after a hot landing. So, a tall rollover reinforced headrest was added to the open single centerline cockpit. Rudder was unbalanced. It also enclosed the streamlined main gear by strut covers blended into the wheel covers. I have seen two cost figures, $9,999 to produce and $14,000 each. One hundred and forty-eight total were built.

The export model 281 was sold to China in the 1930s whose Air Force downed some Japanese bombers with them in 1937. The Philippines used them with some success as you noted against Japanese aircraft in WWII. Guatemala used their Peashooters until taken out of service in 1957, remarkably! The US Army Air Corps used them until 1937; I believe Guatemala acquired some of those from the USAAC.

P-26A Specs

Power; one P&W R-1340-27 Wasp radial of 600 Hp encased in ring cowl.

Wingspan: 27'11"

Length: 23'10"

Height: 10'5"

Loaded weight: 2,955 lb

Max speed: 234 mph.

Cruise speed: 200 mph

Range: 360 miles

Armament

Two .30 caliber machine guns, or one .30 caliber and one .50 caliber machine gun.