Today in WW II: 9 Jul 1940 Battle of Calabria [Battle of Punta Stilo, the toe of Italy] fought between the Italian Royal Navy and the British/Australian Royal Navies, 30 miles [48km] east of Punta Stilo. More ?

9 Jul 1943 US-British invasion of Sicily begins [night of 9-10 Jul].
9 Jul 1944 British and Canadian forces capture Caen from the Germans, a critical post-D-Day objective in Normandy, France.
9 Jul 1944 US forces reach the northern end of Saipan, finding thousands of Japanese civilian men, women, and children who commit suicide by leaping off the cliffs rather than be captured.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

North American Aviation O-47

North American Aviation developed the O-47 to replace the O-19 and O-38 observation biplanes. It was larger and heavier than most preceding observation aircraft and its crew of three sat in tandem under the long canopy. Windows in the deep belly overcame the obstacle that the wings presented to downward observation and photography. The design for the XO-47 prototype originated in 1934 with General Aviation, a subsidiary of North American Aviation, as the GA-15. The Air Corps ordered 174 O-47s in 1937-38, 93 of which were assigned to National Guard units. In 1938, the Army ordered 74 O-47Bs with a redesigned engine cowling for better cooling, a more powerful engine, and improved radio equipment.

North American Aviation O-47B Specifications

Span	46 ft. 4 in.
Length	33 ft. 3 in.
Height	13 ft. 9 in.
Engine	Wright R-1820 of 1,060 hp.
Crew	3
Maximum speed	227 mph.
Cruising speed	200 mph.
Range	840 miles
Service Ceiling	24,100 ft.

The O-47B was armed with one fixed, forward-firing .30 cal. machine gun plus one flexible .30 cal. machine gun in rear cockpit.

North American O-47 U.S. Army Air Force photo, World War II.

North American Aviation O-47B photographed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, August 2005. The O-47B on display was acquired in 1978 from Mr. Loren L. Florey, Jr., Eden Prairie, Minnesota. It was restored in the markings of an O-47A of the 112th Observation Squadron (Ohio National Guard) by the 179th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ohio ANG, at Mansfield, Ohio. According to the Museum, it was serial number 39-112, C/N: 51-1025. Other registrations were N73722, XB-YUW but is displayed as: 37-328. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit.

North American Aviation O-47B photographed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. This is the same aircraft shown inside the Museum above.