View source for Curtiss F11C Goshawk

{{Short description|1932 biplane fighter aircraft family}}
{{other uses|Goshawk (disambiguation)}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = F11C Goshawk
 |image = File:Curtiss F11c2 a.jpg
 |caption = XF11C-2 Goshawk, piloted by Curtiss test pilot William J. Crosswell, pictured during a test flight, 4 November 1932.
 |type = [[Carrier-based aircraft|Carrier-based]] [[Fighter aircraft|Fighter]] and [[fighter-bomber]]
 |national_origin = United States
 |manufacturer = [[Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company]]
 |designer =
 |first_flight = September 1932
 |introduction = April 1932
 |retired =
 |status =
 |primary_user = [[United States Navy]]
 |more_users = [[Chinese Nationalist Air Force]] <br/> [[Colombian Air Force]]
 |produced = October 1932
 |number_built = 28 plus 2 prototypes
 |variants = [[Curtiss BF2C Goshawk]]
}}

The '''Curtiss F11C Goshawk''' is an American naval [[biplane]] [[fighter aircraft]] that saw limited success. It was part of a long line of [[Curtiss Hawk]] [[airplane]]s built by the [[Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company]] for the American military.

==Design and development==
In April 1932, when Curtiss was planning the '''Model 35B''', the [[United States Navy]] contracted with the manufacturer for an improved derivative of the [[Curtiss F6C Hawk|Model 34C, F6C]] as the ''F11C''. It contained major changes that included the {{convert|600|hp|kW|lk=on|abbr=on}} [[Wright R-1510|Wright R-1510-98]] [[radial engine]], single-leg [[cantilever]] main [[Landing gear|landing-gear unit]]s, a slight increase in the interplane gap, metal- rather than fabric-covered control surfaces, and armament based on two {{convert|.30|in|mm|2|abbr=on}} fixed forward-firing [[machine gun]]s supplemented by a [[hardpoint]] under the fuselage for the carriage of a {{convert|474|lb|kg|abbr=on}} bomb, or an auxiliary fuel tank. Curtiss designed the type as the '''Model 64''' Goshawk, with the U.S. Navy designation XF11C-1 (later XBFC-1 after the adoption of the BF for Bomber-Fighter category). The aircraft was of fabric-covered metal construction, used the wing cell structure of the dismantled [[Curtiss P-6|YP-23]], and was delivered in September 1932.<ref name="EdenMoeng" >Eden and Moeng 2002</ref>

Shortly before ordering the ''XF11C-1'', the Navy had bought a company-owned '''Model 64A''' demonstrator. This had a [[Wright R-1820]]-78 Cyclone engine, slightly longer main landing-gear legs carrying wheels with low-pressure tires, a tailwheel in place of the tailskid, fabric-covered control surfaces on the tail, and external provision for underwing racks for light bombs as well as an under-fuselage [[hardpoint]] for either a 50&nbsp;gal (189&nbsp;L) fuel tank or the crutch that would swing a bomb clear of the propeller disc before release in a dive-bombing attack.<ref name= "EdenMoeng"/>

Flight trials of this '''XF11C-2''' (later redesignated as the '''XBFC-2''') revealed the need for a small number of minor changes. After making the changes, the ''XF11C-2'' came to be regarded as the prototype for the '''F11C-2''', of which 28 examples were ordered as dual-role fighter-bombers in October 1932.<ref name="EdenMoeng"/>

From March 1934, the aircraft were revised with a semi-enclosed cockpit and a number of other modifications before they received the revised designation '''[[Curtiss BF2C Goshawk|BFC-2]]''' in recognition of their [[fighter-bomber]] or, as the Navy would have it, bomber-fighter role<ref name="EdenMoeng"/> The last aircraft in the XF11C-2 contract was converted to the prototype [[Curtiss BF2C Goshawk|XF11C-3]], incorporating a more powerful R-1820-80 engine and a hand-operated retractable landing gear.<ref>[http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display.php?irn=16045935&QueryPage=%2FQuery.php "Photograph - 'Photograph of F11C-3 Goshawk aircraft'."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727184749/http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display.php?irn=16045935&QueryPage=%2FQuery.php |date=2011-07-27 }} ''U.S. Navy Museum'' (Pensacola), 31 January 2000. Retrieved: 13 May 2009.</ref>
[[File:Curtiss XF11C-3 in Flight.jpg|thumb|Curtiss XF11C-3 variant flying over the clouds with landing gear and tailhook retracted]][[File:F11C Goshawk.jpeg|thumb|right|XF11C-3 Goshawk in test flight]]

==Operational history==
The only U.S. Navy units to operate the '''F11C-2''' were the Navy's famous "High Hat Squadron", ''VF-1B'', aboard the carrier {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}}, and ''VB-6'' briefly assigned to {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}}. In March 1934, when the aircraft were redesignated '''BFC-2''', the "High Hat Squadron" was renumbered '''VB-2B''', and then '''VB-3B''', and retained its '''BFC-2s''' until February 1938. '''VB-6''' never actually embarked on ''Enterprise'' with the '''BFC''' bombers.<ref name="eleven">Swanborough and Bowers 1976</ref>

[[File:Curtiss Hawk II in Chinese service.jpg|thumb|right|The Chinese F11C/Hawk II during WW2]]
The F11C-2 Goshawk was produced in two export versions as the '''Hawk I''' and '''Hawk II''' fighters. Essentially a modified XF11C-2, the Hawk II was fitted with a Wright R-1820F-3 Cyclone rated at {{convert|710|hp|kW|abbr=on}} at {{convert|1676|m|ft|abbr=on}} and 356&nbsp;liters of fuel while the Hawk I had 189&nbsp;liters of internal fuel. Both versions carried the same armament as the production F11C-2. Only the Hawk II was exported in quantity with Turkey, the first customer taking delivery of 19 on August 30, 1932. Colombia placed an order at the end of October 1932, receiving an initial batch of four twin [[Floatplane|float]]-equipped Hawk IIs, the first of a total of 26 float fighters delivered by the end of July 1934. The [[Colombian Air Force]] used Hawk II and F11C-2 based in floats in the [[Colombia-Peru War]] in 1932-1933. Nine Hawk IIs were supplied to Bolivia, of which three had interchangeable wheel/float undercarriages; four were delivered to Chile,  four to Cuba, two to Germany, one to Norway and 12 to Thailand as '''Hawk IIIs'''. 

The [[Chinese Nationalist Air Force]] received 52 F11Cs as '''Hawk IIs''' and fought against the Japanese during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]. Hawk II squadron commander Captain Chan Kee-Wong of the [[Development_of_Chinese_Nationalist_air_force_(1937%E2%80%931945)|28th Squadron, 5th Fighter Group]] based at [[Jurong airfield|Chuyung Airbase]] for the defense of [[Nanking]] at the outbreak of the war against the Imperial Japanese invasion, made a partial claim in the shooting-down of a [[Mitsubishi G3M]] medium-heavy bomber on 15 August, 1937. He and half of his squadron were soon dispatched to [[Taiyuan]] in the northern front of the war in China, and famously shot down Major Hiroshi Miwa (former military flight instructor for [[Zhang Xueliang]]'s [[Fengtian Army]] air corps),<ref>{{Cite web|last=网易|first=丘智贤|date=2018-02-02|title=广东队长太原击落日本驱逐之王三轮宽|url=https://news.163.com/18/0202/09/D9KL2LGA000187UE.html|access-date=2020-11-16|website=news.163.com|quote=1937年9月21日，击落日军著名飞行员三轮宽的我空军第二十八队队长陈其光 (照片) - 支那事变殊勋录刊登之日本陆军航空兵中佐三轮宽 (照片)}}</ref> commander of the 16th Hiko Rentai, 1st Daitai squadron of [[Kawasaki Ki-10]] fighters during the [[Battle_of_Taiyuan#Chronology|Battle of Taiyuan]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gustavsson|first=Hakans|title=Chinese biplane fighter aces - Chan Kee-Wong|url=http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/china_kee-wong.htm|access-date=2020-11-16|website=Biplane Fighter Aces - China|quote=Captain Chan found himself all alone facing three IJAAF Ki-10s led by Major Miwa; in what appeared to a challenge to "single combat" - Miwa dove at him from above, Chan countered by pulling his nose up to face Miwa head-on. Anticipating that Miwa would need to pull out of his dive after they pass - Chan pulled into a tight chandelle - into his manoeuvre even before Miwa passed him - Chan was able turn around - above and behind Miwa - taking advantage of his position for a zero-deflection shooting pass, Chan shot up Miwa's Ki-10, sending it crashing into a field near Ta Meng.}}</ref> It was the main battlefield of the F11C in World War II.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gustavsson|first=Håkan|title=Curtiss Hawks in the Chinese Air Force|url=http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/hawk_china.htm|work=Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War|access-date=30 January 2013}}</ref>

Thai Hawk IIIs saw action during World War II, including against the Royal Air Force. On 8 April 1944, a Thai Hawk III was shot down by a [[No. 211 Squadron RAF]] [[Bristol Beaufighter]] over [[Lamphun]], the pilot of the downed aircraft escaping by parachute.<ref>Thomas 2005, pp. 73-74</ref>

==Variants==
;XF11C-1 (Model 64)
:First prototype derived from the [[Curtiss F6C Hawk|F6C Hawk]].
;XF11C-2 (Model 64A)
:Second prototype, redesignated '''XBFC-2'''.
;F11C-2 (Model 64A)
:Production version, redesignated '''BFC-2'''; 28 built.
;XF11C-3 (Model 67)
:One F11C-2 fitted with retractable undercarriage and a {{convert|700|hp|kW|abbr=on}} R-1820-80, later redesignated [[Curtiss BF2C Goshawk|'''XBF2C-1''']] fighter-bomber.
;BFC-2 Hawk
:Redesignation of F11C-2.
;B.Kh.9
:({{langx|th|บ.ข.๙}}) [[Royal Thai Air Force]] designation for the Hawk II.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Thai Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/thailand.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>

==Operators==
[[File:Hawk II F11C.jpg|thumb|right|[[Colombian Air Force]] Hawk II F11C, during the Güepí Campaign.]]
[[File:Curtiss Hawk II - Muzeum Lotnictwa Kraków.jpg|thumb|right|Udet's [[Curtiss-Wright|Curtiss]] Hawk II (D-IRIK) on display in the [[Polish Aviation Museum]].]]

;{{BOL}}
* [[Bolivian Air Force]]
;{{CHI}}
* [[Chilean Air Force]]
;{{ROC}}
* [[Chinese Nationalist Air Force]]
;{{COL}}
* [[Colombian Air Force]] - Used in the [[Colombia-Peru War]].
;{{CUB}}
* [[Cuban Air Force]]
;{{flag|Germany|Nazi}}
*Two aircraft were bought by Germany for evaluation. One of them, D-3165, was tested as a floatplane.
;{{NOR}}
* [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]] - One aircraft purchased for evaluation purposes.
;{{THA}}
* [[Royal Thai Air Force]]
;{{TUR}}
* [[Turkish Air Force]]
;{{PER}}
*[[Peruvian Navy]] - Three float-equipped aircraft were purchased in March 1933. Four additional machines were bought in 1934.
;{{flag|United States|1912}}
*[[United States Navy]] operated 28 aircraft as the squadron VF-1B, flying from the aircraft carrier {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}}.

==Surviving aircraft==
During the spring of 1933, Franz Muller who was a senior official in the Reich Air Ministry, informed Göring that he was approached by Udet to seek approval for the purchase of two Goshawks for dive bombing trials. Göring authorized the funds via the German Embassy in Washington DC. In October 1933 the pair of Goshawks arrived in Bremerhaven aboard the liner ''[[SS Europa]]''.<ref>Hitler's Stuka Squadrons-The Ju 87 At War 1936-45 by John Ward</ref> Udet used one of these Goshawks (designated D-IRIK) in aerobatic exhibitions held during the [[1936 Summer Olympics]], the aircraft survived the war, was eventually found in a field outside [[Kraków]],<ref>''Hitler's Generals: Udet'' (TV aeries)</ref> now on display in the [[Polish Aviation Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Aircraft: Curtiss Hawk II |url=http://www.muzeumlotnictwa.pl/zbiory_sz.php?ido=19&w=p |website=Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego |access-date=16 April 2023}}</ref>

A BFC-2 is in the [[National Naval Aviation Museum]] on NAS Pensacola, Florida.<ref>{{cite web |title=BFC-2 Goshawk |url=http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=bfc-2_goshawk |website=National Naval Aviation Museum |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830201633/http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=bfc-2_goshawk |archive-date=30 August 2016}}</ref>

A Hawk III, the only one existing, has been restored by the [[Royal Thai Air Force Museum]]. The aircraft on display is painted with ([[Hanuman]], white body) insignia identifying it as belonging to Wing 4. The Hawk III served in the RTAF between 1934–1949.<ref name="Trirat">Trirat. [http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/print.php?id=1611 "A Briefer History of the Royal Thai Air Force."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002065909/http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/print.php?id=1611 |date=2011-10-02 }} ''nationmultimedia.com,'' October 2007. Retrieved: 30 August 30, 2011.</ref>

==Specifications (F11C-2) & (BFC-2)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947,<ref name=Bowers>{{cite book |last1=Bowers |first1=Peter M. |title=Curtiss aircraft, 1907-1947 |date=1979 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0370100298 |pages=274–277}}</ref> The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft<ref>Eden and Moeng 2002, p. 514.</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|length ft=22
|length in=7
|length note=
|span ft=31
|span in=6
|span note=
|height ft=9
|height in=8.625
|height note=
|wing area sqft=262
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil='''root:''' [[Clark Y]]; '''tip:''' [[Clark Y]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=3037
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=4132
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=
|eng1 name=[[Wright R-1820-78 Cyclone]]
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=600

|prop blade number=3
|prop name=metal propeller
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=202
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=150
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=522
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=25100
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ftmin=2300
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns=
2x fixed, [[Synchronization gear|synchronized]] {{convert|.30|in|mm|2|abbr=on}} [[M1919 Browning machine gun|AN/M2 Browning]] [[machine gun]]s in the forward fuselage
|bombs=<br/>
**1x {{convert|215|kg|lb|abbr=on}} bomb on an under-fuselage [[hardpoint]] ''or'' 
**2x {{convert|53|kg|lb|abbr=on}} bombs carried one under each lower wing
}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite book |last1=Bellomo |first1=Sergio |last2=Cordon Aguirre |first2=Arturo |last3= Marino|first3=Atilio |last4= Núñez Padin |first4= Jorge |title= Curtiss Hawk |year=1999 |editor-first=Jorge Felix |editor-last= Núñez Padin |publisher= Fuerzas Aeronavales |series= Serie Fuerza Aérea Argentina |volume=5 |language=es |location= Bahía Blanca, Argentina }}
*Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. [https://books.google.com/books?id=6xMYAAAACAAJ ''The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''.] London: Amber Books, 2002. {{ISBN|978-0-7607-3432-2}}.
*{{cite magazine|last=Hagedorn|first=Dan|title=Curtiss Types in Latin America|magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]]|date=March–May 1992|issue=45 |pages=61–77 |issn=0143-5450}} 
*Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Military Aircraft Since 1911''. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1976. {{ISBN|978-0-87021-968-9}}.
*{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Andrew |date=2005 |title=Beaufighter Aces of World War 2 |location=Oxford |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-84176-846-5 }}
* {{cite book |last=Ward |first=John |title=Hitler's Stuka Squadrons: The Ju 87 at War 1936-1945 |year=2004 |publisher=Spellmount |isbn=1862272468}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Young|first=Edward M.|title=France's Forgotten Air War|magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]]|date=1984|issue=25 |pages=22–33 |issn=0143-5450}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Curtiss F11C Goshawk}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030602170732/http://www.brushfirewars.org/aircraft/curtiss_hawk_ii_bolivian/curtiss_hawk_ii_bolivian.htm Bolivian Curtiss Hawk II]
*[http://www.airminded.net/goshawk/goshawkad.html Curtiss Goshawk Marketing Brochure]
*[http://www.airminded.net/goshawk/goshawk.html The Curtiss F11C-2 Goshawk Images]
*[http://www.muzeumlotnictwa.pl/galeria/sylwetki_barwne/CURTISS_F11_Goshawk/CURTISS_F11C.2_Goshawk_9282_1.F.16_USA.jpg Silhouette of the plane]

{{USN bomber aircraft}}
{{USN fighters}}
{{Curtiss aircraft}}
{{Thai fighter designations}}

[[Category:Curtiss aircraft|F11C]]
[[Category:1930s United States fighter aircraft]]
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[[Category:Carrier-based aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1932]]
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[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]