Slideshow: American air arsenal of 1941

Seversky P-35

The P-35 was the first Army plane with an enclosed cockpit and retractable gear, but it was lacking in other improvements. A two-seat version was sold to the Japanese, who used the plane during their campaign in China.

Neither the Americans nor the Japanese were terribly impressed with the P-35.

Like the P-26, these antiquated planes were handed down to the Philippine Army Air Corps, while a scant few were still operated by American pilots. Capt. Samuel H. Marrett, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron, strafed a Japanese minesweeper off Luzon, causing the ship to explode. The blast ripped Marrett’s wing off and he died when his plane crashed into the water.