Photo By Salamander

The Vietnam war led the USAF to consider using an armed version of its excellent T-37 two seat trainer in the counter insurgency role. Between 1955 and 1977 Cessna built 1,268 T-37s in three models and in 1966 39 T-37 Bs were rebuilt as light attack planes with more powerful engines and more than doubled take off weight. Deliveries of these A-37A Dragonfly planes began in May 1967. A squadron of 25 A-37As was closely studied in operation by the US Air Force in Vietnam over a four month period to test their ability to fly six different types of close support mission. The type proved very effective and was rated highly before the planes were transferred to the south Vietnam air force. By earl 1968, the A-37As in Vietnam had flown 10,000 sorties. During the introduction period in Vietnam Cessna developed a second derivative of the T-37 that was specially conceived as a light close support plane for the US Air force. The first A-37B flew in September 1967 at the beginning of the program that saw the delivery of 577 planes, many of which were acquired by countries in Latin America.