In 1942, USAAF requested for a new heavy armored ground attack airplane as planned to replace the Douglas A-20 Havoc. Beech Aircraft Corp had already started work on the design of the Model 28 “Destroyer" which the specification did met to the requirement. So a contract was awarded to Beech for two prototypes that designated XA-38 and re-named "Grizzly" with competition in Hughes XA-37 (later it changed to XF-11). For ground attack purpose, the aircraft wore a cannon and two guns in the nose, as well as with two remote-controlled turrets on the fuselage. Two powerful Wright engines as served same in the B-29 bomber were chosen to drive this heavy machine. First flight was made in 1944. The aircraft proved satisfactory and better than expected. However, due to the lack of engines at war, B-29 had top priority to use the engines inventory. It led to the A-38 never served in quantity. After the second prototype tested in September 1945, the USAAF lost interest in the attack bomber. The XA-38 project was cancelled.

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Ground attack bomber interceptor

Designed for tactical military service as an attack bomber

67ft.4in.

51ft.9in.

15ft.6in.

2x Wright GR-3350-43 radial engine

376 mph

2

1x T15E1 75 mm cannon

6x 0.50 Calbre (12.7 mm) machine guns

The Beech XA-38 Grizzly is suitable to group with the following collection series.

U.S.A.A.F. attack aircraft in World War II 1937 ~ 1945

Douglas Y1A-18 Shrike II

Vultee YA-19

Douglas A-20 (P-70) Havoc

Stearman XA-21

Martin A-22 Maryland

Martin A-23

Douglas A-24 (SBD) Dauntless

Curtiss A-25 (SB2C-1A) Helldiver

Douglas A-26 Invader

North American A-27 (AT-6)

Lockheed A-28 Hudson

Lockheed A-29 (A-28B) Hudson

Martin A-30 Baltimore

Vultee A-31 Vengeance

Brewster XA-32

Northrop A-33 Nomad

Brewster A-34 (SB2A) Buccaneer

Vultee A-35 Vengeance

North American A-36 (P-51A) Invader

Hughes XA-37 (XP-73 / XF-11)

Beech XA-38 Grizzly

Kaiser-Fleetings XA-39

Curtiss A-40 (SB3C)

Convair XA-41

Douglas XA-42 (XB-42) Mixmaster

Curtiss XA-43 (XF-87) Blackhawk

Convair XA-44 (XB-53)

Martin XA-45 (XB-51)

U.S.A.A.F. heavy armored ground attack airplane in 1942

Hughes XA-37 (XP-73 / XF-11)

Beech XA-38 Grizzly

War-time U.S. experimental aircraft