Curtiss SW 21 was an attempt by Curtiss-Wright company to build a interceptor fighter with high rate of climb for export markets. It was not particularly succesfull, but China (Republic) bought these fighters paying as much as 70 000 USD a piece.
From the wikipedia we can find following: The prototype CW-21 was delivered to China for evaluation by the Chinese Air Force. The Chinese were impressed by the CW-21's performance, and negotiation started on a Chinese purchase. While these negotiations were ongoing, the CW-21 prototype was flown in combat against Japanese bombers attacking Chungking, with Curtiss test pilot Bob Fausel claiming a Fiat BR.20 bomber shot down on 4 April 1939. In May 1939, a contract was signed, with China receiving the prototype and three complete examples built by Curtiss, as well as kits for 27 more aircraft. Assembly would be undertaken by the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO) at Loiwing, near the China-Burma border. These were to be armed with two .50 in (12.7 mm) and two .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns.[6]
The three Curtiss-built aircraft were shipped to China in May 1940 and were eventually handed over to the 1st American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers), who intended to use them to tackle high-flying Japanese reconnaissance aircraft.[7] These crashed and were destroyed, due to poor visibility, on a flight from Rangoon to Kunming on 23 December 1941.[8] Of the 27 to be assembled by CAMCO, none were completed before CAMCO was forced by advancing Japanese forces to evacuate its Loiwing factory to India in 1942.[9]
What happened to these airframes?
What happened to Curtiss SW 21 fighters?
Re: What happened to Curtiss SW 21 fighters?
2 were completed by CAMCO. They were destroyed together with all the parts while the Chinese moved the factory back to China.
The Chinese could only keep those Wright Cyclone R-1820-G5 engines (27) and M2 /M1919 machines guns (54).
The Chinese could only keep those Wright Cyclone R-1820-G5 engines (27) and M2 /M1919 machines guns (54).