Vultee A-31 Vengeance

The Dive-Bomber That Hit Hard — and Faded Fast.

Overview

Vultee United States 1941–1944

Conceived in the early years of World War II, the Vultee A-31 Vengeance was America’s answer to the demand for a precision dive-bomber. Rugged, reliable, and deadly in a dive, it earned a solid reputation among Allied pilots — even as the world of air combat was already moving beyond its design.

Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Wright R-2600-A5B-5 Twin Cyclone 14 cylinder radial air-cooled engine
Engine type
Piston
Power
1,700 hp · 1,268 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
2
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
39 ft 9 in  ·  12.12 m
Tail height
15 ft 4 in  ·  4.67 m
Fuselage diameter
—
Wing span
48 ft 0 in  ·  14.63 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
16,400 lb  ·  7,450 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
—
Fuel capacity
280 gal · 1,000 L · 700 kg (AvGas)
Max cruise speed
204 kt  ·  235 mph  ·  378 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
—
Range
1,220 nm  ·  1,400 mi  ·  2,260 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
22,500 ft  ·  6,900 m
Rate of climb
1,200 ft/min  ·  6 m/s
Takeoff distance
—
Landing distance
—
(/) tap to zoom
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vengeance bomber of 12 sqn raaf in flight 1943

Operational Context

Vultee A-31 Vengeance — The Forgotten Allied Dive-Bomber

The Vultee A-31 Vengeance was a single-engine dive-bomber designed by Vultee Aircraft in 1940 to meet both U.S. and British requirements. The Royal Air Force, seeking a dedicated dive-bomber for ground attack missions, ordered the type even before its first flight in March 1941.

Powered by a 1,700 hp Wright R-2600-19 Twin Cyclone radial engine, the A-31 could reach 275 mph (443 km/h) and had a range of about 1,100 miles (1,770 km). Its narrow, inverted-gull wing design provided excellent downward visibility and stability during steep dives. The aircraft carried a crew of two — pilot and rear gunner — and could deliver up to 1,500 pounds (680 kg) of bombs with remarkable accuracy.

The Vengeance entered operational service with the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Indian Air Force, seeing combat in Burma, India, and New Guinea from 1942 to 1944. Pilots praised its ruggedness and precision, but as the war progressed, faster and more versatile fighter-bombers like the P-47 Thunderbolt and Hawker Typhoon made the dedicated dive-bomber obsolete.

Production eventually totaled about 1,900 aircraft, including later A-35 variants used by the U.S. Army Air Forces primarily for training and target towing.

Though its combat career was short, the Vultee Vengeance proved that even in obsolescence, good design and determination could deliver accuracy and impact — a fierce yet fleeting chapter in the story of Allied air power.