In the late 1940s, the North American Company designed and built the T-28 Trojan in response to the United States Air Force's need for a new training plane.

The T-28 was a replacement for the T-6/SNJ which had served the Air Force and Navy since the mid 1930s. Several versions of the T-28 were produced, but the early version was powered by an 800 horsepower Wright R-1300 engine, reached a top speed of 285 mph, and could climb to 29,000 feet. Later versions included performance and other modifications that made the T-28 suitable for combat operations. These "combat" models served in several foreign countries and were used by the USAF in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

The T-28 on display at Battleship Cove was used as a carrier landing qualification craft at Pensacola (FL) for many years. In 1975, the plane sustained a crack in its main wing spar after a "hard" landing on the carrier Lexington and was judged no longer fit for carrier landings. The plane was eventually declared excess and place on permanent display outside Newberry Hall.

Should the Trojans have looked this gift horse in the mouth?

THE TROJAN WAR: The T-28 Trojan is named for the inhabitants of the legendary City of Troy, which was destroyed by the Greeks during the Trojan War.

As ancient mythology has it, the Trojan War was sparked by Paris, the Prince of Troy, who kidnapped the beautiful Helen from her husband Menelaus, King of Sparta. Enraged, Menelaus sent an army of men to Troy to recover his wife, as well as the treasures Paris also stole.

After a long and fruitless siege of Troy, the clever Odysseus contrived an idea to trick the Trojans into admitting the Greek army within the city walls. A gigantic wooden horse was constructed and wheeled to the city entrance, where it was offered as a gift. The Trojans accepted the gift, and as they slept, scores of Greeks emerged from the horse and killed them before burning the city to the ground.

Coincidentally, the City of Fall River used to be named "Troy." Click here to learn more.