Northrop N-3PB: Wikis

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N-3PB

Role	Patrol bomber/torpedo bomber floatplane
Manufacturer	Northrop Aircraft Inc.
Introduction	1940
Primary user	Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service
Number built	24

The Northrop N-3PB is a sleek single engine low wing float-plane with a crew of three. The Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service was the only customer of the type. Norway was in need of a replacement for the Naval Air Service's M.F. 11 biplane patrol aircraft and ordered 24 aircraft on 12 March 1940.

Before the aircraft could be delivered, Norway was invaded by the Germans. All of the aircraft were delivered to the exiled Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service (RNNAS), operating as No. 330 (Norwegian) Squadron RAF in Reykjavík, Iceland. The RNNAS operated the N-3PBs on anti-submarine and convoy escort duties.

After the war the two surviving aircraft were flown to Norway, but both were scrapped sometime in the 1950s.

In the 1970s, a N-3PB wreck was located at Iceland. The aircraft was rescued, and later restored by Northrop in California. This only surviving aircraft is currently on exhibition as part of Forsvarets Flysamling (The Norwegian Armed Forces Airplane Collection) at Gardermoen, Norway.