OD-1

The Douglas OD‑1 was a modest yet pivotal observation aircraft produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company in the early 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps. Originating from Douglas’s earlier O‑2 series, the OD‑1 was designed to meet a specific requirement for a reliable, short‑range reconnaissance platform that could operate from improvised fields close to the front. Its all‑metal, high‑wing monoplane configuration offered excellent upward visibility, while a fixed, sturdy undercarriage allowed it to tolerate rough, unprepared strips. Powered by a 450‑horsepower Wright R‑975 radial engine, the aircraft could reach a top speed of roughly 125 mph, endure a service ceiling of 14,000 feet, and stay aloft for up to four hours—sufficient for artillery spotting, photographic mapping, and liaison duties. The cockpit accommodated a pilot and an observer, the latter equipped with a flexible machine‑gun mount and a suite of optical instruments. Though produced in limited numbers, the OD‑1’s straightforward construction and dependable performance helped shape the doctrine of battlefield observation, influencing later Douglas models such as the O‑38 and O‑46. Its operational record during the interwar period demonstrated the value of dedicated aerial scouts, laying groundwork for more advanced reconnaissance aircraft that would become essential in World War II.