I remember, way back in 1989, during a coup d’état by rebel troops aiming to overthrow the Aquino administration, news media were reporting that the rebels were flying ‘Tora-Tora’ planes against government forces in F-5As. At that time, I was wondering what ‘Tora-Tora’ planes were. I was shown a picture of a North American T-28D Trojan and referred to the T-28 Trojan as a ‘Tora-Tora’ plane until I later discovered that it was not.
After some research, I learned that ‘Tora Tora Tora’ is a 1970s war film about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Obviously, the planes used in the film were Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters. So why did the news media in the Philippines call Trojans ‘Tora-Tora’ planes? Perhaps they thought they looked alike, which, in reality, they don’t at all! Honestly, the Trojan looks more like a Douglas A-1 Skyraider than an A6M Zero.
The T-28 Trojan is a Post-War Era Plane
The first most obvious reason as to why the T-28 Trojan is not the “Tora-Tora” plane is because it was built after the war. “Tora! Tora! Tora!” is a world war II – based film, hence, the T-28 Trojan was not even built yet during that time.
Introduced in the 1950s, the North American Aviation T-28 Trojan served as an advanced trainer for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed to succeed the well-established North American T-6/SNJ/Harvard (T-6), the T-28 Trojan aimed to mimic the handling characteristics of contemporary jet fighters, particularly the North American F-86 Sabre jet. In fact, the cockpits of the T-28 and the F-86 Sabre jet bear a strong resemblance to each other.
The T-28 Trojan in the Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) utilized the North American T-28 Trojan aircraft for counterinsurgency (COIN) operations during the 1970s and 1980s. The T-28 Trojan proved to be an effective close air support (CAS) platform, particularly in ground attack missions against rebel groups such as the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
In October 1974, the 15th Strike Wing of the PAF received the first batch of T-28 Trojan aircraft. The T-28 Trojan was chosen due to its ruggedness, reliability, and maneuverability, making it well-suited for COIN operations in the Philippines’ challenging terrain.
The PAF operated the T-28B, C, and D variants. Before the SF260 Marchetti took its place in 1973, the Philippine Air Force Flying School (PAFFS) used the T-28A variant for military pilot training instead of the PAF’s combat units.
The T-28 Trojan proved to be an effective counterinsurgency aircraft, providing close air support to ground troops engaged in combat with rebel groups. Its ability to operate at low altitudes and deliver accurate firepower made it a valuable asset to the PAF.
The plane was gradually phased out of PAF service in the 1980s and replaced by more modern aircraft. However, the T-28 Trojan remains an important part of Philippine aviation history, having played a significant role in counterinsurgency operations during the Marcos era.
I hope this clears up any misconceptions that the T-28 Trojan is a ‘Tora-Tora’ plane. It is far from it. The T-28 is a post-war plane, while the actual ‘Tora-Tora’ plane is the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter.
Source: Pinoy Aviators Facebook
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
