PZL P.42 (Polish Light Bomber)

The prototype of the PZL.42 light dive bomber, based on the PZL.23A Karas, was built during 1936-1939 at the PZL factory in Warsaw. The design team headed by Stanislaw Prauss was working on developing the PZL.23 Karas. In this prototype, the design was experimentally altered. It was fitted with twin vertical tails and a retractable under-fuselage cupola of the bomb aimer/gunner. This improved the effectiveness of the rudder, particularly when diving, and improved the field of fire of the upper rear gunner. The cupola, when retracted, reduced the drag considerably