<hi style=afpcap>Curtiss developed their model 85 Owl for the Army from a previous observation designs supplied to the Navy during the latter half of the '30s, including the So3C Seagull and SB2C-1 Helldiver. Designated the O-52, the Army purchased 203 aircraft in 1940, although they were not issued to combat squadrons, but instead were employed as trainers. </hi>