Probably the best known advanced trainer of WWII the North American Harvard, (or Texan in US service) was a member of the NA-16 family. Amongst the early customers was the RAF, (with an order for 400). The British aircraft were known as Harvard MkI"s and began to arrive in the UK during 1938. The Harvard MKII introduced the more familiar squared off wingtips and straight rudder and became the standard advanced trainer for the RAF and commonwealth air forces replacing the Miles Master.

For the whole of WWII most RAF pilots took advanced training on the Harvard and more than 5000 aircraft reached British or commonwealth flying schools. After the war the Harvard remained in RAF service for a further ten years.