The Harvard IlB was, in many ways, identical to the US aircraft known as the AT-16. The AT-16 was developed to meet the requirements of the United States Army Air Corps for a single-engine service trainer suitable for the new combat aircraft then coming into use. As a result, the Harvard incorporated most of the Iatest features found on high-performance service aircraft, including a controllable-pitch propeller, retractable undercarriage, and flaps.

The Harvard must be considered one of the outstanding aircraft of World War Il and the early postwar years. From 1940 to 1955, nearly all American and British Commonwealth pilots had some training on Harvards. Strong and unforgiving, requiring a delicate touch to keep straight
on landing and take-off, it was an ideal training airplane.

One of the best advanced training aircraft ever built, the Harvard became a mainstay of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Harvard IlBs were first ordered from Noorduyn in Montreal in January 1940. Noorduyn eventually built 2800 Harvards for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Canadian Car and Foundry made 550 Mk 4s for Canada and the United States in the 1950s. The Mk 4 had an improved cockpit canopy and fuel capacity.

Canada built more Harvards than any other aircraft, with a total of 3350 produced. In anticipation of a possible aluminum shortage, a wooden rear-fuselage and set of wings were developed and built, but not produced. Gunnery trainer and target tow versions were also developed but never produced. Skis were produced but never installed because a strengthened undercarriage was required.

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