A-20 Havoc

A-20 Havoc. The Douglas A-20 Havoc was an American attack, light bomber, and night fighter aircraft extensively deployed during World War II. Designed by a team led by Ed Heinemann and Jack Northrop at the Douglas Aircraft Company, it served with great distinction in multiple theaters under the flags of the United States Army Air Forces, the Royal Air Force, and the Soviet Air Forces. Renowned for its speed, ruggedness, and versatility, the Havoc filled roles from low-level strafing to nocturnal interception, proving to be one of the war's most effective and adaptable combat aircraft.

Design and development

The aircraft's origins trace to a mid-1930s United States Army Air Corps specification for an attack bomber, with the design evolving from the earlier Douglas DB-7. The project team, including John K. Northrop, faced significant challenges meeting performance goals, leading to a major redesign that produced a sleek, twin-engine airframe with a narrow fuselage and tricycle landing gear. Key innovations included the use of NACA airfoils and powerful Wright R-2600 Twin Cyclone radial engines, which endowed the aircraft with exceptional performance for its class. The prototype, designated the Douglas Model 7B, first flew from Santa Monica Airport in January 1939, demonstrating impressive speed that attracted immediate interest from France and Great Britain even before the United States entered the war.

Operational history

Upon the outbreak of World War II, the French Air Force was the first to employ the type, using it in desperate attempts to stem the German invasion of France during the Battle of France. Following the Fall of France, many undelivered aircraft were diverted to the Royal Air Force, where it was initially called the "Boston" as a bomber and "Havoc" as a night fighter, seeing action in the North African campaign and over Europe. The United States Army Air Forces deployed the A-20 widely in the Pacific Theater, where it excelled in skip-bombing attacks against Japanese shipping, and in the European Theater, supporting operations like the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. The Soviet Air Forces received more than 3,000 aircraft via Lend-Lease, using them to great effect on the Eastern Front for low-level attacks against Wehrmacht ground forces.

Variants

The primary variants reflected the aircraft's evolving roles. The A-20A and A-20B were early U.S. light bomber models, while the Royal Air Force operated the Boston Mk I through Mk V. The definitive attack version was the A-20G, which featured a solid nose packed with heavy machine guns or a cannon for strafing. The A-20H was similar but with more powerful engines. For night fighting, the P-70 designation was used for variants equipped with AI Mk IV or SCR-720 radar, operated by specialized units like the 418th Night Fighter Squadron. The final U.S. production model was the A-20J/K, which returned to a glass bombardier nose for lead bombing missions, often working in conjunction with gun-nose G models.

Operators

The primary military operator was the United States Army Air Forces, which fielded the aircraft in numerous combat groups across all major theaters. The Soviet Union became the largest foreign user, employing them extensively with regiments of the Soviet Air Forces. The Royal Air Force and affiliated units like the Royal Australian Air Force and South African Air Force operated it as the Boston and Havoc. Other Allied operators included the Free French Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and, post-war, several air forces including those of Brazil and Dominican Republic. Axis powers, including Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, captured and tested small numbers of downed aircraft.

Specifications (A-20G)

* **Crew:** 3 (pilot, gunner, bombardier/navigator) * **Length:** 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m) * **Wingspan:** 61 ft 4 in (18.69 m) * **Height:** 17 ft 7 in (5.36 m) * **Empty weight:** 15,984 lb (7,250 kg) * **Powerplant:** 2 × Wright R-2600-23 Double Cyclone 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each * **Maximum speed:** 317 mph (510 km/h, 275 kn) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) * **Range:** 1,025 mi (1,650 km, 891 nmi) * **Service ceiling:** 25,000 ft (7,600 m) * **Armament:** 6 × forward-firing .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in nose, 2 × flexible .50 in guns in dorsal position, 1 × .50 in gun in ventral position; up to 2,000 lb (910 kg) of bombs in internal bay

Category:Military aircraft of the United States Category:World War II attack aircraft of the United States Category:Douglas aircraft