Douglas Boston

Douglas Boston. The Douglas Boston was a family of attack aircraft, light bombers, and night fighters developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company and widely used by the Allies of World War II. Known to the United States Army Air Forces as the A-20 Havoc, it served with distinction in multiple theaters including the European Theatre of World War II, the Pacific War, and the Eastern Front (World War II). Its rugged design, good speed, and versatility made it a valuable asset for bombing missions, ground attack roles, and intruder operations.

Development and design

The aircraft originated from a 1936 United States Army Air Corps specification for an attack aircraft, with the design team led by Ed Heinemann and Jack Northrop responding with the Douglas Model 7. The prototype, designated the Douglas DB-7, first flew in 1939, featuring a distinctive tricycle landing gear and a narrow fuselage. Key design elements included two powerful Wright R-2600 Double Wasp radial engines and a crew of three, typically comprising a pilot, a navigator/bombardier, and a gunner. The Royal Air Force, evaluating the type through the British Purchasing Commission, placed the first major order, coining the name "Boston" for the bomber variants and "Havoc" for night fighter and intruder versions. Subsequent modifications led to improved models with more powerful engines, enhanced armament, and increased bomb load capacity.

Operational history

The Boston entered combat service with the Royal Air Force in 1941, with No. 2 Group RAF conducting daring low-level daylight raids such as the Operation Oyster attack on the Philips factory in Eindhoven. In the Pacific Theater, the USAAF's 5th Air Force used A-20s extensively for skip bombing Japanese shipping and supporting campaigns in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The Soviet Air Forces received over 3,000 aircraft via Lend-Lease, where they were highly valued for their reliability and effectiveness in supporting the Red Army during the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Kursk. Specialized night fighter variants, equipped with AI Mk. IV radar and used by squadrons like No. 23 Squadron RAF, performed vital air defence duties during the Blitz.

Variants

The primary variants included the **Boston III**, a light bomber version for the RAF with turbo-supercharged engines. The **A-20C** was the first major USAAF production model, featuring self-sealing fuel tanks. The heavily armed **A-20G** introduced a solid nose mounting four 20mm cannon and six .50 caliber machine guns. The **A-20J** and **A-20K** were glass-nosed bomber versions used as lead ships for formations. Night fighter and intruder variants included the **Havoc I**, fitted with a Turbinlite searchlight, and the **P-70**, a USAAF night fighter armed with M2 Browning guns and equipped with SCR-720 radar.

Operators

The primary military operators were the United States Army Air Forces, the Royal Air Force, and the Soviet Air Forces. Other Allied nations that used the type included the Royal Australian Air Force, which operated them in the South West Pacific, the Free French Air Force, and the South African Air Force. Post-war, operators included the French Air Force during the First Indochina War and the Brazilian Air Force. Several aircraft were also transferred to Royal Canadian Air Force units under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

Specifications (A-20 Boston)

* **Crew:** 3 * **Length:** 47 ft 11 in (14.6 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) * **Max takeoff weight:** 27,200 lb (12,338 kg) * **Powerplant:** 2 × Wright R-2600-23 Double Wasp 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each * **Maximum speed:** 339 mph (546 km/h, 295 kn) * **Range:** 1,025 mi (1,650 km, 891 nmi) * **Service ceiling:** 25,000 ft (7,600 m) * **Armament:** Up to nine .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns; 2,000 lb (910 kg) bomb load

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