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United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc light attack bomber

Photos

Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber
U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951, pg 46 		Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber
Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber on fire:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber on fire
Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		   
Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory
Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber factory		      
Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber that was turned into a smoke layer for the invasion of Normandy:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber that was turned into a smoke layer for the invasion of Normandy		      
Douglas A-20 Havoc / Boston III bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc / Boston III bomber		      
Douglas A-20G Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20G Havoc bomber		      
Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter:
United States' Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter		 Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter:
United States' Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter		 Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter:
United States' Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter:
United States' Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber		 Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber:
United States' Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber		  

Design

The DB-7 Boston was designed by Jack Northrop and Ed Heinemann4 / Edward Heinemann in 1938.1 There were no specifications given by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) but the design was to be for a high performance tactical bomber.4

Had a tricycle gear.1

Prototype

The Model 7B (DB-7 prototype) first flew on October 26, 1938.3

Was known as the DB-7 and flew on January 23, 19391 / August 17, 19392.

The last one was produced September 20, 1944.1

Production

France placed the main orders.2,3,4 Many of these were taken over by the Royal Air Force (RAF) when France fell.2

The United States Army Air Corps placed an order for 63 A-20s in June 1939.3

  • Douglas Model 7B: 13
  • Douglas DB-7: 2703
  • Douglas DB-7A: 1003
  • Douglas DB-7B: 7813
    • Douglas: 5413
    • Boeing: 2403
  • Douglas DB-7C: 483
  • Douglas A-20: 633
  • Douglas A-20A: 1433
  • Douglas A-20B: 9992,3
  • Douglas A-20C: 9483
    • Douglas: 8083
    • Boeing: 1403
  • Douglas A-20G: 2,8502,3
  • Douglas A-20H: 4122,3
  • Douglas A-20J: 4503
  • Douglas A-20K: 4133
  • Total: 7,3852,3,4
    • Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company4
    • Production: ? - September 20, 19444

Variants

  • Douglas Model 7B: Prototype.3
  • Douglas DB-7 / Douglas Boston I:
  • Douglas DB-7A / Douglas Boston II: Wright R-2600 Double Cyclone (1,600 HP).3 Had a larger fin and rudder.3
  • Douglas DB-7B / Douglas Boston III: Wright R-2600 Double Cyclone (1,600 HP).3 Redesigned structure that was stronger.3 Carried more fuel.3
  • Douglas DB-7C: Ordered by Belgium.3
  • Douglas Boston IIIA:
  • Douglas Havoc Mk I: Night fighter.2 Had eight 7.7 mm MG in nose.2 Used by RAF.2
  • Douglas Havoc Mk II: Night fighter.2 Had twelve 7.7 mm MG in nose.2 Used by RAF.2
  • Douglas Havoc Mk III:
  • Douglas A-20: Main variant.1
  • Douglas A-20A: Had Wright R-2600 7 turbo charged radial engines.2
    Had Wright R-2600-3/11 (1,600 HP).3
  • Douglas A-20B: Based on the DB-7A.3 Change in nose shape.2 Had Wright R-2600-3/11 (1,600 HP).3 Most went to the Soviet Union.3
  • Douglas A-20C: First model to be put into combat by the Americans.4 Attempt to make this model meet American and British requirements with one plane.2 Had Wright R-2600-3/11 (1,600 HP).3 Had additional armor.3 Self sealing fuel tanks.3 Could carry a 2,000 lb / 907 kg torpedo.3
  • Douglas A-20E: 17 A-20As that installed the Wright R-2600-3/11 engines.3
  • Douglas A-20G: Attack version3 Had a solid nose.3,4
  • Douglas A-20H: Solid nose.4 1,700 HP engines.4 Used mostly in the Pacific theater.4
  • Douglas A-20J / Douglas Boston IV: Had transparent nose.3,4 Used as a bombing formation lead ship.3 165 went to the RAF.3
  • Douglas A-20K / Douglas Boston V: 90 went to RAF.3 Had transparent nose.4
  • ??: Used by the RAF to carry a Turbinlite (searchlight) to light up Luftwaffe planes at night for Hurricanes to shoot down.1
  • Douglas P-70: Night fighter.1,3,4 Two crew.3 60 A-20s converted.3 Had radar.3 There were four 20 mm cannons mounted under the fuselage.3 Used for night fighter training.3
  • Douglas P-70A-1: 13 A-20Cs converted in 1943.3 Installed a radar and 6 machine guns in the nose.3
  • Douglas F-3: Reconnaissance.1,4 Were used mostly for training.1 Three A-20s were converted.3
  • Douglas F-3A: Reconnaissance.3 46 A-20Js and A-20Ks converted.3 Used in Europe.3
  • Douglas BD-2: Eight used by the Marine Corps.1
  • Douglas XA-20F: An A-20A that had a 37 mm cannon in the nose.3 Dorsal and ventral turrets were powered.3

Usage

Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Netherlands, South Africa, Soviet Union, and the United States used the DB-7 Boston.3

Australia (69 Bostons), Britain, Canada, Netherlands, South Africa, Soviet Union, and the United States used the A-20 Havoc.3

France

A total of 260 DB-7s were ordered.4 The DB-7s were used in the Battle of France and the survivors were used by the Vichy Frech.3,4

Great Britain

Many of the DB-7s ordered by France were taken over after the surrender of France.4

DB-7s were purchased in 1940 and was given the name Boston.1 A total of 1,800 were delivered to the British.1

France - Vichy

Some were used by the Vichy air force.1

First Use by USAAF

The A-20C was first used by the 15th Bomb Squadron.2

Australia

Only one Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadron had Bostons.3

The RAAF's only Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously to Boston pilot Flt Lt William Newton.3

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union received 3,125 Havocs.1,2,4

United States

The United States military used 1,962.1

After the Japanese surrendered, a F-3A Havoc was the first to land at Itazuke, Japan.1

Specifications

  Douglas DB-7 Boston Douglas A-20 Havoc
Type Day bomber5, Light bomber3 Light bomber3
Crew 33 33
Engine (Type) 2: Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp3
2: Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp5 		2: Wright R-2600-7 Double Cyclone3
Cylinders Radial 143 Radial 143
Cooling    
HP 1,050 each5, 1,200 each3 1,700 each3
Propeller blades 3 each3 3 each3
Dimensions    
Span 61' 4"3,5
18.7 m3 		 
Length 47'5, 47' 6"3
14.48 m3 		 
Height 15' 10"5, 17' 7"3
5.36 m3 		 
Wing area    
Weight    
Empty    
Loaded 19,000 lb5  
Maximum combat load    
Maximum load    
Performance    
Speed 320 mph5  
Cruising speed    
Climb    
Service ceiling    
Range 1,200 miles5  
Armament    
Nose 4: 0.303" MG3 4: 0.3" MG3
OR   2: 0.5" MG3
Dorsal turret 2: 0.303" MG3 2: 0.3" MG3
Ventral position 1: 0.303" MG3 1: 0.3" MG3
OR   1: 0.5" MG3
Bombs 2,000 lb3
907 kg3 		2,000 lb3
907 kg3
  Boston III Douglas A-20A Havoc
Type    
Crew    
Engine (Type) 2: Wright R-2600 Double Cyclone3  
Cylinders Radial 143  
Cooling    
HP 1,600 each3  
Propeller blades 3 each3  
Dimensions    
Span   61' 4"3
18.7 m3
Length   48'3
14.63 m3
Height   17' 7"3
5.36 m3
Wing area    
Weight    
Empty 15,051 lb3
6,827 kg3 		15,165 lb3
6,879 kg3
Loaded 20,230 lb3
9,217 kg3 		 
Maximum combat load    
Maximum load 23,500 lb3
10,660 kg3 		20,711 lb3
9,395 kg3
Performance    
Speed    
Speed at sea level 311 mph3
500 kph3 		 
Speed @ 12,400' /
3,780 m 		  347 mph3
558 kph3
Speed @ 12,500' /
3,810 m 		338 mph3
544 kph3 		 
Cruising speed 273 mph3
439 kph3 		295 mph3
475 kph3
Climb 2,000'/minute3
610 m/minute3 		 
Climb to 10,000' /
3,048 m 		  5.1 minutes3
Service ceiling 27,600'3
8,412 m3 		28,175'3
8,588 m3
Range   675 miles3
1,086 km3
Range with 1,000 lb 745 miles3
1,200 km3 		 
Armament    
  Douglas A-20G Havoc
Type Attack4, Light attack bomber1,2
Crew 2-31, 32, 44
Engine (Type) 2: Wright R-2800-23 Double Cyclone piston1,2,3,4
Cylinders Radial1,2, Radial 143,4
Cooling Air4
HP 1,600 each3,4, 2,625 each1
Propeller blades 3 each1
Dimensions  
Span 61'1, 61' 4"2,3,4
18.69 m1,2, 18.7 m3
Length 48'1,2,3,4
14.63 m1,2,3
Height 17' 7"2,3,4, 18'1
5.36 m1,2,3
Wing area 464 ft2 1,2
43.11 m2 1,2
Weight  
Empty 14,950 lb1, 15,984 lb2, 17,200 lb3
7,250 kg1,2, 7,802 kg3
Loaded 27,144 lb1, 27,200 lb2,4
12,338 kg1,2
Maximum combat load 27,200 lb3
12,338 kg3
Maximum load 30,000 lb3
13,608 kg3
Performance  
Speed  
Speed @ 12,400' /
3,780 m 		339 mph2,3,4, 340 mph1
545 kph3, 546 kph1,2
Cruising speed 230 - 272 mph3
370 -438 kph3
Climb 1,300'/minute3
396 m/minute3
Climb to 10,000' /
3,050 m 		7.1 minutes2
Service ceiling 25,800'1,2,3,4
7,864 m3, 7,865 m1,2
Range 1,087 miles1, 1,090 miles2,4
1,754 km1,2
Range with 1,000 lb  
Range with 2,000 lb 1,025 miles3
1,650 km3
Maximum ferry range 2,035 miles3
4,755 km3
Armament 8: MG4
Nose 6: 12.7 mm MG1,2,3
OR 4: 20 mm3
2: 0.5" MG3
Dorsal turret 2: 12.7 mm MG1,2,3
Ventral position 1: 12.7 mm MG1,3
OR  
Bombs 2,000 lb3, 2,600 lb2,4, 3,990 lb1
907 kg3, 1,179 kg2, 1,814 kg1
  Douglas A-20H Havoc
Type  
Crew  
Engine (Type) 2: Wright R-2600-29 Double Cyclone3
Cylinders  
Cooling  
HP 1,700 each3,4
Propeller blades 3 each3
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Performance  
Speed  
Cruising speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament  
  Douglas A-20J Havoc
Type  
Crew  
Engine (Type) 2: Wright R-2600-23 Double Cyclone3
Cylinders Radial 143
Cooling  
HP 1,600 each3
Propeller blades 3 each3
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Performance  
Speed  
Cruising speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament  
  Douglas A-20K Havoc
Type  
Crew  
Engine (Type) 2: Wright R-2600-29 Double Cyclone3
Cylinders  
Cooling  
HP 1,700 each3
Propeller blades 3 each3
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Performance  
Speed  
Speed @ 15,600' /
4,755 m 		333 mph3
536 kph3
Cruising speed 269 mph3
433 kph3
Climb  
Service ceiling 28,250'3
8,610 m3
Range 1,060 miles3
1,706 km3
Armament  

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
  3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  4. World War II Airplanes Volume 2, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
  5. Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook, Ensign L. C. Guthman, 1943