Warplanes of the USA: Douglas Havoc

Douglas Havoc

(USAAF Photo)

Northrop P-61A Black Widow in formation with a Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter.

The Douglas A-20 Havoc (company designation DB-7) is an American light bomber, attack aircraft, night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II.Designed to meet an Army Air Corps requirement for a bomber, it was ordered by France for their air force before the USAAC decided it would also meet their requirements. French DB-7s were the first to see combat; after the fall of France, the bomber served with the Royal Air Force under the service name Boston. From 1941, night fighter and intruder versions were given the service name Havoc.

In 1942 USAAF A-20s saw combat in North Africa.It served with several Allied air forces, principally the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), the Soviet Air Forces (VVS), Soviet Naval Aviation (AVMF), and the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom. A total of 7,478 aircraft were built, of which more than a third served with Soviet units. It was also used by the air forces of Australia, South Africa, France, and the Netherlands during the war, and by Brazil afterwards.

In most British Commonwealth air forces, the bomber variants were known as Boston, while the night fighter and intruder variants were named Havoc. The exception was the Royal Australian Air Force, which used the name Boston for all variants. The USAAF used the P-70 designation to refer to the night fighter variants. (Wikipedia)

Survivors

Douglas A-20G Havoc (Serial No. 43-21709), Lewis Air Legends, San Antonio, Texas. Airworthy.

(NMUSAF Photos)

Douglas A-20G Havoc (Serial No. 43-22200), c/n 21847, painted as (Serial No. 43-21475), "Little Joe", Reg. No. NL63004, National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.

Douglas A-20G Havoc (Serial No. 43-9436), "Big Nig", being retored for the Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.

Douglas A-20G Havoc (Serial No. 43-21627), being retored for the Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.

Douglas A-20G Havoc (Serial No. 43-22197), being restored for Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, Florida.

Douglas A-20H Havoc (Serial No. 44-0020), being restored to airworthy status by the National Warplane Museum, Geneseo, New York.

Douglas F-3A Havoc (Serial No. 39-741), being restored to airworthy status by GossHawk Inc., Casa Grande, Arizona.