With war approaching America knew it would be called upon to aid their Allies so a new aircraft
would need to be developed. Douglas Aircraft designer Ed Heinemann’s DB-7/A-20 was chosen
to be the new attack-bomber. The prototype flew in December 1938 with the first production
aircraft flew on August 17, 1939. Production ran until September 1944 with 7,478 aircraft built.
During WWII these were supplied to French, British, Australian, Dutch and Soviet forces as well
as their own U.S. Forces.

On March 23, 1943 the 417th Bombardment Group (Light) was constituted and activated on
March 28, 1943. This group trained on the Douglas A-20 Havoc in December 1943 and January
1944 before shipping out to the South Pacific and assigned to the 5th AF. In March 1944 the
group began supporting ground forces on New Guinea as well as striking at enemy troops,
supply depots, airfields and shipping. From September 1944 until they relocated in the
Philippines in December 1944 they carried out these operations from Saidor New Guinea against
other islands in the chain. Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-9407 was named “Green Hornet” and was
assigned to the 675th BS / 417th BG in New Guinea during 1944 - 45. The aircraft was piloted by
Lt. J.E. Pryor and crash landed in 1945 and was a write off.

Douglas DB-7 Boston / A-20 Havoc

Role – Light Bomber

Variants – A,B,C,G,H,J,K

First Flight – October 26 , 1938

Entered Service – 1939

Manufacturing Period – 1939 - 1944

Number Built All Variants – 7,098

Douglas A-20G and J specifications

Crew - 3

Powerplants
G and J - 2 X Wright R-2600-23 Double Cyclone 14 cylinder twin-row air-cooled w/two-speed
superchargers rated @ 1,600 hp for take-off, 1,400 hp @ 10,000 ft

Performance
Speed
G and J - Maximum – 339 mph @ 12,400 ft, 317 mph @ 10,000 ft
Cruise
G – 230 – 272 mph
J - 257 mph

Initial Climb Rate – G and J / 1,300 fpm
Time to 10,000 feet
G – 7.1 minutes
J – 8.8 minutes

Service Ceiling
G – 25,800 ft
J – 23,100 ft

Range
With 2,000 lbs of bombs @ 238 mph
G – 1,025 miles
J – 1,000 miles
Maximum Ferry Range
G – 2,035 miles
J – 2,100 miles

Weights
Empty
G – 17,200 lbs
J – 17,117 lbs

Normal Combat Take-off
G – 24,000 lbs
J – 23,748 lbs

Maximum Combat – G and J / 27,200 lbs
Maximum
G – 30,000 lbs
J – 27,000 lbs

Dimensions G and J
Length – 48 ft
Wingspan – 61 ft 4 in
Height – 17 ft 7 in

Armament G
6 X forward-firing 0.50 Colt-Browning machine guns in the nose, 350 rpg
2 X .050 inch machine guns in the dorsal power turret, 400 rpg
1 X 0.50 inch machine gun in ventral tunnel position, 400 rpg
Models prior to A-20G-20-DO – 2 0.50 inch machine guns on a flexible dorsal mount
Maximum internal bomb-load – 2,000 lbs in split bomb bay
+
On later models – an additional 2,000 lbs on four under-wing hard-points

Armament J
2 X forward-firing 0.50-inch machine guns in lower fuselage
2 X .050 inch machine guns in the dorsal power turret, 400 rpg
1 X 0.50 inch machine gun in ventral tunnel position, 400 rpg
Maximum internal bomb-load – 2,000 lbs in split bomb bay
+
On later models – an additional 2,000 lbs on four under-wing hard-points

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