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.

The RAF No. 88 Squadron was first formed at Gosford in July 1917 as part of the Royal Flying
Corps. The Douglas A-20 was designated Havoc but British Commonwealth countries referred to
them as the Boston in a bomber/attack variant and Havoc in night fighter and intruder variants.
The RAF considered the aircraft to have too short a range to bomb German targets and in 1941
181 aircraft began to be used in night fighter and intruder roles. The RAF designated 169 aircraft
as Mk. IV. The Boston Mk. IV BZ405 was scrapped in 1947.

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, J, K (Boston V) specifications

Crew - 3

Powerplants
K - same as the "J" variant except for the powerplants, R-2600-29s instead of R-2600-23s found
on the "J"
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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