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 Douglas A-20J 43-21440 was built with an extended Plexiglas nose that housed a
bombardier and was sent to the RAF. From there the aircraft was assigned to the
342 “Lorraine” Squadron, Free French Air Force who began operations on June 12, 1943. They
carried out daylight raids over Northern France and then targeted V-1 sites. In August 1944 the
342 Squadron received the newer Boston Mk.IV just before moving B.50 Vitry-en-Artois in
October. They operated the MK.IV until April 1945 when they converted to B-25 Mitchell’s.

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

This new site is being updated regularly and it will be much improved before too long. Please be patient, give it time, and check back regularly. Opportunities for community collaboration are in the works for a little further down the road.