The Douglas A-20 Havoc was a versatile American light bomber, attack, and night fighter aircraft used extensively during World War II. Renowned for its speed, manoeuvrability, and adaptability, the A-20 served with several Allied air forces in various roles, including bombing, ground attack, and reconnaissance. Its effectiveness and reliability made it a key asset throughout the conflict. It was powered by two Wright R-2600 Twin Cyclone engines with a crew of three.
France ordered a batch of Havoc’s in 1939 but the demand for modifications resulted in the export DB-7 before the USAAF had even approved them. They were shipped to North Africa where 70 were quickly assembled and flown to France. The type saw action briefly before the fall of France in June 1940. The remaining 60 or so DB-7 aircraft were flown back to North Africa and remained in the hands of Vichy France.
Many aircraft remained being utilised by the RAF and transported to Britain where it was renamed Boston I. Although a light bomber, the Boston did not have the range for missions over Europe and was used for short range targets. Britain was in desperate need of an intruder/night fighter. French DB-7A’s were amongst the stash and delivered to the RAF as the Boston II. These were converted to night fighters. The Boston I and II’s began operations in early 1941 in night fighter and intruder roles.
There were two basic versions of the Boston, an intruder with the glass canopy nose, armed with five .303 Browning and 2,400lb of bombs, and the night fighter with AI Mk.IV radar and eight .303 Browning. 181 were converted to the night fighter role and renamed Havoc I. The RAF put an order for a DB-7B with British specs in February 1940, named Boston III and being specifically modified to replace the obsolete Bristol Blenheim. 300 of these were produced for the RAF. In 1944 169 A-20J were produced and delivered for the RAF. This type had an extra crew member, a bombardier in the nose section to act as lead aircraft of a bombing formation. In February 1942, 32 of the Boston III were delivered to the Dutch East Indies, 22 of which were diverted to the RAAF. 22 Squadron RAAF operated the intruder version until 1944 when it was replaced with Beaufighters.
The Boston III and IV were used in the UK and Middle East gradually replacing Blenheims. They proved under powered and ineffective as night fighters and were replaced with the Mosquito from 1942. The Boston remained in service being removed at the end of the war.
There is one known surviving Boston III aircraft in Australia at the RAAF Museum, Victoria. There are some A-20 examples in the US including one airworthy.
