Hobby Master Archive

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

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4203 Boston Mk.IV BZ443/OA-B 342 “Lorraine” Sqn, Free French Air Force B.50 Vitry en Artois, France 1944

True 1/72 scale. Professionally painted. Great attention to detail. All markings are Tampoed (pad applied). Option to display the model on a stand that is provided. Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions. Canopy can be removed to place figures inside. Figures included. Dorsal turret can turn. Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic. Highly collectable.