American workhorse

Douglas A-20 Boston/Havoc Part 1

- Jan Polc

Known as the Boston or Havoc, the A-20 was used to support Alliedarmies in all theatres of operations, and in the hands of Vichy French pilots, it also saw service with their counterparts. Some 50% of aircraft produced were delivered to the Soviet Union as a part of the LendLease Act. The Boston was very popular amongst aircrews and ground personnel not only for its flying characteristics but also for the versatility of the airframe, which could be easily converted for particular combat tasks. It was only matched in these terms by British designers with the DH.98 Mosquito.

It was designed shortly before the war’s outbreak as a private venture for the Douglas Aircraft Company by talented designers Jack Northrop and Ed Heinemann (former chief designer at Douglas’ El Segundo factory). The initial idea was to design a light bomber with a crew of three or four. Both designers were anticipating a need for aircraft in the A (Attack) category and regarded the concept of single-engined machines, such as the Northrop A-17, as both short-sighted and redundant. Their conclusions were confirmed by the tragic combat deployment of British and Belgian Fairey Battles in the first days of the Battle of France.