64 RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION BOMBERS
DOUGLAS
BOSTON
(^19182018) DOUGLAS BOSTON
E
d Heinemann, chief engineer
for Douglas, designed a string
of successful combat aircraft,
from the Dauntless dive-bomber of
1938 through to the A-4 Skyhawk
delta wing fighter of 1954. Working
at the El Segundo, California, plant,
he developed a twin-engined light
bomber, the Model 7, in 1938. It was
hoped to secure a contract from the
United States Army Air Corps.
In February 1939 the French
ordered 100 machines based on
the Type 7 but demanded many
modifications that altered the
airframe considerably. The result was
the DB-7, and the first example took
to the air in August 1939, powered
by two 1,200hp (895kW) Pratt &
Whitney Twin Wasp radials. The
more powerful DB-7A, with a pair of
Wright R-2600 Double Cyclones of
1,600hp followed.
With the fall of France in June
1940, undelivered DB-7s and -7As
were taken over by the RAF, as
Boston Is and IIs, respectively. These
were not suitable as light bombers,
but Fighter Command was desperate
to supplement its night-fighter force.
Accordingly, the Havoc programme
came about and is detailed in the
companion volume, RAF Centenary
Celebration Fighters.
Additionally, the DB-7B was
ordered direct and to British
specifications. The first of these was
the Boston III, the most numerous
variant, with a manually operated
gun in the dorsal position. These
were followed by the Mk.IV and
Mk.V with a power-operated turret,
and equivalent of the USAAF A-20G
and A-20H Havoc, respectively.
Bostons saw extensive service,
based in Britain and following the
invasion forces into France, in North
Africa, Sicily and Italy. At Swanton
Morley, 88 Squadron introduced the
Boston to RAF service, beginning
replacement of its British Blenheim
IVs in July 1941. Moving out of Italy
in September 1945, 55 Squadron
moved its mix of Boston IVs and
Vs to Hassani in Greece. There the
unit gave up the RAF’s last frontline
Bostons in July 1846, re-equipping
with de Havilland Mosquito FB.26s.
INVASION FORCE
On the eve of D-Day, June 5, 1944,
the Boston IIIs of 88 and 342
‘Lorraine’ Squadrons were being
prepared for a crucial and dangerous
element of the Normandy invasion
in which precise positioning and
timing were essential. Based at
Hartfordbridge – the present-day
Blackbushe aerodrome – each aircraft
was being fitted with a pair of smoke
generators under the belly.
For the men of 342 Squadron
the events of the following day had
Above
Boston IV BZ511 of 18
Squadron based at
Falconara, Italy, mid-
- Returning to base
at night on November
24, 1944 this aircraft
stalled on approach
and crashed.
PETE WEST
BOSTON
1941 TO 1946
Type: Three-crew light bomber
First fl ight: 1938, entered service July 1941
Powerplant: Two 1,600hp (1,193kW) Wright Douglas Cyclone GR-2600 radials
Dimensions: Span 61ft 4in (18.69m), Length 47ft 0in (14.32m)
Weights: Empty 12,200lb (5,533kg), All-up 25,000lb (11,340kg)
Max speed: 304mph (489km/h) at 13,000ft (3,962m)
Range: 1,020 miles (1,641km)
Armament: Four fi xed machine guns in the nose, two each in dorsal and ventral
positions. Up to 2,000lb (907kg) of bombs
Replaced: Bristol Blenheim from 1941, Martin Baltimore from 1944
Taken on charge: 799, Mk IIIs, IVs and Vs
Replaced by: North American Mitchell from 1943, de Havilland Mosquito from
1946DOUGLAS BOSTON III