A-20 Havoc aircraft

When designers Jack Northrop and Edward Heinemanp designed the Douglas DB-7 in 1938, the idea of ​​a twin-engine attack bomber with a tricycle landing gear seemed fantastic. Although it looked very modern when it was bought by England in 1940, it could not compete with such advanced fighters as the Spitfire and Me-109.

Known as the Boston when operated by the RAF, it was used as a bomber and as a carrier of Turbinelighl searchlights which illuminate Luftwaffe warplanes at night to target RAF fighters. Under the name A-20 Havoc, this aircraft entered service with the US Air Force as a heavily armed attack bomber.

It served extensive areas in the Pacific, strafing and bombing Japanese targets, and provided heavy fire support for the landings and Normandy in June 1944. The aircraft was also popular with the Soviet Air Force, which was the biggest user of this rank.

The Havoc variants, the P-70 night fighter and the F-3 reconnaissance aircraft, were used primarily for training and had limited combat use. The first prototypes (DB-7) showed insufficient longitudinal stability, so the keel and rudder were enlarged to cope with the increased engine power.

The A-20 Havoc aircraft carried a pair of 12.7 mm machine guns in a servo-driven rear turret. In the USSR, the A-20 was equipped with its own turret turrets.

Additional underwing bomb racks increased the combat load of the A-20 Havoc by 1,000 kg. Special navigation equipment was installed in the rear of the cockpit of the first versions of the A-20 Havoc.

The Wright Cyclone was a powerful and reliable supercharged radial engine. The pilot literally enjoyed a good forward view, despite the small size of the canopy. The tricycle landing gear of the A-20 Havoc is an unusual feature for pre-war aircraft.

The Havoc's long and narrow bomb bay housed small caliber bombs designed to destroy tactical targets. Assault options had heavy weapons in the nose instead of a glazed bombardier's seat.

The A-20G is an assault variant, with improved armor, navigation equipment and a modern bombsight. He participated in operations in the Pacific Ocean and as part of the Soviet Air Force on the Eastern Front.