Douglas A-20 Havoc / P-70 Night Havoc
by: RLindsey
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Word Count: 187
The A-20 light bomber was called the Boston by the British in World War II. The Boston was used in North Africa. The Havoc was used to great acclaim in the Pacific theater, where it was used for low-level skip-bombing. The Soviet Union ended up with over 3,000 of these versatile light bombers. The Model G had a solid nose with six machine-guns, ideal for strafing runs.
As the P-70, the Havoc filled the unusual role of a bomber becoming a fighter plane. Early radar equipment required so much room that a light bomber was needed. After the Pearl Harbor attack, the United States needed a night fighter, and the P-70 was the only one available. Though hindered by a 25,000 foot ceiling, they were used until 1944 when replaced by the P-61.
Length: 45 ft. 11 inches, 47 feet 7 inches as a P-70
Wingspan: 61 feet 4 inches
Speed: 351 mph
Ceiling: 25,300 feet
Range: 1,000 miles
Engines: 2 Wright Double Cyclone GR-2600 radial engines, 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2600-11 for the P-70
Crew: 2
Armament: 8x .50 caliber machine guns; 4,500 pounds of bombs; 4x 20mm cannons as the P-70
About the Author
Robert M. Lindsey
http://lindseyfreelancing.com/
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