RAF Museum (Hendon) to get A-20G "Big Nig"

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:26 am

NB - this is not any official or authorised version, just my understanding.

Once apon a time, the RAAF arranged with PNG to recover a number of Douglas Boston / Havoc airframes from PNG. The deal was that two would be restored, one for PNG, one for the RAAF Museum. A number - pick one between five and ten: and the number doesn't matter - were recovered.

First two were restored, using the recovered airframes. Do I need to draw a picture? This resulted in one coming to the RAAF Museum where it is on show, and another being held at RAAF Amberley for when PNG has a museum to put it in.

The remaining parts were traded to a private organisation in return for other parts and work. That organisation then struck a deal with the other, shorter acronymed RAF Museum to trade an A-20 for a Spitfire. This is being restored, using the [remaining] recovered airframes. Do I need to draw a picture?

This is a USAAF aircraft with, as has been said, provenance and history. There's no reason to suppose that it wouldn't go on show in a restored version of its own colo(u)rs.

It is up to the forthcoming owner of the Spitfire to do what he wishes with it, and there's no practical reason, Nathan, that it can't be restored to fly.

There are now the remains of the remaining number. I hope you have your own sketch by now. There are IDs, there are parts. Some of them are very big parts. But put down any ID listings and look at the quartermaster's stores of the Boston/Havoc array. There never were complete 100% recovered aircraft, even back once apon a time, or even in the dark days of W.W.II given that several had been stripped during that war of usable parts. So there will be some bits that are fresh out of stock, and providing a challenge for finding fabricating to restore further examples of the breed.

If you'd like an airworthy Boston or Havoc, and you are prepared to fund it, I'm sure there's a chap who'd be delighted to help.

And finally, for Nathan, the next A-20 Boston to fly should be the ex-MARC Air Heritage(?) machine under big servicing / small restoration for the chap who wants it in Queensland. Nothing to do with this story.

Regards,

AirJimL2 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2009 8:03 am

JDK wrote:

the next A-20 Boston to fly should be the ex-MARC Air Heritage(?) machine under big servicing / small restoration for the chap who wants it in Queensland. Nothing to do with this story.

JDK,

Nothing to do with this story, but you have confused two A-20s. The next A-20 to fly is the ex-Bob Waltrip formerly on display at Lone Star A-20 for the Queensland gentleman. MARC still owns the A-20 that was formerly at Air Heritage. It is now sitting at Geneseo. A potential flyer, it would only take time and (lots of) money to get it back in the air. (MARC also has an A-20 at Pima, but that is a static only restoration.)

Jim

jdvoss · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:30 pm

Actually the "Brits" do indeed have an A-20G hulk that was dragged out of the jungles of New Guinea. It's currently under restoration at the Douglas Boston- Havoc UK preservation Trust in Leicestershire. It's former USAAF 43-9628 and was assigned to the 312th BG. The hulk was flown from RAAF Amberley to RAF Brize Norton in a RAAF 707 in 1994. Their intent is to created a Boston IIIA as they also have the birdcage nose from a RAAF A-20C and a variety of other components from Boston III / DB-7 wrecks. Yes, they have thier work cut out for them.

Perhaps some of our UK WIX-ers can make a visit to their location site and provide some photos.

As a point of interest the RAF never operated the A-20G but they did operate the A-20J which was the pathfinder variant of the G model (aka Havoc Mk IV).

Ref: "Douglas Havoc and Boston" by Scott Thompson pg. 159.

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:22 pm

jdvoss wrote:

Actually the "Brits" do indeed have an A-20G hulk that was dragged out of the jungles of New Guinea. It's currently under restoration at the Douglas Boston- Havoc UK preservation Trust in Leicestershire. It's former USAAF 43-9628 and was assigned to the 312th BG. The hulk was flown from RAAF Amberley to RAF Brize Norton in a RAAF 707 in 1994. Their intent is to created a Boston IIIA as they also have the birdcage nose from a RAAF A-20C and a variety of other components from Boston III / DB-7 wrecks. Yes, they have thier work cut out for them.

Perhaps some of our UK WIX-ers can make a visit to their location site and provide some photos.

As a point of interest the RAF never operated the A-20G but they did operate the A-20J which was the pathfinder variant of the G model (aka Havoc Mk IV).

Ref: "Douglas Havoc and Boston" by Scott Thompson pg. 159.

I believe this project has been on hold for some years now and may well have been shelved.

Dave

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:44 pm

There is no reason to believe that it won't be preserved in the Big Nig colo(u)rs.

Thanks for the clarification of the two US based A-20s, gents!

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Sasnak wrote:

As an afterthought, why not display "Big Nig" at the American Air Museum in Britain, telling two stories, A-20 operations in the ETO, and, using "Big Nig" to illustrate that America was fighting the Axis powers all over the world, including the PTO.

Because the RAF Museum and IWM are two entirely separate entities, much like the NASM and NMUSAF.

Hemiman · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:33 pm

gary1954 wrote:

Hemiman wrote:

Politically Correct ... UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh No you diddn't, did you gray that out. :axe:

In the case of Warbird Nose Art :axe:

Political correctness is NOT required.
It was the Nose Art on a Warrior, that is how they felt about it, that is what they painted on it, that is what she wore to War, and wore it as she was either shot down, scrapped in the area of operation, or back here at a reclaimation center for subsequent scrapping, so the original name is.....appropriate. :rolleyes:

darn the censors!!! Full Speed ahead!!

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:09 pm

PeterA · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:24 pm

The image is actually one of the other follow up Big Nigs.

'Big Nig' will be restored in every respect to its full operational livery at the time of its landing in New Guinea and that is how it will be displayed in one of the RAF Museums

PeterA

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2009 1:35 am

For those with twisted knickers, 'Big Nig' relates to a Damon Runyon fictional character.

"Well, one night I am sitting on the bank steps with Big Nig, the crap shooter, and a guy by the name of Skyrocket, who is nobody much, when all of a sudden I notice three guys standing on the sidwalk taking a very good long gander at me, and who are these guys but certain characters from Brooklyn by the name of Harry the Horse, and Spanish John and Little Isadore, and they are very hard characters indeed."
"In fact, these characters are so hard that I am glad that none of the depositors of the bank can see them standing there, as such a scene is just naturally bound to make any depositor nervous. In fact, it makes me more nervous than somewhat, and I am by no means a depositor."

Several other names quoted above were applied to other A-20s in the unit.

As Mark says, the aircraft will go to the RAF Museum (Hendon, possibly Cosford) not the IWM. It is worth noting that the RAF Museum has a USAAF display including a US scheme B-17, a SEAC RAF scheme (ex-Indian AF) B-24 and a Mitchell as part of the Bomber Command Hall at Hendon. There is, in that sense already a place for it, although I have no inside knowledge that that will happen. My speculation only.

Regards,

oz rb fan · **Joined:** Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:33 am **Posts:** 474

they also have an raaf hudson and seagul v in raaf colours

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Mon Dec 28, 2009 10:13 pm

Where is the A-20 now? I think the RAF Museum has a restoration facility locator at neither Cosford or Hendon.

Mike

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Dec 29, 2009 4:26 am

mrhenniger wrote:

Where is the A-20 now? I think the RAF Museum has a restoration facility locator at neither Cosford or Hendon.

Mike

'Big Nig' is at Wangaratta in Australia being restored to static display condition under contract/trade.

PeterA

OZFURYFAN · **Posted:** Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:56 am

Hi all, any idea what the trade Spit will be?Cheers & Happy New Year,Pete

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RAF Museum (Hendon) to get A-20G "Big Nig"

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