Douglas A-20 Havoc, from the factory to the field ...

[jdvoss]

Great photos indeed!!The first 5 photos in your set were taken at the Long Beach factory site where a one-shot production run of 999 A-20B's were constructed.

My father was a production manager on the A-20 line at Santa Monica where they reached a peak output of 12 A/C per day. The small size of the Santa Monica site limited output as they were turning out C-54's as well.

As they were producing A-20's for Holland, Russia, Australia, Great Britain and of course the USAAF my father related that all the aircraft were completed in US paint scheme and markings. After flight testing the aircraft destined for Allied customers were flown to Barstow (CA) where they were modified. At Barstow they were given proper insignia, exterior re-stenceled with proper language nomenclature, proper language service manuals provided, etc.,etc. They didn't do this activity at the factory as the production workers were basically unskilled people (housewives, senior citizens, people unfit for military service, et.al.) and they did not wish to confuse them and jepordize the 12/ day output requirement.

North American also used Barstow for he same purpose. As apoint of interest the long wooden nose hangers at Barstow airport still exist!

I've attached my prized A-20 possession...A DATA PLATE.

[Hemiman]

Corrections needed on two posts..

"Lil Hellion" over Port Moresby c 43'- "LH" was written off in a belly landing at 7-mile on Nov 1, 42'.. Towed back to 3-mile and rebuilt with wings from 39-724 ( written off Dec 42') as "Steak & Eggs"

A-20's over Hollandia also incorrect date.. 5th A-20's were not over in 42' . Hollandia Missions were flown March/April44". Pic was from the tail camera of 13th Sq C0 Dick Walker's "Powerful Katrina" (per Dick Walker)

[Mark Allen M]

Thanks much for the corrections and thx for using a language I can understand this time. It's nice not to get confused on what some people post around here. Saves the drama of misunderstanding something and taking things the wrong way. ... and I HATE drama (especially on some kooky website)

[The Inspector]

Corrections needed on two posts..

"Lil Hellion" over Port Moresby c 43'- "LH" was written off in a belly landing at 7-mile on Nov 1, 42'.. Towed back to 3-mile and rebuilt with wings from 39-724 ( written off Dec 42') as "Steak & Eggs"

A-20's over Hollandia also incorrect date.. 5th A-20's were not over in 42' . Hollandia Missions were flown March/April44". Pic was from the tail camera of 13th Sq C0 Dick Walker's "Powerful Katrina" (per Dick Walker)

A few years ago someone posted a picture of an A-20 fuselage, in a combat zone, mounted on a CCKW bed as the truck was being backed between a pair of wings mounted on homegrown scaffolding-same airplane?

[Hemiman]

"A few years ago someone posted a picture of an A-20 fuselage, in a combat zone, mounted on a CCKW bed as the truck was being backed between a pair of wings mounted on homegrown scaffolding-same airplane?"


Yep!







Finis





My part of her... courtesy my Aussie mate John Jewell and the Royal Australian Coast Guard

[airnutz]

My father was a production manager on the A-20 line at Santa Monica where they reached a peak output of 12 A/C per day.

Is your dad still with us?

[jdvoss]

AirMutz:

My father passed away about 20 years ago. He was with Douglas / McDonnell Douglas for 42 years.

[airnutz]

Sorry to hear that JD. Tailwinds to him. I'd heard early in the war there were some parts for the A-20 which were made using non-strategic materials...namely the cockpit doghouse and the cones at the end of the engine nacelles made from duramold and/or plywood. I've been hoping to confirm this, but most of the old timers are gone or going,..

[jdvoss]

Airnutz:

I am not aware of any wooden subassemblies used on non-functional portions of the A-20. It is entirely possible however given material shortages during the war. If you recall NAA constructed a number of AT-6's with fuselage aft sections constructed of plywood, Duramold or the sort.

Scott Thompson wrote an outstanding book on the A-20 and perhaps he could shed some light on the subject. I'd be curious to know as well.

John

[Mark Allen M]

Interesting about the wood construction. The only wood I see is the wood ladders on the floor.

A-20A wind tunnel tests January 27, 1941

[The Inspector]

Love the 100# flight line portable fire bottle on top of the test house!
I'll bet that one was a handful on short finals

[the65dartguy]

In set 2 , pic 1, what is the (assuming) metal thing on the front of the engine, behind the prop? Looks like some sort of shroud but I haven't seen that before.

[airnutz]

Airnutz:

I am not aware of any wooden subassemblies used on non-functional portions of the A-20. It is entirely possible however given material shortages during the war. If you recall NAA constructed a number of AT-6's with fuselage aft sections constructed of plywood, Duramold or the sort.

Scott Thompson wrote an outstanding book on the A-20 and perhaps he could shed some light on the subject. I'd be curious to know as well.

John

Yep, there's a retired mechanic in the neighborhood who wrenched Martin Marauder's in WW2...he's got a Beech elevator constructed with steel in his collection of memorabilia.

As for the wooden subassembly thing, there was supposed to be a company that built them in the LA area where the guy worked...but who knows? If it happened there's no telling how long the practice lasted. How many T-6's do we see with wooden bits these days? Thanks!

[Ken]

Love the large scale wind tunnel pix. That's an America that doesn't exist any more, at least not like that.

Ken

[Stoney]

all wood was removed from the T-6/SNJs when they went thru IRAN after the war.