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Havoc
Cranston Military Prints By Subject Aviation Art World War Two Havoc |
Second World War aviation art prints of the Havoc aircraft. Our collection of prints and original paintings of the Havoc aircraft of World War Two. |
A-20 |
Text for the above items : |
Raising Havoc by Stan Stokes. In 1936, under the supervision of Jack Northrop and Ed Heinemann, Douglas Aircraft began work on a new twin-engine light attack/observation aircraft designated the Model 7A. Powered by two R985 Wasp radials mounted in wing nacelles, the A-20 also utilized a tricycle landing gear configuration. The aircrafts fuselage was quite narrow and there was room for only 1 pilot and 1 crewmember. As the project proceeded it became clear that the 7A was not going to meet the Armys objectives. In early 1938, Northrop left Douglas to form his own company, and Heinemann began work on upgrading their design. One interesting feature was the use of interchangeable nose sections. A clear nose could be fitted with a bombardiers compartment, or alternatively a solid nose section could be fitted with an impressive total of 8 machine guns. More powerful Pratt and Whitney radials were incorporated into the design. Now designated the DB-7 by Douglas, a prototype aircraft was completed by October 1938. The new aircraft proved very fast, highly maneuverable, and capable of carrying a 2000 pound bomb load. While impressed with the aircrafts specs, the Army placed no immediate orders. The French, however, were impressed with this aircraft, and anxious to match the build-up of the Luftwaffe, they ordered more than 270 aircraft. The Havoc first saw combat in 1939 flying with the French Air Forces during the Battle of France. The French had received about 64 aircraft, and following the fall of France a decision was made to divert the balance of the French order to the RAF. By mid-1939 the Army placed an initial order for 63 A-20s. The A-20B variant was built in significant numbers with most being sent to Russia. (Almost 50% of the A-20s produced during the War were sent to Russia where they were utilized in many combat roles, including torpedo bombing.) The most significant variant was the G model with nearly 3000 produced. The G variant was produced with a solid nose section with lots of firepower. Many of the G models were fitted with an electrically driven Martin gun turret. More fuel tank capacity was added and with twin 1600-HP radials the A-20Gs were capable of a range in excess of 1000 miles, and could attain top speeds in excess of 340-MPH. The maximum bomb load was increased to 4000 pounds. The A-20 was the ideal low-level attack bomber. With its high speed, excellent maneuverability, and heavy firepower, Havocs were well suited for pinpoint bombing attacks on airfields, ammo dumps, etc. With their incredible forward firing power a flight of A-20s could easily overwhelm shipboard anti-aircraft guns. A-20s saw a lot of service in the Pacific. The Allied campaign of slowly retaking key islands was aided by the capabilities of the Havoc. Attacks on Japanese airfields with the A-20 were made with disastrous consequences to the Japanese, and there are several instances where flights of A-20s virtually wiped out Japanese ship convoys. Some A-20s were modified into night fighters (designated P-70) prior to the use of P-61 Black Widows. In Stan Stokes painting an A-20 in service with the 386th Bomb Squadron of the 312th Bomb Group rips up a Japanese airfield in Dutch New Guinea. |
V.E. Day - Heading Home by Nicolas Trudgian. Only 50 copies available. |
Raising Havoc in the Ardennes by Nicolas Trudgian. It is January 1945, and its cold. The German advance in the Ardennes is nearly over, but the Panzer Army is desperately throwing more troops into the breach who try to keep their momentum going in The Battle of the Bulge. Tasked with preventing German reinforcements from reaching the battle front, the Ninth Air Force launched a series of low-level attacks on enemy ground forces as they wind their way through the Ardennes. Flying conditions were not easy, cloud bases were low, and snow was in the air. Nicolas Trudgians new painting recreates an attack on January 23, 1945, by Douglas A-20 Havocs of the 410th Bomb Group. Locating an enemy convoy in open space near the German town of Blankenheim, the Havoc pilots make a swift attack diving from 8000 feet, catching the German force by surprise: Hurtling down the line of vehicles at 320mph they release their parafrag bombs from 300 feet then, dropping just above the roofs of the army trucks continue down the column blasting everything in sight with their forward-firing .50mm caliber machine guns. In the space of a few minutes the attack is completed and the convoy decimated. With ammunition expended and fuel running low the A-20 Havocs climb out of the zone and head for base in France. A 20mm shell has hit the lead aircraft wounding the Bombardier/Navigator Gordon Jones, which will seriously hamper their return through a blizzard, but all aircraft make it safely home - the lead aircraft, on landing, counting over 100 holes of various sizes. For their part in leading the successful attack the Lead Pilot Russell Fellers and Bombardier/Navigator Gordon G. Jones received the Silver Star. Published 2001. Signed by A-20 Havoc combat aircrews, including two Silver Star recipients, from World War Two. |
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