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Douglas A-20 Havoc

Douglas · Attack / Light Bomber · USA · WWII (1939–1945)

Douglas A-20 Havoc — Attack / Light Bomber
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The Douglas A-20 Havoc (RAF designation Boston) was a U.S. twin-engine attack and light-bomber aircraft that served with the U.S. Army Air Forces, Royal Air Force, Soviet Air Force (the largest single user), and several other Allied air forces. Douglas built 7,478 A-20s between 1939 and September 1944. The aircraft pioneered tricycle-landing-gear configuration in U.S. medium-bomber service and served as a level bomber, low-level strafer, night intruder, night fighter (P-70 conversion), and Soviet front-line attack aircraft.

The A-20 used two Pratt & Whitney R-2600 Double Cyclone or Wright R-2600 Cyclone radial engines (1,600-1,700 hp each, depending on variant). Maximum speed 339 mph (A-20G); range 945 miles; service ceiling 25,800 ft. Bomb load: 2,000 lb internal in the bomb bay. Armament varied by variant — the late-war A-20G strafer had 6 forward-firing .50-cal Browning machine guns in the nose, plus 4 in dorsal turret and lower rear position. The aircraft was famously easy to fly compared with contemporary B-25s and B-26s; many pilots considered it the most enjoyable medium-bomber-class aircraft of WWII.

Combat use was extensive. Soviet A-20s (about 3,125 delivered under Lend-Lease) served as the principal Soviet medium bomber on the Eastern Front 1942-1945. RAF Boston I/III/IV/V served in 2 Group Bomber Command, North Africa, and the Mediterranean theatres. USAAF A-20s flew in 5th Air Force (Pacific), 9th Air Force (Western Europe), and 12th Air Force (Mediterranean) operations. A-20s carried out the famous low-level mast-height attacks on Japanese shipping in the South Pacific 1943-1944 — the strafer variants destroyed about 60 Japanese ships during these operations. The P-70 night-fighter conversion (about 30 modified A-20s) served briefly with USAAF night-fighter squadrons in the Pacific 1942-1944 before being replaced by the P-61 Black Widow.

Production ended in September 1944 after 7,478 airframes; the A-20 was replaced by the more-capable Douglas A-26 Invader (which entered combat in November 1944). About 8 A-20 airframes survive in 2026, including airworthy examples at the Yanks Air Museum (Chino, California) and the Russian Military History Museum at Padikovo. Many late-war Soviet A-20s were preserved in storage and recovered for restoration in the 1990s-2010s.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Douglas A-20 Havoc was an American attack bomber used in World War Two. It had two powerful engines and could fly as a bomber, a low-level attacker, or even a night fighter. Other countries called it the Boston. Many nations flew it, including American, British, and Soviet forces.

Douglas built 7,478 of these planes between 1939 and 1944. That is a lot of aircraft! The Soviet Air Force got more A-20s than anyone else. They received about 3,125 planes through a program called Lend-Lease.

The A-20 was faster than many other bombers of its time. The A-20G model could reach 339 miles per hour. It could carry 2,000 pounds of bombs inside its bomb bay. Some versions had six forward-firing machine guns in the nose.

Pilots really loved flying the A-20. Many said it was the most fun medium bomber to fly in the whole war. It was easier to handle than other bombers of its size. Its tricycle landing gear made it one of the first American medium bombers with that design.

The A-20 could fly as high as 25,800 feet and travel about 945 miles on a mission. It was smaller than a heavy bomber like the B-17 but still packed a serious punch. It served in many roles and helped the Allies fight in many parts of the world.

Fun Facts

  • Douglas built 7,478 A-20 Havocs — that is a huge number of planes for one design!
  • The Soviet Air Force got more A-20s than any other country, receiving about 3,125 of them.
  • The A-20G model could fly at 339 miles per hour, faster than many cars on a racetrack today!
  • Some A-20s were turned into night fighters and called the P-70.
  • The A-20 could carry 2,000 pounds of bombs — heavier than a large adult horse!
  • Pilots thought the A-20 was easier and more fun to fly than other bombers its size.
  • The A-20 was one of the first American medium bombers to use a tricycle-style landing gear.
  • The A-20 served as a bomber, a low-level attacker, and even a night-time raider.

Kids’ Questions

Why did so many countries fly the A-20 Havoc?

The A-20 was fast, tough, and easy to fly. American pilots loved it, and other countries like Britain and the Soviet Union got their own through a sharing program called Lend-Lease. It could do many different jobs, which made it very useful.

What made the A-20 special compared to other bombers?

Pilots said the A-20 was the most enjoyable medium bomber to fly in the war. It handled better than similar planes like the B-25 and B-26. It also had a new style of landing gear that made landings easier.

How many guns did the A-20G have?

The A-20G had six machine guns pointing forward in the nose. It also had more guns on top and at the rear. That gave it a lot of firepower for attacking targets on the ground.

How high and how far could the A-20 fly?

The A-20 could fly up to 25,800 feet high — that is almost five miles above the ground! It could travel about 945 miles on a single mission. That gave pilots the range to reach targets far away.

Variants

A-20A / B / C / G / H / J / K (USAAF)
Standard production variants. A-20G (1942-1944) was the most-produced sub-variant at 2,850 airframes; specifically optimised for low-level strafing in the Pacific theatre.
Boston I / II / III / IV / V (RAF)
British and Commonwealth Lend-Lease variants. About 781 delivered. Served 2 Group Bomber Command, North Africa, and the Mediterranean theatres.
P-70 (US night-fighter)
About 30 A-20s converted to P-70 night-fighter standard with SCR-540 airborne radar and fixed forward-firing armament. Served briefly in the Pacific before replacement by the P-61 Black Widow.

Notable Operators

Soviet Air Force
Largest user. About 3,125 A-20s delivered under Lend-Lease 1942-1945. Used as the principal Soviet medium bomber on the Eastern Front; flown by every Soviet front-line air army.
U.S. Army Air Forces
About 1,800 A-20s served USAAF medium-bomber and attack squadrons in Pacific (5th Air Force), Western Europe (9th Air Force), and Mediterranean (12th Air Force) theatres 1941-1945.
Royal Air Force / Commonwealth air forces
About 781 Boston variants under Lend-Lease 1941-1945. Served 2 Group Bomber Command, North Africa, and the Mediterranean theatres.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are A-20s called both Havoc and Boston?

USAAF designation "A-20 Havoc"; RAF designation "Boston". The same airframe with different markings and minor sub-variant differences. Other operators also used the Boston name. The aircraft was first ordered by France in 1938 as the DB-7; after the 1940 fall of France, undelivered French airframes were diverted to the RAF as Boston and to USAAF as A-20.

How many A-20s went to the Soviet Union?

About 3,125 — the largest single export to any country. Soviet A-20s served as the principal Soviet medium bomber on the Eastern Front 1942-1945. Pilot reception was very positive; the A-20 was easier to fly than Soviet Pe-2 or Tu-2 medium bombers.

Did A-20s serve as night fighters?

Yes — the P-70 night-fighter conversion fitted SCR-540 airborne intercept radar to about 30 A-20s. Used briefly by USAAF night-fighter squadrons in the Pacific 1942-1944 before the dedicated Northrop P-61 Black Widow entered service. P-70 performance was inadequate for sustained night-interception work; it was an interim type only.

How many A-20s were built?

7,478 airframes between 1939 and September 1944. Production was at Douglas's El Segundo, California plant. Production ended in 1944 because the more-capable Douglas A-26 Invader was entering volume production.

Are any A-20s still flying?

One airworthy A-20 in 2026 — the Yanks Air Museum's A-20G at Chino, California. About 8 other airframes survive in static-display condition, including a major Russian-recovered airframe at the Padikovo military history museum near Moscow.

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