Douglas Havoc Mk-II (Nightfighter) VY-Z, AH523,
No. 85 Squadron, 11 Group, RAF Fighter Command,
Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, UK, July 1941.

History:

Although the French Armee de l'Air was generally happy with the performance of the DB-7, they were curious to see if a substantial increase in performance could be obtained with larger, more powerful engines. On October 20, 1939, the French Purchasing Commission ordered a third batch of 200 aircraft from Douglas, the powerplant specified being the 1600 hp Wright R-2600-A5B Double Cyclone fourteen- cylinder air-cooled radial. This variant was designated DB-7A. 

The DB-7A was basically the export version of the A-20A. Due to the use of more powerful engines, the nacelles were elongated with the rear portion of the nacelles being longer and more pointed compared to those on the DB-7. Cooling vents were added to the sides of the engine cowlings, and the R-2600 engines had a large exhaust on the outboard side of the nacelles. There was a fear that the extra power offered by the R-2600 engines might result in some directional instability, so the vertical fin and rudder were increased in size. Additional structural strength was provided in the tail area. The carburetor air scoop was relocated from the front edge of the cowling to behind it.

The first DB-7A flew in August of 1940. By this time, France had fallen and the DB-7A order had been taken over by the United Kingdom. All of the DB-7As were delivered to the Royal Air Force, where there were given the name Havoc II and assigned the serials AH430 to AH529. All but the first aircraft (AH430, which crashed during a test flight in the USA) were delivered to Britain. Before delivery, the aircraft were brought up to British standards, which included the replacement of French 7.5-mm machine guns by 0.303-inch guns and the replacement of the French controls by British ones. 

The DB-7A had a maximum weight of 16,700 pounds, and a maximum speed of 308 mph at sea level and 344 mph at 12,500 feet. This was substantial performance for the day, and only slightly slower than contemporary single-seat fighters such as the Supermarine Spitfire Mk-I and the Messerschmit Bf 109E. 

The Havoc IIs were all converted to night fighter configuration and fitted with a new Martin Baker-built unglazed nose housing twelve fixed forward-firing 0.303-inch Browning machine guns. They were also equipped with AI Mk-IV radar.

Note: This skin is based on a profile in "Warpaint No.32, Douglas A-20 Boston/Havoc" written and illustrated by Richard J. Caruana.

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The new EAW high resolution Douglas DB-7A - Non-Flyable bomber version for B-26A slot.


New 3DZ model by Captain Kurt. Cockpit by Kurt, gunsight by Claudio Wilches.

Modifications by Mike1:

AI Mk-IV Radar Aerials on nose and fuselage sides.
Enclosed rear cockpit with RDF operator.
Windscreen remapped and shortened, to better represent the windshield of this version.

Skin by Mike1, based on the master PCX by DeanH, plus details by Captain Kurt.

To load into your game, drop all files into your EAW folder. Intended for use with Charles Gunst's ECAPanel, select the Boston flight model.

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Michael "Mike1" Riddell, 16th September 2003.
