Douglas Havoc Mk-I (Nighfighter) VY-C, BJ469,
No. 85 Squadron, 11 Group, RAF Fighter Command
Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, UK 1941.
This aircraft was later converted to Turbinlite configeration, with a 2.7 million candlepower Helmore/G.E.C. searchlight in the nose.

History:

After the fall of France, there were a substantial number of DB-7s which had not yet been delivered to the Armee de l'Air. On 14 June, the United Kingdom agreed to take over the DB-7 order. The first diverted DB-7s began to arrive in Britain during August of 1940.The French had originally intended to use the DB-7 as a short-range tactical attack aircraft. Consequently, these former French machines all had too short a range for the RAF to be able to use them as light bombers against German targets in Europe. However, their load carrying capability and high speed confirmed a suitability for conversion to desperately needed night-fighters.

In the winter of 1940 they were provided with Airborne Interception radar, additional armour, eight 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns in the nose, flame damping exhaust systems, and overall matt black finish. One unusual addition was the provision of basic dual flying controls in the gunner's position as no crew member could get to the pilot's aid and in an emergency they provided a long-odds chance that the gunner might achieve a non-calamitous landing. First delivered to the RAF in December 1940 under the designation Havoc Mk-I(NF), the type became operational with No. 85 Squadron on 7 April 1941.

Note: This skin is based on some very scanty information. The codes and serial number do correspond to a real aircraft mentioned in "Aircraft of the Fighting Powers, Vol. II", a book published in early 1941. It does not say whether the machine is a Nightfighter or an Intruder, but No. 85 Squadron later operated Havoc II nightfighters, so I thought it would be reasonable to assume BJ469 was also nightfighter.

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


New 3DZ models by Captain Kurt

Modifications by Mike1:

AI Mk-IV Radar Aerials on nose and fuselage sides.
Enclosed rear cockpit with RDF operator.

Please note that the *F.3dz can no-longer be opened by 3D Studio.

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, 2nd September 2003.