Douglas B-23 Dragon
| B-23 Dragon | |
|---|---|
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| A B-23 Dragon in USAAC markings during the early 1940s | |
| Role | Medium bomber |
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| First flight | 27 July 1939 |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 38 |
| Developed from | B-18 Bolo |
The Douglas B-23 Dragon was a twin-engined bomber developed by Douglas Aircraft Company as a successor to (and a refinement of) the B-18 Bolo.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
Douglas proposed a number of modifications designed to improve the performance of the B-18. Initially considered a redesign, the XB-22 featured 1,600 hp Wright R-2600-1 Twin Cyclone radial engines. The complete B-18 redesign was considered promising enough by the USAAC to alter the original contract to produce the last 38 B-18As ordered under Contract AC9977 as the B-23.[1] The design incorporated a larger wingspan with a wing design very similar to that of the Douglas DC-3, a fully retractable undercarriage, and improved defensive armament. Notably, the B-23 was the first operational US bomber equipped with a glazed tail gun position.[1] The tail gun mounted a .50 caliber machine gun, which was fired from the prone position by a gunner using a telescopic sight. [2]
The first B-23 flew on July 27, 1939 with the production series of 38 B-23s manufactured between July 1939 and September 1940.
[edit] Operational history
While significantly faster and better armed than the B-18, the B-23 was not comparable to newer medium bombers like the North American B-25 Mitchell and Martin B-26 Marauder. For this reason, the 38 B-23s built were never used in combat overseas, although for a brief period, they were employed as patrol aircraft stationed on the west coast of the United States.[1] The B-23s were primarily relegated to training duties although 18 of the type were converted as transports and redesignated as the UC-67. The B-23 also served as a test-bed for new engines and systems.
After World War II, many examples were used as executive transports with appropriate internal modifications and as a result a large number have survived. Howard Hughes (among others) used converted B-23s as personal aircraft.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Survivors
[edit] On display
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0036 is on display at the McChord Air Museum in McChord AFB, Washington.[3]
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0045 is on display at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.[4]
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0051 is on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.[5]
[edit] Mostly complete (Crash sites, etc.)
[edit] Under restoration
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0033 is under restoration to airworthiness by Pissed Away N747M LLC in Bellevue, Washington.[7]
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0037 is under restoration at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.[8]
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0038 is under restoration at the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group in Geneseo, New York.[9]
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0046 is under restoration to airworthiness by E. M. Luke in Franklin, Louisiana.[10]
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0057 is under restoration to airworthiness by Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.[11]
[edit] Specifications (B-23 Dragon)
Data from Joe Baugher's Encyclopedia of American aircraft[12]
General characteristics
- Crew: 6
- Length: 58 ft 6 in (17.8 m)
- Wingspan: 92 ft (28 m)
- Height: 18 ft 6 in (5.6 m)
- Wing area: 993 ft² (92.3 m²)
- Empty weight: 19,089 lb (8,677 kg)
- Loaded weight: 26,500 lb (12,000 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 32,400 lb (14,700 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-2600-3 radial engines, 1,600 hp (1,194 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 282 mph (245 kn, 454 km/h)
- Range: 1,400 mi (1,200 nmi, 2,300 km) with 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) of bombs
- Service ceiling: 31,600 ft (9,630 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,493 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
- Wing loading: 26.7 lb/ft² (130 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.17 hp/lb (200 kW/kg)
Armament
- Guns:
- 3 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns
- 1 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun in tail turret
- Bombs: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
[edit] See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
- List of aircraft of World War II
- List of bomber aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ a b c Mondey 1982, p. 111.
- ^ "Stinger Gun in Plane's Tail Guards Vulnerable Spot." Popular Science, January 1941.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0036." USAF Museum. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0045." USAF Museum. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0051." USAF Museum. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "B-23 s/n 39-052 Today." AviationArcheology.com. Retrieved: 2 September 2011.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0033." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0037." USAF Museum. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0038." 1941 Historical Aircraft Group. Retrieved: 25 December 2010.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0046." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0057." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ Baugher, Joe. "B-23 'Dragon'." Joe Baugher's Encyclopedia of American aircraft, 23 November 2000. Retrieved: 12 June 2010.
- Bibliography
- Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II. London: Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd., 2002, (republished 1996 by the Chancellor Press), First edition 1982. ISBN 1-85152-706-0.
[edit] External links
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