Douglas B-23 Dragon
| B-23 Dragon | |
|---|---|
| |
| 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.
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.
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.
Operators
Survivors
Airworthy
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0033 is airworthy and owned by Pissed Away N747M LLC in Bellevue, Washington.[3]
- UC-67 Dragon, s/n 39-0063 is airworthy and owned by Carmacks Commercial Corp. in Anchorage, Alaska.[4]
On display
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0036, is on display at the McChord Air Museum in McChord AFB, Washington.[5]
- UC-67 Dragon, s/n 39-0047, is on display at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.[6]
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0051, is on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.[7]
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0057, is on display/stored at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida. [8]
Mostly complete (crash sites, etc.)
Under restoration
- 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.[10]
- B-23 Dragon, s/n 39-0038 is under restoration at the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum in Geneseo, New York.[11]
Specifications (B-23 Dragon)
Data from Joe Baugher's Encyclopedia of American aircraft[12]
General characteristics
- Crew: 6
Performance
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)
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
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 39-0033." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "UC-67 Dragon/sn 39-0063." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 11 February 2012.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0036." USAF Museum. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0047." USAF Museum. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0051." USAF Museum. Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^ "B-23 Dragon/sn 39-0057." Fantasy of Flight. Retrieved: 11 April 2012.
- ^ "B-23 s/n 39-0052 Today." AviationArcheology.com. Retrieved: 2 September 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.
- ^ 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.
External links
