Douglas B-23 Dragon
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The Douglas B-23 Dragon is an American twin-engined bomber developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company as a successor to 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 DC-3, a fully retractable undercarriage, and improved defensive armament. The B-23 was the first operational American bomber equipped with a glazed tail gun position.[1] The tail gun was a .50 calibre (12.7 mm) 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.[3]
Operational history
While significantly faster and better armed than the B-18,[4] 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 them were later converted as transports and redesignated UC-67.[4]
The B-23 also served as a testbed for new engines and systems. For example, one was used for turbosupercharger development by General Electric at Schenectady, New York. Another was used for testing cabin pressurization.[5]
After World War II, many examples were used as executive transports, with appropriate internal modifications, and as a result a large number have survived, both in public and private collections.[4] Howard Hughes (among others) used converted B-23s as personal aircraft.
Operators
Variants
- B-23
- Twin-engined bomber version of the B-18 with modified fuselage, 38 built.
- C-67
- Conversion to utility transport with provision for glider towing, 12 conversions from B-23, redesignated UC-67 in 1943.
- UC-67
- C-67 redesignated in 1943.
Surviving aircraft
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Ecuador
- 39-031 – UC-67 on static display at the Aeronautical and Space Museum of the Ecuadorian Air Force in Quito.[6]
United States
- 39-0033 – B-23 under restoration with ATW Aviation in Marana, Arizona.[7]
- 39-0036 – B-23 on static display at the McChord Air Museum at McChord Field near Lakewood, Washington.[8]
- 39-0037 – B-23 in storage at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.[9]
- 39-0038 – B-23 in storage at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, New York.[10]
- 39-0047 – UC-67 on static display at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.[11]
- 39-0051 – B-23 on static display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.[12]
- 39-0057 – B-23 in storage at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.[13]
- 39-0063 – B-23 airworthy with private owner in Anchorage, Alaska.[14]
Specifications (B-23 Dragon)
See also
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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
Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London, Putnam, 1979. Template:ISBN.
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- Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II. London: Hamlyn Publishing Group, 2002, (republished 1996 by the Chancellor Press), First edition 1982. Template:ISBN.
External links
Template:Douglas aircraft Template:Douglas DC-3 family Template:USAF bomber aircraft Template:USAF transports Template:Authority control
- ↑ a b c Mondey 1982, p. 111.
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