Customer Reviews

A-20 Havoc in action - Aircraft No. 144

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I've also had a soft spot for Douglas Aircraft's unglamorous but dependable A-20 warhorse. It never received the acclaim or publicity of the Mitchell or Marauder but labored faithfully throughout the war, serving in just about every theater and in a variety of Allied air units. Whether employed as an attack bomber, nightfighter or intruder, the Havoc earned its keep. Jim Mesko relates the A-20 story in this 1994 Squadron/Signal publication, #144 in its 'Aircraft' series.

Deeveloped in 1938, the Havoc evolved through various models (DB-7, A-20A, -B, -C, -G, -J and P-70). Capable of carrying up to 4,000-lbs of bombs, the twin-engined craft mounted various combinations of 50-caliber MGs and 20mm cannons. USAF units flew it in Europe, the Med, the Pacific Theater and so on. France was the first country to order it but Havocs also served in the RAF, RAAF, Red Air Force, Brazilian Air Force(!), etc.

Mesko's book includes descriptions of all major models and a four-page combat summary. Photos number over 100; there's four-views and scrap views along with two pages of Don Greer color profiles.

All in all, a nice tribute to a faithful if unheralded warbird.

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Bill Hess' A-20 HAVOC AT WAR (Scribner 1979) is as comprehensive a history as we'll likely to see on the Havoc.

The Douglas A-20 Havoc was designed in the late 30's and saw time for deployment at the beginning of the war. It was rugged, reliable, pilot's air plane. Over 7800 were built. It never gained the fame of the B-25 Mitchell. This design was a light bomber, 3 man crew, ground attack plane. Some versions saw service as a night fighter.

This In Action book gives very good coverage of this war bird. The narrative is helpful in describing the development, deployment and use of the plane. Captions on the b&w photos are helpful, plenty of line drawings and 2 pages of color plates to show the various paint schemes used.

A great book for modelers, aviation buffs of WW2. That this plane did not get more fame is an indication of how many other designs were out there in service.