Boston (Total: 1,717, Canadian: 76, Group 0)
Douglas Boston

Douglas Boston Mk. III, RAF No. 88 Squadron, c1944
The Douglas A-20 Havoc (company designation DB-7) is an American medium bomber, attack aircraft, night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II. Designed to meet an Army Air Corps requirement for a bomber, it was ordered by France for their air force before the USAAC decided it would also meet their requirements. French DB-7s were the first to see combat; after the fall of France the bomber, under the service name Boston continued with the Royal Air Force. From 1941, night fighter and intruder versions were given the service name Havoc. In 1942 USAAF A-20s saw combat in North Africa.
In most British Commonwealth air forces, the bomber variants were known as Boston, while the night fighter and intruder variants were named Havoc. The exception was the Royal Australian Air Force, which used the name Boston for all variants. In March 1936, a design team headed by Donald Douglas, Jack Northrop, and Ed Heinemann produced a proposal for a bomber-reconnaissance aircraft powered by a pair of 450 hp (340 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engines mounted on a shoulder wing. It was estimated to be capable of 250 mph (400 km/h) with a 680 lb (310 kg) bomb load. Reports of aircraft performance from the Spanish Civil War indicated that this design would be seriously underpowered, and it was canceled.
A-20A In 1937, the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) issued a new specification for an attack aircraft. To meet this requirement, the Douglas team, now headed by Heinemann, developed the Model 7B, with a similar layout to the 7A, but was powered by 1,100 hp (820 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C3-G Twin Wasp engines, and carried a heavier bombload (up to 2,000 lb (910 kg)). It faced competition from the North American NA-40, Stearman X-100, Martin 167F, and an unbuilt design from Bell Aircraft, the Model 9. The Air Corps invited all five companies to build prototypes at their own expense and to submit sealed bids for production of their aircraft.
The prototype Model 7B made its first flight on 26 October 1938. The model attracted the attention of a French Purchasing Commission visiting the United States. The French discreetly participated in the flight trials, so as not to attract criticism from American isolationists. The Model 7B crashed on 23 January 1939 while demonstrating single-engine performance, killing the test pilot and seriously injuring a French observer aboard the aircraft. The presence of a foreigner on a test flight for an aircraft still under development caused a scandal in the press. Despite the crash, the French were impressed enough to place an order for 100 production aircraft on 15 February 1939, following this up with an order for 170 more in October 1939.
As a result of the French order, Heinemann carried out another major redesign of the aircraft. While the design's wings were largely unchanged, the revised design had a new deeper but narrower fuselage, which accommodated a crew of three, a pilot, bombardier and a gunner. The wing was mounted lower than on the Model 7B, while the engines, 1,000 hp (750 kW) R-1830-SC3-Gs, were mounted in nacelles slung under the wings. Normal bomb load was 1,410 lb (640 kg), or 1,800 lb (800 kg) in overload conditions, with a defensive armament of single 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns in dorsal and ventral mounts and four fixed forward-firing guns in the nose. The revised aircraft, the DB-7, first flew on 17 August 1939.
In 1939, the USAAC decided that the new bomber was best placed to meet its requirements for an attack bomber, which had been updated in 1938 from those that gave rise to the Model 7B, and in June 1939, it ordered 186 aircraft powered by Wright R-2600 engines, under the designations A-20 and A-20A (with the A-20s having 1,700 hp (1,300 kW) turbosupercharged R-2600-7 engines and the A-20As having 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) supercharged R-2600-3 or -11 engines. These had a larger vertical tail to cope with the increased power of the Wright engines, had a longer nose to give more room for the bombardier/navigator, and carried more fuel. R-2600 powered aircraft also proved popular for export, with France ordering 100 DB-7As powered by the R-2600 but with the short nose of the DB-7 in October 1939, and 480 long-nosed DB-73s, equivalent to the A-20A, in April 1940 and Great Britain ordering 300 DB-7Bs, again equivalent to the A-20A in February and April 1940.
In a report to the British Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (AAEE) at RAF Boscombe Down, test pilots summed it up as: "has no vices and is very easy to take off and land ... The aeroplane represents a definite advantage in the design of flying controls ... extremely pleasant to fly and manoeuvre." Ex-pilots often consider it their favorite aircraft of the war due to the ability to toss it around like a fighter. The Douglas bomber/night fighter was found to be extremely adaptable and found a role in every combat theater of the war, and excelled as a true "pilot's aeroplane".
When DB-7 series production finally ended on 20 September 1944, a total of 7,098 had been built by Douglas and a further 380 by Boeing. Douglas redesigned its Santa Monica plant to create a mechanized production line to produce A-20 Havocs. The assembly line was over a mile long (6,100 feet), but by looping back and forth, fitted into a building that was only 700 feet long. Man-hours were reduced by 70% for some operations while production tripled. October of 1940, the USAAC adopted converted Douglas A-20 Havocs as P-70 night fighters. The RCAF acquired three Douglas A-20 Bostons for "special" research operations at Suffield, Alberta, from 1941 to 1946.
No. 418 "City of Edmonton" (Intruder) Squadron, RCAF, was formed overseas at Debden, Essex, England on 15 Nov 1941. It was the RCAF's only Intruder squadron and flew the Douglas Boston and de Havilland Mosquito on day and night-intruder operations deep into enemy territory. No. 418 (Intruder) Squadron claimed 178 enemy aircraft and 79-1/2 V-1 flying bombs destroyed, making it the top-scoring unit of the RCAF. The leading individual score was Squadron Leader Russell Bannock, with 11 aircraft and 18-1/2 V-1s. He was also the squadron's CO from 10 Oct - 22 Nov 1944. Wikipedia and Harold A Skaarup web page
On 21 Nov, No. 418 (Intruder) Squadron was transferred to close support work with the Second Tactical Air Force in the Low Countries. The squadron was disbanded at Volkel, in the Netherlands on 7 Sep 1945.
No. 418 (Intruder) Squadron Douglas Boston Mk. III, were flown from Nov 1941 to Jul 1943.
Boston II serial AH452
s/n AH452
AH 452
Known Units: ;1451
Converted after delivery to Havoc IIlast update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk.IIIA serial AL286
s/n AL286
m/d DB-7B
c/n 2153
Boeing
AL 286
Known Units: ;107
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston Mk.IIIA serial AL492
s/n AL492
m/d DB-7B
c/n 2873
Boeing
AL 492
Boston Mk. III serial AL672
s/n AL672
m/d DB-7B
c/n 3604
Boeing
AL 672
Known Units:
Taken on strength by No. 4 Training Command. Used for trials at research facility at Suffield, Alberta. Probably smoke laying trials, or other chemical spraying. Returned to British Aircraft Comission in New York, via Ottawa. Reported with USAAF by September 1942, possibly earlier. In operational use with the 15th Bombardment Squadron in the UK in July 1942. This was one of the first US operational bomber squadrons in the UK, and initially used Bostons received from the RAF. Later reported serving as a staff transport with 8th Air Force Headquarters in the UK, and with the 20th Fighter Group.last update: 2025-February-05
1941-October-25 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1942-February-21 Struck off Strength struck off, returned to RAF 2019-08-20
Boston III serial AL677
s/n AL677
Boeing
AL 677
Boston III serial AL690
s/n AL690
Boeing
AL 690
Known Units: ;88
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL692
s/n AL692
Boeing
AL 692
Known Units: ;88
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL703
s/n AL703
Boeing
AL 703
Known Units: ;114
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL715
s/n AL715
Boeing
AL 715
Known Units: ;107
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL736
s/n AL736
Boeing
AL 736
Known Units: ;226
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL737
s/n AL737
Boeing
AL 737
Known Units: ;107
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL742
s/n AL742
Boeing
AL 742
Known Units: ;18
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL746
s/n AL746
Boeing
AL 746
Known Units: ;226
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL747
s/n AL747
Boeing
AL 747
Known Units: ;18
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III/II serial AL750
s/n AL750
Boeing
AL 750
Known Units: ;307
Converteds to Havoc Mk. II, with Turbinlite.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston III serial AL751
s/n AL751
Boeing
AL 751
Known Units: ;18
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL765
s/n AL765
Boeing
AL 765
Known Units: ;107
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial AL766
s/n AL766
Boeing
AL 766
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Failed to return from mission to Nantes on 12/13 February 1943, at least one fatality.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston I serial BD124
s/n BD124
BD 124
Known Units: ;23
Converted to Havoc in UK.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. l serial BJ485
s/n BJ485
BJ 485
Known Units: ;23
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ224
s/n BZ224
BZ 224
Known Units: ;88
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ228
s/n BZ228
BZ 228
Known Units: ;114
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ234
s/n BZ234
BZ 234
Known Units: 107
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ272
s/n BZ272
BZ 272
Known Units: ;45
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ279
s/n BZ279
BZ 279
Known Units: ;88
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ288
s/n BZ288
BZ 288
Known Units: ;13
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ289
s/n BZ289
BZ 289
Known Units: ;88
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ330
s/n BZ330
BZ 330
Known Units: ;114
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ351
s/n BZ351
BZ 351
Known Units: ;88
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ382
s/n BZ382
BZ 382
Known Units: ;88
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III A serial BZ383
s/n BZ383
as/n 42-33184
m/d DB-78
BZ 383
Known Units:
RCAF Detachment Suffield Alberta Canada
Ex USAAF A-20C-5-DO Havoc, serial number 42-33184.
To RAF and diverted to RCAF as BZ 383Severely damaged after a bomb filled with toxic gas dropped out of the bomb bay and exploded after shutting down at Suffield Alberta on 15 April 1944. The aircraft was reduced to spares and written off. (N.B. The Crash Card listed the serial as 233184.)
last update: 2025-February-051943-April-16 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1944-April-15 Accident: RCAF DET SUFFIELD, ALTA Loc: Suffield Names: Anderson | Boismeir | Caron | Carriere | Carter | Dahms | Elliott | Fallis | Hudson | Lemire | Lucas | McConnell | Molland | Morrison | Oates | Oreilly | Williamson
1944-November-27 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
Boston Mk. IIIA serial BZ385
s/n BZ385
as/n 42-33186
m/d DB-7B
BZ 385
Known Units:
42-33186 to RAF as Boston IIIA BZ385. Spun into ground after takeoff from Goose Bay, Canada Mar 10, 1943. from Joe Baugher
last update: 2025-February-05Ferry Flight 1943-03-10 to 1943-03-10
45 (Ferry) Group (RAF) Dorval, Quebec
45 Group RAF Transport Command, Dorval, Quebec. Boston IIIa aircraft BZ385 lost out of Goose Bay, Labrador on a trans-Atlantic ferry flight to the UK. Twelve minutes after take-off, an engine malfunction caused the pilot to attempt to return to the aerodrome. The aircraft stalled in the turn and crashed at Goose Bay with the loss of the three crew members
Canadian civilian Radio Officer A Befus, Navigator, Pilot Officer A S Campbell (RAAF) and American civilian Pilot K W Quayle were all killed in this flying accident
Ocean bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie, page 318
Boston Mk. IV serial BZ410
s/n BZ410
m/d DB-7B
BZ 410
Known Units:
Ex USAAF A-20C-5-DO Havoc, serial number 42-9867 (need to confirm this). Used at Suffield, Alberta for various trials, crashed while there on 24 August 1945.last update: 2025-February-05
1944-June-02 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1945-August-24 Accident: RCAF DET SUFFIELD, ALTA Loc: Aerodrome Names: Hollingshed | Miller | Symes
1945-October-27 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
Boston serial BZ416
s/n BZ416
BZ 416
Known Units: ;88
last update: 2025-May-29
Bombing Boulogne France 1944-09-09 to 1944-09-09
88 (B) Sqn (RAF) Vitry-en-Artois
Target - gun emplacements at Boulogne, France. Boston aircraft BZ 416 fell out of formation and was last seen at 3,000 feet in an inverted position and diving through cloud cover. Flying Officer M. Emsig and Sergeant C.F. Adair were also killed. One Canadian, Sergeant King, evaded.Boston serial BZ423
s/n BZ423
BZ 423
Known Units: ;88
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ478
s/n BZ478
BZ 478
Known Units: ;3
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ481
s/n BZ481
BZ 481
Boston serial BZ490
s/n BZ490
BZ 490
Known Units: ;114
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ499
s/n BZ499
BZ 499
Known Units: ;114
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ592
s/n BZ592
BZ 592
Known Units: ;55
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston serial BZ660
s/n BZ660
BZ 660
Known Units: ;3
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston Mk. III serial W8261
s/n W8261
W 8261
Known Units: ;418
Converted to intruder configuration. Served with No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Left this unit on 6 August 1943.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8262
s/n W8262
W 8262
Known Units: ;418
Converted to intruder configuration. With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex. Lost on 27/28 August 1942, on intruder mission to Montdidier. 3 crew KIA.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8264
s/n W8264
W 8264
Known Units: ;418
Converted to intruder configuration. With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex. Lost on 1/2 August 1942, on intruder mission to Rouen. 3 crew KIA.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8268
s/n W8268
W 8268
Known Units: ;418
Converted to intruder configuration. Used by No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, coded "TH*O". Named "Ottawa". Photo in "Canadian Squadrons and Aircraft". Lost on 19/20 May 1942, on night intruder mission to Soesterberg. 3 crew KIA.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8292
s/n W8292
W 8292
Known Units: ;418
Converted to intruder configuration. With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Crashed northeast of Southminster, UK on 2 January 1943. Pilot Pilot Officer J.J. Field killed.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8298
s/n W8298
W 8298
Known Units: ;418
Converted to intruder configuration. With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex. One of first two Bostons to this unit, arriving on 22 November 1941. Lost on raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942, during Operation Jubilee. Shot down by Fw 190s. One crew KIA, 1 crew rescued, and 1 POW.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8304
s/n W8304
W 8304
Known Units: ;418
Converted to intruder configuration. With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex from 30 November 1941. Lost on night mission to Gilze-Rijen, Holland on 9/10 July 1942. Believed lost at sea. 3 crew KIA.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8318
s/n W8318
W 8318
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex. Lost on 17/18 May 1942 on mission to Leeuwarden. 3 crew KIA, pilot POW. Some research suggests the aircraft was struck by flak over Germany and then crashed at Akkerwoude, 15 kilometres to the north-east of Leeuwarden.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8325
s/n W8325
W 8325
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Lost on 9 April 1943, on mission to Melun, 3 crew KIA. Collided with Dornier Do217E-4 "U5+TW", from I/KG2 at St. Andre airfield, both aircraft came down on edge of airfield and were destroyed by fire. At least 3 fatalities on German aircraft as well.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8326
s/n W8326
W 8326
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex. Lost on 31 July 1942, during raid on Leeuwarden. 3 crew KIA.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8331
s/n W8331
W 8331
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex. Lost on raid on Melun and Bretigny on 17 September 1942. Ditched off Essex, 3 crew KIA.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8333
s/n W8333
W 8333
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Took part in this unit's first operation on 27 March 1942, bombing oil refinery and tanks near Ertvelde, Belgium. Crashed near Great Sampford Aerodrome during night flying test on 1 April 1942. 2 RCAF and one RAF fatalities from crew of 3.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8335
s/n W8335
W 8335
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Crashed during training flight on 24 February 1942, first aircraft lost by this unit. 2 fatalities.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8340
s/n W8340
W 8340
Known Units: ;418
Converted to intruder configuration. Used by No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Took part in this unit's first operation on 27 March 1942, bombing oil refinery and tanks near Ertvelde, Belgium. Destroyed on 3 May 1942, when it crashed as a result of undercarriage failure on take off from West Malling, UK. Bomb load exploded. 3 crew and 1 bystander killed.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8342
s/n W8342
W 8342
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Failed to return from mission on 18 November 1942.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8350
s/n W8350
W 8350
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex, coded "TH*R". One of the first two Bostons to this unit, arriving on 22 November 1941. Lost on night mission to Bretigny on 16/17 August 1942. 2 crew KIA, one POW.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8355
s/n W8355
W 8355
Known Units: ;107
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston Mk. III serial W8358
s/n W8358
W 8358
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex from 6 December 1941, coded "TH*R". Lost on night mission to Creil on 7/8 November 1942. 2 crew KIA, one POW.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8359
s/n W8359
W 8359
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Crashed 6 October 1942, 2 fatalities.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8367
s/n W8367
W 8367
Known Units: ;18
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston Mk. III serial W8380
s/n W8380
W 8380
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Lost when it struck a tree during low level training flight on 8 February 1943. Crashed one mile NW of Vington Hall, UK. 3 crew killed. Unconfirmed report of a 4th person, an Leading Aircraftman mechanic onboard for an unapproved flight, also being killed.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston Mk. III serial W8394
s/n W8394
W 8394
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, at Bradwell Bay, Essex. Lost on night mission to Schipol on 23/24 June 1942. 3 crew KIA.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston III/Intruder serial Z2165
s/n Z2165
Z 2165
Known Units: ;418
Converted to Intruder version. With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, from 27 November 1941, coded "TH*X". Took part in this unit's first operation, bombing mission over Belgium on 26 March 1942. Lost on intruder and leaflet mission to Thourout and Roulers/Roeselare on 29 November 1942. 3 crew killed.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston III serial Z2186
s/n Z2186
Z 2186
Known Units: ;418
Converted to Intruder version. With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Lost on training mission on 17 October 1942. 2 killed, pilot survived. Crashed in Carnedd Dafydd in the Carneddau whilst on a cross country navigation training flight from Bradwell Bay in Essex.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston III serial Z2194
s/n Z2194
Z 2194
Known Units: ;107
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial Z2205
s/n Z2205
Z 2205
Known Units: ;18
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial Z2210
s/n Z2210
Z 2210
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF. Lost on night mission to Gilze Reijen airfield on 12 / 13 April 1942. 3 crew POW.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston III serial Z2226
s/n Z2226
Z 2226
Known Units: ;18
Used by No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, coded "TH*K". Had completed 29 sorties by 6 May 1943. Left this unit on 7 May 1943.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston III serial Z2240
s/n Z2240
Z 2240
Known Units: ;418
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, coded "TH*T". Lost on night mission to Gilze Reijen airfield on 27 / 28 April 1942. 2 crew killed, one POW.last update: 2025-February-05
Boston III serial Z2249
s/n Z2249
Z 2249
Known Units: ;226
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial Z2252
s/n Z2252
Z 2252
Known Units: ;107
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial Z2253
s/n Z2253
Z 2253
Known Units: ;107
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial Z2266
s/n Z2266
Douglas
Z 2266
Known Units: ;226
last update: 2025-May-29
Boston III serial Z2269
s/n Z2269
Z 2269
Known Units: ;107
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, coded "TH*C".last update: 2025-February-05
Boston III serial Z2281
s/n Z2281
Z 2281
Known Units: ;114
last update: 2025-May-29