Royal Navy Bostons (aka A-20 Havoc)

[jdvoss]

Although the subject of uniquely painted A-20 (i.e. favorite paint schemes) was covered over a month ago a source of mine in the UK has forwarded some interesting info on the Royal Navy usage. The RN received 36 Boston's from the RAF of which 21 were the Turbinlite model. The aircraft were not utilized in combat operations but were assigned to radar calibration duties for both ships and airfields. There was some use in TAG training (Telegraphist-Air- Gunner) as well. Most of the aircraft were assigned to No. 771 squadron based at RNAS Twatt and Halston in the Orkney Islands.

The aircraft were repainted in typical RN scheme (grey and green) with sky undersurfaces. As you can note from the photo below the expression "Royal Navy" can be vaguely seen on the aft fuselage just forward of the horizontal stabilizer. The expression "T8B" is in yellow and "T" stood for RNAS Twatt. RNAS Ayr and Arbroath used the leading letter of "A" (e.g. "A9R").



A Royal Navy Photo

[Michel Lemieux]

Interesting, seems like the background A20 has no nose cone!

Tks for sharing

[shrike]

Interesting, seems like the background A20 has no nose cone!

Tks for sharing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbinlite

[SaxMan]

As usual, another example of the versatility of one of the most unsung American aircraft of World War II. It was produced in numbers similar to the B-26 Marauder, but doesn't seem to get the recognition it deserves, with the possible exception of its activities in the Southwest Pacific.

[avenger2504]

RNAS Twatt? My my. Yes shame there aren't more of these versatile aircraft around.

[ErrolC]

Very interesting, thanks!

There is an A-20 in the RAAF Museum Pt Cook.
CMAPtCook-9380flr by errolgc, on Flickr

[Invader26]

My late father was involved in fitting the guns [ at No 3 AD, RAAF Base Amberley ] to the RAAF Boston aircraft and interestingly he told me that they converted these Bostons into Havocs!