Douglas B-23 Dragon
| B-23 Dragon / UC-67 | |
|---|---|
| |
| A B-23 Dragon in USAAC markings during the early 1940s | |
| Role | Medium bomber |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| First flight | 27 July 1939 |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 38 |
| Developed from | Douglas B-18 Bolo |
TheDouglas B-23 Dragonis an American twin-enginedbomberdeveloped by theDouglas Aircraft Companyas a successor to (and a refinement of) theB-18 Bolo.
Design and development
[edit]Douglas proposed a number of modifications designed to improve the performance of the B-18. Initially considered a redesign, theXB-22featured 1,600 hpWright R-2600-1 Twin Cycloneradial engines. The complete B-18 redesign was considered promising enough by theUSAACto alter the original contract to produce the last 38 B-18As ordered under Contract AC9977 as theB-23.[1]The design incorporated a larger wingspan with a wing design very similar to that of theDC-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 theprone positionby a gunner using atelescopic 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
[edit] |
While significantly faster and better armed than the B-18,[4]the B-23 was not comparable to newer medium bombers like theNorth American B-25 MitchellandMartin 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 redesignatedUC-67[4]
The B-23 also served as a testbed for new engines and systems. For example, one was used forturbosuperchargerdevelopment byGeneral ElectricatSchenectady, 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
[edit]
Variants
[edit]- 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
[edit]
Ecuador
[edit]- UC-67
United States
[edit]On display
[edit]- B-23
- 39-0036 -McChord Air MuseuminMcChord AFB, Washington.[7]
- 39-0051 -Pima Air & Space Museumadjacent toDavis-Monthan Air Force BaseinTucson, Arizona.[8]
- UC-67
- 39-0047 -Castle Air Museumat the formerCastle Air Force BaseinAtwater, California.[9]
Under restoration or in storage
[edit]- B-23
- 39-0033 - to airworthiness by ATW Aviation inMarana, Arizona.[10]
- 39-0037 - in storage at theNational Museum of the United States Air ForceatWright-Patterson AFBinDayton, Ohio.[11]
- 39-0038 - for display at the1941 Historical Aircraft Group MuseuminGeneseo, New York.[12]
- UC-67
- 39-0057 - in storage atFantasy of FlightinPolk City, Florida.[13]
- 39-0063 - to airworthiness by private owner inAnchorage, Alaska.Currently stored atGrant County International Airport,Moses Lake, Washington.[14]Flew in 2017.[15]
Wrecks
[edit]- B-23
Specifications (B-23 Dragon)
[edit]
Data fromMcDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920[17]
General characteristics
- Crew:Six
- Length:58 ft4+3⁄4in (17.799 m)
- Wingspan:92 ft 0 in (28.04 m)
- Height:18 ft5+1⁄2in (5.626 m)
- Wing area:993 sq ft (92.3 m2)
- Empty weight:19,089 lb (8,659 kg)
- Gross weight:26,500 lb (12,020 kg)
- Max takeoff weight:32,400 lb (14,696 kg)
- Powerplant:2 ×Wright R-2600-3radial engine,1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed:282 mph (454 km/h, 245 kn) at 12,000 ft (3,660 m)
- Cruise speed:210 mph (340 km/h, 180 kn)
- Range:1,400 mi (2,300 km, 1,200 nmi)
- Service ceiling:31,600 ft (9,600 m)
- Time to altitude:6.7 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
Armament
- Guns:3 ×.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns, 1 ×.50 in (12.7 mm) machine gun in tail
- Bombs:2,000 lb (910 kg) in bomb bay
See also
[edit]
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
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^abcMondey 1982, p. 111.
- ^"Stinger Gun in Plane's Tail Guards Vulnerable Spot".Popular Science.Vol. 75, no. 1. January 1941. p. 6.Retrieved24 August2021.
- ^Francillion, R.J. (1988).McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920: Volume I.Naval Institute Press. p. 304.ISBN0 87021-428-4.
- ^abc"McChord Air Museum Homepage - Douglas B-23 Dragon (s/n 39-36) 89th Reconnaissance Squadron, McChord AAF".www.mcchordairmuseum.org.Retrieved2023-03-31.
- ^"Have You Seen?".Flying.Vol. 37, no. 1. July 1945. p. 73.Retrieved24 August2021.
- ^"UC-67 Dragon/39-031"aviationmuseum.euRetrieved: 15 July 2013.
- ^"B-23 Dragon/39-0036."McChord Air Museum.Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^"B-23 Dragon/39-0051."Archived2014-07-14 at theWayback MachinePima Air & Space Museum.Retrieved: 31 May 2011.
- ^"UC-67 Dragon/39-0047."Castle Air Museum.Retrieved: 15 December 2017.
- ^"FAA Registry: N747M."FAA.govRetrieved: 15 July 2021.
- ^"B-23 Dragon/39-0037."USAF Museum.Retrieved: 18 November 2015.
- ^"B-23 Dragon/39-0038."1941 Historical Aircraft Group.Retrieved: 25 December 2010.
- ^"FAA Registry: N4000B"FAA.govRetrieved: 15 July 2021.
- ^"FAA Registry: N777LW."FAA.govRetrieved: 15 July 2021.
- ^n777lw (registration)on Twitter
- ^"Idaho History May 21, 2017".The Yellow Pine Times.20 November 2018.Retrieved24 August2021.
- ^Francillon 1979, pp. 314, 317
Bibliography
[edit]- Francillon, René J.McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920.London, Putnam, 1979.ISBN0-370-00050-1.
- Jesse, William (May–June 1999). "Short-lived Dragon: The Douglas B-23".Air Enthusiast(81): 70–72.ISSN0143-5450.
- 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.ISBN1-85152-706-0.
External links
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