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Re: Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin and 40 Boston bombers in 1942 – can serials be identified?
From "Red Stars" vol 4. Page 199.
The first batch of 44 Boston's were shipped to Russia in late 1941.But only 3 arrived in Murmansk before the New Year,1942.
The rest were sent via the Middle East, arriving in Shuaibu(Iraq) in early 1942.
According to Contacts these aircraft were Boston III's intended for the RAF.
A-20C and DB-7B subtypes were however also observed by the Soviet inspectors.
AL263....502 were originally ordered for the Army de LaAir as the DB-7B and subsequently taken over by the RAF as Boston III's.While A-20C's of the range 41-19589 - 19728 were delivered simultaneously. Even a couple of Dutch DB-7C's originally ordered for the Dutch Air Force were included.
Some aircraft were re shipped from the UK, but most came from US factories.
According to British data, the 1st Middle East deliveries included 32 Boston III's in the AL265 - 330 range and another 45 in the AL675 to 832 range. All of which were originally intended for the RAF and French Air Force but were shipped directly from the USA.
44 specialy equipped Boston III's in transit to the USSR in 1943( in the HK869 - 972 range) were released by the Soviet Commission in Abadan for use by the RAF in the Middle East in exchange for Spitfires.
Known Boston deliveries to the USSR.
Boston III's: AL263 - 330; AL675 - 832.
A20C's: 41- 19589 - 19609; 41 - 19611 - 19631; 41-19645 - 19687; 41-19707 - 19724 (total 103).
From AB's "AA100 - AZ999"
Boston III's delivered by Boeing, Seattle between November 1941 and May 1942 to Contract F-672.
Of 56 delivered to the RAF of a batch of 240, the remainder diverted to the USAA and Russia.
The following were RAF sent to the USSR.
AL Serial range -
265, 267, 281, 282, 283, 287, 292, 294, 295, 297.
Of 240 Boston III's delivered by Boeing between October 1941 and October 1942 to Contract F-719.
74 diverted to USAAF before delivery.
The following were RAF sent to the USSR.
AL Serial range -
675, 695, 709, 732, 758, 764, 769, 772, 779, 784.
788, 789, 792, 793, 795, 796, 798, 799, 802, 803.
804, 806, 811, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 819, 820.
821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830.
831, 832.
Total = 52.
Those in the HK Serial number range were -
Transferred from Russian deliveries in December 1942,
35 - HK869 to HK903 all to SAAF.
1 - HK912 to SAAF.
1 - HK918 to SAAF.
4 - HK921 to HK924 to SAAF.
2 - HK934, HK935 to SAAF.
Hope this is of some use
Alex
Last edited by Alex Smart; 23rd January 2023 at 00:57.
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