DB-7/A-20's Diverted to Allied forces in the ME.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

I have recently come across details of DB-7/A-20's that were sent to Iran that were destined for the USSR. It seems that 40 or so of these aircraft were diverted ( around July 1942 ) and forwarded to the Allied forces in the Middle East instead of continuing to the USSR.
Which a/c serial numbers were these and their fate did they go to RAF, USAAC or SAAF Squadrons ?

Thank you,
Alex

[Zoran Petek]

Hi Alex,

Exchanged for Spitfires, 56 aircraft were allocated RAF Serials:
HK869 (Boston)
HK870 (Boston)
HK871 (Boston)
HK872 (Boston)
HK873 (Boston)
HK874 (Boston)
HK875 (Boston)
HK876 (Boston)
HK877 (Boston)
HK878 (Boston)
HK879 (Boston)
HK880 (Boston)
HK881 (Boston)
HK882 (Boston)
HK883 (Boston)
HK884 (Boston)
HK885 (Boston)
HK886 (Boston)
HK887 (Boston)
HK888 (Boston)
HK889 (Boston)
HK890 (Boston)
HK891 (Boston)
HK892 (Boston)
HK894 (Boston)
HK895 (Boston)
HK896 (Boston)
HK897 (Boston)
HK898 (Boston)
HK899 (Boston)
HK900 (Boston)
HK901 (Boston)
HK902 (Boston)
HK903 (Boston)
HK912 (Boston)
HK918 (Boston)
HK921 (Boston)
HK922 (Boston)
HK923 (Boston)
HK924 (Boston)
HK934 (Boston)
HK935 (Boston)
HK960 (Boston)
HK961 (Boston)
HK962 (Boston)
HK963 (Boston)
HK964 (Boston)
HK965 (Boston)
HK966 (Boston)
HK967 (Boston)
HK968 (Boston)
HK969 (Boston)
HK970 (Boston)
HK971 (Boston)
HK972 (Boston)
Used mostly by 12 and 24 Sqns SAAF, 18 (HK874, HK884, HK971, HK972) and 114 (HK874, HK969) Sqns RAF, 4 ADU, 5 RFU (HK886).
HK529 was listed in error in 13 Sqn's ORB for April 1945 instead of BZ529.

Zoran

[Alex Smart]

Hello Zoran,

Thank you for the list of HK serial numbers.

I am not sure if these are the one's that I seek. These were transfered from December 1942 onwards ( AB serials HA100-HZ999).

HK869 - 903 December 1942.
HK912 December 1942
HK918 December 1943
HK921-924 February 1943
HK934 935 April 1943
HK960-972 August/September 1943.

The ones I seek were earlier, July 1942.

However if the a/c had to be assembled in Iran , tested and then transfered I accept that it is possible that they did not enter RAF,SAAF until a much later date.

But were there Transfer's earlier than those you kindly provided I wonder ?

Page 128 of "The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia" specifically has "40 A-20's consigned to the USSR, were released on the 11th July, 1942 and flown to Egypt".

This suggests a different transfer at an earlier date.

Alex

[AndreasB]

Tedder's telegrams to London may have some more detail on this, I found them quite informative when it comes to dealing with aircraft supply during CRUSADER.


All the best


Andreas

[Zoran Petek]

Original Douglas A-20C Havocs from RAF contract (41-19088/MSN 7490/BZ196 to 41-19462/MSN 7864/BZ570) were either transferred to USSR or were taken over by USAAF after Pearl Harbor. Some were also diverted and used by SAAF in North Africa 1942 (with US serials).
For example 41-19406 is listed as transferred to USSR, but was flown in the Western Desert by 12 Sqn SAAF (coded 'F', X.42-III.43), and later 114 Sqn RAF.
From 12 Sqn's ORB:
41-19116/S 12 Sqn SAAF, XI.42; later coded 'L', Gzina I.43.
41-19118/Z 12 Sqn SAAF, XI.42.
41-19127/P 12 Sqn SAAF, XI.42-III.43.
41-19232/A 12 Sqn SAAF, IX.42.
41-19233/I 12 Sqn SAAF, IX-XI.42.
41-19238/W 12 Sqn SAAF, IX.42.
41-19242/W 12 Sqn SAAF, III.43.
41-19249/V 12 Sqn SAAF, I.43.
41-19269/R 12 Sqn SAAF, X.42.
41-19302/H 12 Sqn SAAF, IX.42.
41-19306/X 12 Sqn SAAF, IX.42-I.43.
41-19369/N 12 Sqn SAAF, X.42.
41-19398/W 12 Sqn SAAF, X-XI.42.
41-19406/F 12 Sqn SAAF, X.42-III.43.
41-19419/M 12 Sqn SAAF, XI.42.
41-19435/Q 12 Sqn SAAF, X-XI.42; later coded 'J', Gzina I.43.

Douglas A-20C-10 42-33201 to 41-33383, for RAF and Soviet Air Force.
Known as used by RAF:
42-33202/D 18 Sqn, 326 Wing.
42-33205/T 114 Sqn, 326 Wing.
42-33206/U 18 Sqn, 326 Wing.
42-33207/K 18 Sqn, 326 Wing. Listed "to USSR" by Baugher.
42-33208 (C/N 6670)
42-33215 (C/N 6677)
42-33216 (C/N 6678)
42-33223/H 18 Sqn, 326 Wing.
42-33224 (C/N 6686)
42-33227/M 18 Sqn, 326 Wing.
42-33229/A/41 18 Sqn, 326 Wing.
42-33232 (C/N 6694)
42-33253 (received RAF serial AL331)
42-33270 (C/N 6732)
42-33280 (C/N 6742)
42-33290 (C/N 6752)
42-33293 (C/N 6755)
42-33303 (C/N 6765)
42-33313 (C/N 6775)

Zoran

[Alex Smart]

Hi Zoran,
Any idea as to which if any of those in your latest list were delivered to Iran by air or sea before July 1942 ?
Thanks,
Alex

[HGabor]

A-20C-10-DO, S/N: 42-33302 (C/N 6764) was shot down over Baracska-SW, Hungary on January 25, 1945 by German flak. R-2600-23 engines: 43-154911 & 43-103804. 17 VA, 244 BAD, 260 BAP, 2nd Sq. Nikolai Fedorovich Shapovalov crew was KIA. (4 KIA) Completed on January 27, 1943 in Santa Monica, California, U.S.A. February 20, 1943: Long Beach, Calif., U.S.A. April 5, 1945: USSR. Price: $78.929.00 (USD)

Between October 1, 1944 - July 1, 1945 the soviet 17 VA, 244 BAD used the following A-20C-10-DOs:

42-33151
42-33156
42-33238
42-33262
42-33289
42-33294
42-33302
42-33320
42-33326
42-33348
42-33359
42-33377

AC service cards only say after Long Beach: Russia. No info on delivery routes (S-Atlantic-Iran, or ALSIB.)

Gabor

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Gabor for your reply. It answers unfortunately the fact that details of export route and dates per individual aircraft is not recorded
Have I understood that correctly ?

Alex

[HGabor]

Hi Alex,
Not quite. I think most of soviet Bostons do have records of their delivery route. I mean at least a clue. If their record in the States ends in Florida, then they obviously went to Brazil, Mid-Africa and then to Iran. If it ends in Montana, etc, then it went to the Northern, ALSIB route.

Attached 2 cards of soviet A-20Cs, including the previously mentioned 42-33302. Very brief info, so no clue for their delivery route. (The late A-20G cards are much better in terms of details.) Enjoy!

Gabor

[Alex Smart]

Thank you all for your valued contributions.
Will have to keep searching.
Alex