[pursuivant]

Not a new aircraft, but one which was used by just about every Allied nation, and served in one form or another from 1939-45. IL2 gives us the A-20C and one of the A-20G variants, but it misses so many more.

I will point out two things:

1. The A-20s in the game are fully aerobatic and are capable of looping and turning like a fighter plane. The real life A-20G training film (see below) says that if you pull sharply out of a hard dive at more than 200 mph, or pull a hard turn of more than 70 degrees, you'll pull the wings off. Maybe that was just disinformation to keep the fledgling pilots in line, but I'm inclined to think that the IL2 stress modeling is crocked.

2. Many variants in the series differed only in armament, ordinance carried and engine horsepower.

With the blessings of Those on High, perhaps some initiate of the dark arts could spawn variants, or "corrected" versions of existing aircraft, as new slot aircraft by tweaking the Data that Must be Forever unMentioned.

Anyhow, here's a list of web sites for any brave soul who wishes to complete the series.

Overviews:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DB ... s_Model_7A
http://www.historyofwar.org/subject_air ... Havoc.html
http://www.military.cz/usa/air/war/bomb ... a20_en.htm
http://www.nwrain.com/~newtsuit/uas/a20a.html
http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/douglas_db-7.php
http://www.xs4all.nl/~fbonne/warbirds/w ... uga20.html
http://www.aero-web.org/locator/manufac ... s/a-20.htm

Good info, but in Czech:

http://airwar.valka.cz/muzeum/usa/boston/default.htm


Good technical data for the series

http://www.wwiitechpubs.info/hangar/ac- ... b7-br.html

Scans of Books about A-20 series. Excellent pictures and diagrams, but the text is mostly in Russian, Czech or Polish.

http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Analysis/Technics.html#Boston

Good diagram of the differences between the series:

http://www.bellabs.ru/51/A20/Bostons.gif

WW2-era technical diagrams of A-20 components

http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/More_ ... Stuff.html

There are also pirated copies of the Squadron Signal book "A-20 in Action" floating around on the net which you can download. That book gives more useful info.

Lots of pictures

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.s ... oc%20(DB-7)&distinct_entry=true
http://www.historyofwar.org/pictures_Do ... oston.html
http://flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy ... 293073111/

Don't bet on the last link in the series above to stick around for long.

Videos

A-20 Havoc in action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aobQKgIawAU

Boston IIIs over North Africa 1942-43 In COLOR - very yummy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZDf9rKm ... re=related

Boston Bombers in production and being prepped after shipment. Thrill to the sight of lackeys scraping Cosmoline off of duraluminum!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AC8HoUv ... re=related

Douglas DB7 / Havoc I or II Nightfighter in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFKLTdb0 ... re=related

A20G Ground attack with parachute bombs and napalm in Philippines. Mostly filmed from the ground, but lots of interesting action. Very instructive on how Tac-Air and FACs coordinated attacks (or not . . .).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwwcfn_B ... re=related

A20G training film - click the appropriate link on the page. About 5 minutes long. Highly recommended, even if the acting isn't so hot.

http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/A-20.html

Specifics about different models, mostly ripped off from the USAAF Museum site:

DB-7 /Boston I
Originally ordered by the French, with French guns and metric gauges. Only 65 in action before the Armistice. The Vichy government got most of them to North Africa, where they fought against the British and the Americans. The British took on the remainder of the French order. DB7s in RAF service were called Boston Mk. I or Mk. II, depending on the engine horsepower. Dual controls in rear position.
Compared to the A-20C in the game, the DB7 /Boston I & II has a narrower tail, slightly smaller engine nacelles and a slightly shorter nose. DB7A/ Boston II, had slightly different engine intake positions, better armor and self-sealing fuel tanks. Armament was British or French. There is a decent profiile here:

http://airwar.valka.cz/muzeum/usa/bosto ... t/b_02.jpg

This variant would require a new nose tail and engine cowling to replace bits of the existing model.

DB-7B/ Boston III
Upgrade of the DB7 in response to British requirements. British armament and gauges, more armor, larger fuel tanks, strengthened frame.
Compared to the A20-C in the game, the Boston III had a slightly shorter nose. Some planes might have had a Boulton-Paul dorsal turret (sort of like that in the Defiant or the Lancaster). the following diagrams might be accurate:

http://www.military.cz/usa/air/war/bomber/a20/a20d.gif
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/boston.html
http://airwar.valka.cz/muzeum/usa/bosto ... t/b_04.jpg

Color 2-view here (note that turret might be incorrect for British bomber)

http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/2-A ... A-20(Havoc)/A-20C(Havoc).htm

DB-7C
Dutch KNIL version of the DB-7B, first with the solid nose (4