page_title: Douglas A-20 Havoc
section_title: Australia
hierarchical_section_title: Douglas A-20 Havoc / Operational history / Australia
caption_attribution_description: English: AWM caption&#160;: NOEMFOOR ISLAND, DUTCH NEW GUINEA. C. 1944-08. 41716 LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN (LAC) W. C. TURNER, BENDIGO, VIC (ON TOP OF PLANE) AND 69613 LAC F. BAUMER, FIVEDOCK, NSW, LOADING .50 INCH CALIBRE AMMUNITION ONTO A BOSTON BOMBER AIRCRAFT OF NO. 22 SQUADRON RAAF PRIOR TO TAKING OFF ON A STRIKE OVER ENEMY TERRITORY.
context_page_description: The Douglas A-20 Havoc is an American medium bomber, attack aircraft, night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II.
  Designed to meet an Army Air Corps requirement for a bomber, it was ordered by France for their air force before the USAAC decided it would also meet their requirements. French DB-7s were the first to see combat; after the fall of France the bomber, under the service name Boston continued with the Royal Air Force. From 1941, night fighter and intruder versions were given the service name Havoc. In 1942 USAAF A-20s saw combat in North Africa.
  It served with several Allied air forces, principally the United States Army Air Forces, the Soviet Air Forces, Soviet Naval Aviation, and the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom. A total of 7,478 aircraft were built, of which more than a third served with Soviet units. It was also used by the air forces of Australia, South Africa, France, and the Netherlands during the war, and by Brazil afterwards.
  In most British Commonwealth air forces, the bomber variants were known as Boston, while the night fighter and intruder variants were named Havoc.
context_section_description: The next 22 DB-7Bs to be delivered to East Indias were diverted to the Royal Australian Air Force. They served with No. 22 Squadron RAAF and fought in the East Indies from September 1942. RAAF Bostons took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and in attacks on a large Japanese convoy headed toward Lae.
  Some A-20A/C/G planes arrived from the US from September 1943. By November 1944, No 22 Squadron was going to be assigned to the Philippines. 13 Bostons were destroyed on the ground during a Japanese raid on Morotai. The squadron was withdrawn to Noemfoor, where it was re-equipped with Beaufighters before it returned to action. Surviving Bostons were relegated to transport, mail delivery and communications.
caption: Loading .50-caliber ammunition onto a Boston of No. 22 Squadron RAAF at Noemfoor Island, Netherlands New Guinea, in August 1944.
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