The Douglas B-23 Dragon is an American twin-engined bomber developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company as a successor to the B-18 Bolo.

B-23 Dragon / UC-67
A B-23 Dragon in USAAC markings during the early 1940s
General information
TypeMedium bomber
National originUnited States
ManufacturerDouglas Aircraft Company
Primary userUnited States Army Air Corps
Number built38
History
First flight27 July 1939
Developed fromDouglas B-18 Bolo

Design and development

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Douglas proposed a number of modifications designed to improve the performance of the B-18. Initially considered a redesign, the XB-22 featured 1,600 hp Wright R-2600-1 Twin Cyclone radial engines. The complete B-18 redesign was considered promising enough by the USAAC to alter the original contract to produce the last 38 B-18As ordered under Contract AC9977 as the B-23.[1] The design incorporated a larger wingspan with a wing design very similar to that of the DC-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 the prone position by a gunner using a telescopic 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]

 
B-23 Dragon front
 
B-23 Dragon side

Operational history

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While significantly faster and better armed than the B-18,[4] the B-23 was not comparable to newer medium bombers like the North American B-25 Mitchell and Martin 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 redesignated UC-67.[4]

The B-23 also served as a testbed for new engines and systems. For example, one was used for turbosupercharger development by General Electric at Schenectady, 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

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  United States

Variants

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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

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Douglas B-23 Dragon at Castle Air Museum
 
Douglas B-23 Dragon at Pima Air & Space Museum

Ecuador

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United States

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Specifications (B-23 Dragon)

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3-view line drawing of the Douglas B-23 Dragon

Data from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920[15]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Six
  • Length: 58 ft 4+34 in (17.799 m)
  • Wingspan: 92 ft 0 in (28.04 m)
  • Height: 18 ft 5+12 in (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-2600-3 radial 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

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Mondey 1982, p. 111.
  2. ^ "Stinger Gun in Plane's Tail Guards Vulnerable Spot". Popular Science. Vol. 75, no. 1. January 1941. p. 6. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  3. ^ Francillion, R.J. (1988). McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920: Volume I. Naval Institute Press. p. 304. ISBN 0 87021-428-4.
  4. ^ a b c "McChord Air Museum Homepage - Douglas B-23 Dragon (s/n 39-36) 89th Reconnaissance Squadron, McChord AAF". www.mcchordairmuseum.org. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  5. ^ "Have You Seen?". Flying. Vol. 37, no. 1. July 1945. p. 73. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Douglas UC-67 Dragon, s/n 39-0031 USAAF, c/n 2717, c/r HC-APV". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  7. ^ "FAA Registry [N747M]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Douglas B-23 Dragon". McChord Air Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Douglas B-23 Dragon". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  10. ^ "The B-23 Dragon Project". 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Douglas B-23 Dragon". Castle Air Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Douglas B-23 Dragon". Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  13. ^ "FAA Registry [N4000B]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  14. ^ "FAA Registry [N777LW]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  15. ^ Francillon 1979, pp. 314, 317

Bibliography

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  • Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London, Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1.
  • Jesse, William (May–June 1999). "Short-lived Dragon: The Douglas B-23". Air Enthusiast (81): 70–72. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • 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. ISBN 1-85152-706-0.
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