Douglas B-23 Dragon Explained

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

Design and development

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. 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]

Operational history

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

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. Howard Hughes (among others) used converted B-23s as personal aircraft.

Operators

United States

Variants

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

    Ecuador

    UC-67

    United States

    On display

    B-23
    UC-67

    Under restoration or in storage

    B-23
    UC-67

    Wrecks

    B-23

    References

    Bibliography

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Mondey 1982, p. 111.
    2. Stinger Gun in Plane's Tail Guards Vulnerable Spot . Popular Science . January 1941 . 75 . 1 . 6 . 24 August 2021.
    3. Book: Francillion, R.J. . 1988 . McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920: Volume I . Naval Institute Press . 304 . 0 87021-428-4 .
    4. Web site: McChord Air Museum Homepage - Douglas B-23 Dragon (s/n 39-36) 89th Reconnaissance Squadron, McChord AAF . 2023-03-31 . www.mcchordairmuseum.org.
    5. Have You Seen? . Flying . July 1945 . 37 . 1 . 73 . 24 August 2021.
    6. http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Latin_America/Ecuador/Quito/Museo_Aeronautico_Ecuatoriana/B-23_TH-344.htm "UC-67 Dragon/39-031"
    7. http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20COLLECTION%20B-23%20BORDER.htm "B-23 Dragon/39-0036."
    8. http://www.pimaair.org/visit/aircraft-by-name/item/douglas-b-23-dragon "B-23 Dragon/39-0051."
    9. https://www.castleairmuseum.org/collection "UC-67 Dragon/39-0047."
    10. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=747M "FAA Registry: N747M."
    11. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/198011/douglas-b-23-dragon.aspx "B-23 Dragon/39-0037."
    12. http://www.1941hag.org/b_23_dragon.html "B-23 Dragon/39-0038."
    13. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=4000B "FAA Registry: N4000B"
    14. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=777LW "FAA Registry: N777LW."
    15. https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/n777lw n777lw (registration)
    16. Web site: Idaho History May 21, 2017 . The Yellow Pine Times . 24 August 2021 . 20 November 2018.

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