Douglas Boston Mk.IV RAF BZ443/OA-B Free French Air force, HA4203, 1:72

Highly detailed die cast Hobby Master model Boston Mk.IV BZ443/OA-B 342 "Lorraine" Sqn, Free French Air Force B.50 Vitry en Artois, France 1944 1:72 Scale Item: HA4203 True 1/72 scale. Professionally painted. Great attention to detail. All markings are Tampoed (pad applied). Option to display the model on a stand that is provided. Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions. Canopy can be removed to place figures inside. Figures included. Dorsal turret can turn. Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic. Highly collectable. With war approaching America knew it would be called upon to aid their Allies so a new aircraft would need to be developed. Douglas Aircraft designer Ed Heinemann’s DB-7/A-20 was chosen to be the new attack-bomber. The prototype flew in December 1938 with the first production aircraft flew on August 17, 1939. Production ran until September 1944 with 7,478 aircraft built. During WWII these were supplied to French, British, Australian, Dutch and Soviet forces as well as their own U.S. forces. The Douglas A-20J 43-21440 was built with an extended Plexiglas nose that housed a bombardier and was sent to the RAF. From there the aircraft was assigned to the b342 “Lorraine” Squadron, Free French Air Force who began operations on June 12, 1943. They carried out daylight raids over Northern France and then targeted V-1 sites. In August 1944 the 342 Squadron received the newer Boston Mk.IV just before moving B.50 Vitry-en-Artois in October. They operated the MK.IV until April 1945 when they converted to B-25 Mitchell’s. Douglas DB-7 Boston / A-20 Havoc Role – Light Bomber Variants – A,B,C,G,H,J,K First Flight – October 26 , 1938 Entered Service – 1939 Manufacturing Period – 1939 - 1944 Number Built All Variants – 7,098 Douglas A-20G and J specifications Crew - 3