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| USAAF 5th AF 312th BG 387th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 21274. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G Havoc serial number 43-21627. Disassembled and shipped overseas across the Pacific to Australia and reassembled at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History During June 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG), 387th Bombardment Squadron (387th BS). No known nickname, nose art or markings. This A-20 was flown from Garbutt Field via Cairns Airfield then Horn Island Airfield before arriving at 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby then across New Guinea to Nadzab Airfield to join the squadron. On July 4, 1944 while parked at Nadzab Airfield, the explosion of A-20G 43-9391 in a nearby revetment damaged ten other A-20s including the tail fin of this aircraft. Afterwards, It was repaired with the tail fin salvaged from A-20G 43-9092. This A-20 operated from Gusap Airfield and Hollandia Airfield flying low level strikes against Japanese including targets at Sawar, Sarmi, Utarom and Babo. Left the squadron during November 1944. Mission History During late 1944, this A-20's wing was damaged by by Japanese anti-aircraft fire. Pilots had been instructed that, if badly damaged, they should put down at Tadji Airfield to avoid closing Hollandia Airfield which was heavily used at the time. The squadron records do not show who was flying this A-20 on the day it was written off. After inspecting damage to the airframe it was scrapped and pushed to the side of the runway and used for parts. Wreckage Until 1974, this A-20 remained in situ at Tadji Airfield. Salvage During 1974, recovered by Australian "Monty" Armstrong as part of a salvage operation funded by David Tallichet / Yesterday's Air Force (YAF). Moved to the beach it was loaded onto a barge and transported to Australia then shipped to the United States ans trucked to Chino Airport. Restoration Over the next thirty years, this A-20 was stored at Yesterday's Air Force (YAF) at Chino Airport. During this time, some restoration work was performed but was only minor or preventive maintenance and was never completed. Sometime before January 2006, moved to the Pima Air & Space Museum (Pima Museum) and was under restoration in the restoration hangar. During January 2006, the fuselage with wings and tail stabilizers removed was undergoing restoration with repair work to the center section lower area around the bomb bay. The rear fuselage had the original U.S. Star and bars marking still visible. After David Tallichet passed away on October 31, 2007 the ownership and whereabouts of this aircraft are unclear. As of 2020, this A-20 is not listed on the Pima Air & Space Museum (Pima Museum) official website. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-20G-40-DO Havoc 43-21627 "21627 (312th BG, 387th BS) damaged in 1943 (with 10 other aircraft) when A-20 43-9391 exploded in its dispersal area. W/o at Tadji after damaging its undercarriage. Recovered from Papua New Guinea by David Tallichet in 1972 and shipped to USA for restoration by Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation. Under restoration at Pima Air and Space Museum, AZ" Pacific Aircraft Wrecks (1979) cover, page 41, 70 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - A-20G Havoc 43-21627 Rampage of the Roarin' 20's (2009) pages 359 Contribute
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