No. 18 (Burma) Squadron Douglas Bostons

[Dave Homewood]

A few years ago I interviewed the now late WWII RNZAF pilot Ted Edwards, who flew with No. 18 Squadron RAF during WWII. Today I released the interview through the Wings Over New Zealand Show at www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2018/09/ted-edwards/

I was looking through his logbook which I photographed at the time, and I realised he was clever enough to write in both the codes and the serials for a lot of the Bostons he flew. He did this on the aircraft in which he flew ops, but not on aeroplanes he did other flights in, only the code letter for them, although they seem to likely be the same planes).

So few pilots noted both the codes and serials on aircraft, it was either one or the other. I decided in case anyone out there is looking for such data, I'll list the ones he noted down here. (this begins in June 1943):

"A" - Z2216 (he noted it as a Boston III)
"B" - Z2214 (he noted it as a Boston III)
"C" - Z2239 (he noted it as a Boston III)
"D" - W8349 (he noted it as a Boston III)
"E" - AL747 (he noted it as a Boston III)
"E" - Z2234 (he noted it as a Boston III, replacement?)
"F" - Z2226 (he noted it as a Boston III)
"G" - W8398 (he noted it as a Boston III)
"H" - 43-33223 (he noted it as an A-20C)
"K" - 42-33207 (he noted it as an A-20C)
"L" - Z2197 (he noted it as an A-20C)
"L" - Z2179 (he noted it as a Boston III) not sure if this is the same one above with wrong data
"P" - Z2280 (he noted it as a Boston III)

Bostons he flew without noting the serials were
"J" - (he noted it as a Boston III)
"N" - (he noted it as a Boston III)
"S" - (he noted it as a Boston III)
"V" - (he noted it as a Boston III)
"W" - (he noted it as a Boston III)
"X" - (he noted it as a Boston)

[davidd]

Good job there Dave, not that I have a particular interest in the type, but I am certain it has many fans out there, probably all around the world. One of the guides at the RNZAF Museum flew Bostons in North Africa, and he naturally considered the Boston the finest aircraft flown by the RAF in North Africa/Italy! Interesting that two USAAF aircraft are listed. I imagine that Edwards was a member of "A" Flight, judging by the almost exclusive appearance of (operational) aircraft with letters below "M".
David D

[Dave Homewood]

I've talked with at least three veterans who flew the Boston and they all thought it was top notch. Ted says in his interview it was lighter and better to fly than the Mitchell, and it was aerobatic (he even looped one!) and carried a bigger load.