Merry Christmas and aint we got Fun

Hi John, Merry Christmas mate. Indeed that is some amazing news.

I like the hought of all these big bombers hopping across the Tasman someday for a visit.

John, when are all these aircraft flying down to Canberra for a visit? ;D

The A-20 would be on a list of must sees, and it would fit in quite nicely with the Temora aircraft.

Canberra hasn't had a proper airshow since about 1993!

That's true; but once you've seen one Challenger 604, you've seen them all! ;D

...with onboard Olympic swimming pool???

Hi Dave here is a copy of the history from the Courtesy aircraft sales site

"Background

The Douglas A-20J, Ser. 21356, USAAF Ser. 43-21709, FAA Reg. N3WF is one of 450 “J” models that were built. One in ten “G” models were delivered as “J”s. The “J” model had a frameless glass nose which added 7” to its length and it had bombing equipment in the nose, two .50 cal guns each side of the nose, one .50 cal gun in a dorsal turret and one in the lower firing position. N3WF was delivered to the USAAF on April 8, 1944, from the Douglas Santa Monica, California plant. Later that month it went to the 46th Bomb Group, Morris Field, Charlotte, North Carolina. N3WF had three separate USAF unit assignments until August 1945 when it was dropped from the USAAF inventory, and was transferred to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC). It never saw combat while with the AAF, but was used as a trainer for replacement training. It remained with the RFC until February 19, 1946, when it, together with 474 other military aircraft were sold to Paul Mantz, Lockheed Air Terminal, a noted speed and stunt pilot. He paid $55,425.68 for the entire lot. Thus began its civilian career.

On May 17, 1948, N3WF was issued FAA Registration No. N67932. From that time on it had a number of civilian owners including Glenn McCarthy, (November 28, 1951), an oil and hotel magnet, who sponsored Paul Mantz’s P-51 record breaking speed runs. During this time it was converted to an executive transport by installing a passenger seat aft of the pilot, passenger windows were installed at that location, the glazed nose was replaced with a solid metal nose and the aft turret opening was covered over. On September 17, 1951, it was issued N22M FAA Registration Number which it held until being sold to William J. Farah, on August 6, 1970, at which time it was registered with the FAA as N3WF, the initials of the new owner.

According to Farah, the aircraft was crash landed in a field 5-6 miles from Vicksburg, Mississippi, around 1956, where it was abandoned. It remained there until discovered in 1970 by W.F. Farah. During the period 1955 to 1970, the aircraft passed through at least eight different owners, and from all indications it received no airworthiness inspections from 1957 to 1970. After purchasing the aircraft, Farah moved it to El Paso, where it was completely overhauled and replacement R-2600-23 engines were installed.

Upon completion of overhaul the aircraft received airworthiness approval on April 26, 1977, and, according to the record, had a total of 880 hours of flight time. Radio and navigation equipment were updated during overhaul as well as removal of the provision for passengers in rear section. The rear windows were skinned over. The aircraft was first flown by Farah on June 17, 1977. In July of 1983, the canopy was rebuilt and installed. On September 23, 1989, A-20J N3WF was donated to the NASM by W.F. Farah, and delivered to the Liberal Air Museum, Liberal, Kansas, on loan pending availability of suitable facilities in Washington, D.C. On arrival at Liberal the aircraft had a total of 1028.2 hours flight time and was painted in glossy camouflage colors. After delivery, certain items were removed by the crew which will need to be replaced should it be decided to fly the aircraft to the Dulles facility when built. The items included the following:

26 volt AC Inverter
Altimeter – transponder combination
Altitude Gyro
Navigation instrumentation
Radio compass
All radios including intercom



Chronicled History of Douglas A-20 Havoc
AAF Ser. 43-21709, Mfg. No. 21356

Subject aircraft was manufactured in 1943 by Douglas, at the Santa Monica, California plant. It was an A-20G converted to an A-20J. Its chronological history follows:

April 8, 1944: Delivered to USAAF, 46th Bomb Group, Morris Field, Charlotte, North Carolina.

June 21, 1944: to 351st Base Unit, Myrtle Beach Field, South Carolina

June 24, 1944 to 333rd Base Unit, Morris Field, Charlotte, North Carolina

February, 1945 to 119th Base Unit, Morris Field, 4135th Base Unit, Hill Field Ogden, VT, June 1945.

August 1945: dropped from USAAF inventory and transferred to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), Searcy Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma

During its USAAF tour it was employed in pilot replacement training and did not see combat or overseas service. Aircraft and engine logs for the period June 1944 to June 1977 are not available. After its military tour it was converted and employed as an executive transport.

February 19, 1946: Aircraft purchased by Paul Mantz Air Service, Lockheed Air Terminal, Burbank, California, together with 474 other aircraft for a total of $55,425.68. Paul Mantz was famous as a pre-World War II race pilot and movie flying daredevil.

May 10, 1948 and May 17, 1948: On request of Paul Mantz, the owner, FAA registration number N67932 was assigned to c/n 21356 AF 43-21749 which it held until 1951. It is alleged that Howard Hughes flew the aircraft sometime during this period.

September 17, 1951: Aircraft purchased by Potter Aircraft Service, Burbank. At this time FAA registration number 22M vice N67932 was assigned to Army AF 43-21709 Mfg. c/n 21356 which it held until 1974.

September 26, 1951: Four windows were installed in fuselage, forward left and right hand, and in the waist left and right hand.

November 28, 1951: Aircraft purchased by Glenn McCarthy, Houston oil magnet and owner of the Shamrock Hotel in Houston. Aircraft listed as Douglas A-20G, Ser. No. 21356.

November 30, 1951: Installed passenger seat aft of pilot seat. Windows also were installed at this location. The aft gun turret opening was covered with metal.

January 10, 1952: R-2600-23 engines were replaced with R-2600-8s.

February 15, 1954: Aircraft purchased by Valley Hail Suppression Association, Gering Nebraska.

March 18, 1955: Aircraft purchased by James M. Cook, Co., Jacksboro, Texas

August 31, 1955: Aircraft purchased by C.T. McLaughlin, Snyder, Texas. Aircraft listed as A-20J & A-20G.

1956: Aircraft alleged to have crash landed in a field near Vicksburg, Mississippi, where it remained until purchased by W.F. Farah in 1970. During the period from 1956 to 1970 it had a number of owners.

November 23, 1959: Aircraft purchased by Vest Aircraft and Finance Corp, Denver Colorado.

December 15, 1959: Aircraft purchased by Jack Adams Aircraft Sales Inc., Memphis, Tennessee.

February 21, 1962: Aircraft allegedly purchased by Billy D. Hicks, McGehee, Arkansas. Documentation at this point becomes confusing. George Treadwell Sr. and Jr. (lawyers) as well as Adams Aircraft apparently were owners sometime during 1962-1967.

January 9, 1967: Aircraft purchased from Billy Hicks by Jupiter, Inc., Houston, Texas.

December 14, 1968” Purchased by I.N. Burchinal, Paris, Texas, (owner of Warbird School and Chief Operating Officer, Welbocks Clothing).

August 6, 1970: Purchased by W.F. Farah

July 13, 1971: Registered with FAA as an A-20G, Ser. No. 21356

January 24, 1973: FAA registration changed from N22M to N3WF on Farah’s request.

April 28, 1977: aircraft was determined airworthy by FAA after complete overhaul by W.F. Farah and associates, and installation of new R-2600-23 engines.

May 19, 1977: Removed provision for passengers in rear.

June 10, 1977: Aircraft first flown by W.F. Farah. Total time on aircraft at this time was documented as 880 hours

July 26, 1983: Canopy rebuilt

September 23, 1989: Loaned to NASM and delivered to the Liberal Air Museum in Liberal, Kansas, for loan pending available space in Washington area. Total time on aircraft at the time 1028.20 hours. Aircraft flyable and painted in glossy camouflage paint scheme.

1991: Purchased by present owner and loaned for display to Lone Star Flight Museum - Galveston, TX





kind regards
John P