Reconnaissance Havocs
During the production of the P-70 night fighter, three were set aside to convert to a reconnaissance platform. These are hard to distinguish from other Havocs. The best way to identify the F-3 reconnaissance variants of the Havocs is to find the serial number. Remember that recon birds are usually unarmed and therefore a ready target. Exceptions were the XF-3 and YF-3. The F-3 was created by taking what is essentially an A-20A, adding windows to the sides of the aft bomb bay as well as a six paneled greenhouse above it. The bay then had a seat, photographic equipment (which included a tandem T-3A camera ), and a bulged bomb bay underneath. It should be noted that the area above the bomb bay was an open truss on the havoc so the greenhouse above it had the effect of a skylight.
Cameras Used
T-3A in Tandem: Fairchild Aerial Camera Corporation T-3A camera on gimbal mount within case, serial HU-1-35, stored at Harvard University:
The Type T-J camera (Figure 6) was the first truly standard mapping camera. Its five lenses all were of 6" focal-length. The lenses were clustered with a central one aimed vertically, and the other four placed at 90° intervals around the central lens and tilted at 43° angles of obliquity. The lenses of the T-3 camera had F / 6.8 apertures, and 5!" X 6" negatives were produced from each lens (Figure 7). The T-JA camera differed from the T-3 in that it had a choice of three shutter speeds instead of the fixed 1/50 second speed (Figure 8).
A tandem T-3A configuration was used in mapping during the 1930's (Figure 9). The resultant rectified mosaic, produced from one vertical and eight oblique prints, took the form of an octagon (Figure 10). I t produced a total angular coverage of about 140°. Control between prints was effected through a slight overlap of coverages. One T-3 and twelve T-3A cameras were built for the Air Corps.
Skylight Panels over Rear Bomb Bay Half
Note the communication equipment on this early Boston restoration is on a shelf mounted on an open trusswork over the bomb bay:
This open trusswork continued throughout production. An illustration form the A-20G-1-DO manual (showing a window I need to add to Amourous Amazon):
The bombardier's nose was left intact and not used but allowed for easy and quick conversion to a bomber, if needed. See scanned excerpt from manual.
From Joe Baugher's excellent serial number reference site:
Serials of F-3:
39-741 Douglas XF-3 Havoc - transferred to US Navy as BD-1 BuNo 4251
Bomb bay is bulged (arrow points to lower windows added in former gunner's area):
39-745 Douglas YF-3 Havoc
39-748 Douglas YF-3 Havoc see below (bomb bay is bulged):
Note zippered entryway into the photographer's compartment (aft bomb bay) and the two oxygen bottle at the bottom:
Modeling the F-3
Best to start with the A-20B/C kit as it should have the correct engine covers with the separated exhausts (not a collector ring with a single ejector on the outboard of the nacelles as per the A-20A).
After this, ALL F-3A were based on glass nosed A-20J/K
Cameras Used
K-19B Preferred
Alternates used
K-17
K-22
In use
A-20J-10-DO Havoc serial number 43-9876 converted to F-3A
A-20J-15-DO Havoc serial numbers 43-21457/21461 converted to F-3A
A-20J-15-DO Havoc serial number 43-21581 converted to F-3A
A-20J-20-DO Havoc serial numbers 43-22091/22092 converted to F-3A
A-20K-5-DO Havoc serial number 44-71 converted to F-3A
A-20K-10-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-194/198 converted to F-3A
A-20K-10-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-342/347 converted to F-3A
A-20K-10-DO Havoc serial number 44-347:
A-20K-10-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-365/369 converted to F-3A
A-20K-15-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-707/711 converted to F-3A
A-20K-15-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-733/735 converted to F-3A
Another source lists these serials as known AAF F-3A:
43-9876
43-21457/21461
43-21581
43-2209/22093
44-71/72
44-194/198
44-342/347
44-364/370
44-707/711
44-719/728
44-733/734
Anomaly, what is the actual serial number?
43-21XXX (43-21737? If so, not on Joe Baugher's list)
Are these F-3A?
Guns plated over and football instead of loop antenna?
43-21749 converted to F-3A. With 10th PRG, 155th PRS, crashed while landing at St Dizier/Robinson Airfield (A-64) in France Dec 22, 1944. Brake system failed. Navigator was killed.
Looking at photographs, I am searching for camera openings in the bomb bay. This one isn't it as it is too small, in the forward half of the bay and on a gunship:
Squadrons using the F-3A
10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group codes:
12 Sq ZM
15 Sq 5M
30 Sq I6
31 Sq 8V
33 Sq SW
34 Sq S9
155 Sq O9
162 Sq IX
What would definitely reveal an F-3A when we can't see the serial or squadron codes would be square cutouts on the bomb bay doors for the camera windows.
To be continued...
At Goshawk, they seem to have recovered (but not identified) an F-3. I have of course contacted them as it is HUGE if true!
During the production of the P-70 night fighter, three were set aside to convert to a reconnaissance platform. These are hard to distinguish from other Havocs. The best way to identify the F-3 reconnaissance variants of the Havocs is to find the serial number. Remember that recon birds are usually unarmed and therefore a ready target. Exceptions were the XF-3 and YF-3. The F-3 was created by taking what is essentially an A-20A, adding windows to the sides of the aft bomb bay as well as a six paneled greenhouse above it. The bay then had a seat, photographic equipment (which included a tandem T-3A camera ), and a bulged bomb bay underneath. It should be noted that the area above the bomb bay was an open truss on the havoc so the greenhouse above it had the effect of a skylight.
Cameras Used
T-3A in Tandem: Fairchild Aerial Camera Corporation T-3A camera on gimbal mount within case, serial HU-1-35, stored at Harvard University:
The Type T-J camera (Figure 6) was the first truly standard mapping camera. Its five lenses all were of 6" focal-length. The lenses were clustered with a central one aimed vertically, and the other four placed at 90° intervals around the central lens and tilted at 43° angles of obliquity. The lenses of the T-3 camera had F / 6.8 apertures, and 5!" X 6" negatives were produced from each lens (Figure 7). The T-JA camera differed from the T-3 in that it had a choice of three shutter speeds instead of the fixed 1/50 second speed (Figure 8).
A tandem T-3A configuration was used in mapping during the 1930's (Figure 9). The resultant rectified mosaic, produced from one vertical and eight oblique prints, took the form of an octagon (Figure 10). I t produced a total angular coverage of about 140°. Control between prints was effected through a slight overlap of coverages. One T-3 and twelve T-3A cameras were built for the Air Corps.
Skylight Panels over Rear Bomb Bay Half
Note the communication equipment on this early Boston restoration is on a shelf mounted on an open trusswork over the bomb bay:
This open trusswork continued throughout production. An illustration form the A-20G-1-DO manual (showing a window I need to add to Amourous Amazon):
The bombardier's nose was left intact and not used but allowed for easy and quick conversion to a bomber, if needed. See scanned excerpt from manual.
From Joe Baugher's excellent serial number reference site:
Serials of F-3:
39-741 Douglas XF-3 Havoc - transferred to US Navy as BD-1 BuNo 4251
39-745 Douglas YF-3 Havoc
39-748 Douglas YF-3 Havoc see below (bomb bay is bulged):
Note zippered entryway into the photographer's compartment (aft bomb bay) and the two oxygen bottle at the bottom:
Modeling the F-3
Best to start with the A-20B/C kit as it should have the correct engine covers with the separated exhausts (not a collector ring with a single ejector on the outboard of the nacelles as per the A-20A).
After this, ALL F-3A were based on glass nosed A-20J/K
Cameras Used
K-19B Preferred
Alternates used
K-17
K-22
In use
A-20J-10-DO Havoc serial number 43-9876 converted to F-3A
A-20J-15-DO Havoc serial numbers 43-21457/21461 converted to F-3A
A-20J-15-DO Havoc serial number 43-21581 converted to F-3A
A-20J-20-DO Havoc serial numbers 43-22091/22092 converted to F-3A
A-20K-5-DO Havoc serial number 44-71 converted to F-3A
A-20K-10-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-194/198 converted to F-3A
A-20K-10-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-342/347 converted to F-3A
A-20K-10-DO Havoc serial number 44-347:
A-20K-10-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-365/369 converted to F-3A
A-20K-15-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-707/711 converted to F-3A
A-20K-15-DO Havoc serial numbers 44-733/735 converted to F-3A
Another source lists these serials as known AAF F-3A:
43-9876
43-21457/21461
43-21581
43-2209/22093
44-71/72
44-194/198
44-342/347
44-364/370
44-707/711
44-719/728
44-733/734
Anomaly, what is the actual serial number?
43-21XXX (43-21737? If so, not on Joe Baugher's list)
Are these F-3A?
Guns plated over and football instead of loop antenna?
43-21749 converted to F-3A. With 10th PRG, 155th PRS, crashed while landing at St Dizier/Robinson Airfield (A-64) in France Dec 22, 1944. Brake system failed. Navigator was killed.
Looking at photographs, I am searching for camera openings in the bomb bay. This one isn't it as it is too small, in the forward half of the bay and on a gunship:
Squadrons using the F-3A
10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group codes:
12 Sq ZM
15 Sq 5M
30 Sq I6
31 Sq 8V
33 Sq SW
34 Sq S9
155 Sq O9
162 Sq IX
What would definitely reveal an F-3A when we can't see the serial or squadron codes would be square cutouts on the bomb bay doors for the camera windows.
To be continued...
At Goshawk, they seem to have recovered (but not identified) an F-3. I have of course contacted them as it is HUGE if true!