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B-23 Dragon
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Photo: Robert Deering 1981 Valley International Airport (HRL) Harlingen, Texas |
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The B-23 is a
twin-engine bomber developed as a successor to
the Douglas B-18A. First flown in July 1939, the
B-23 incorporated many features of the Douglas
DC-3 commercial transport. Although it was much
faster than the B-18 and was the first
operational Army bomber equipped with a tail
gun, the Dragon was soon outclassed by more
modern bombers such as the North American B-25
and the Martin B-26. As a result, only 38 B-23s
were built.
The B-23s were never used in combat during World War II. Instead they served in secondary roles as reconnaissance, training, transport and test-bed aircraft. Some of the Dragons used in transport service were redesignated UC-67s. |
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