Hobby Master 1/72 HA4206 Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-9407 Green Hornet 675 BS 417 BG New Guinea 1944
This attack bomber in diecast is a superb release from Hobbymaster.
With war approaching America knew it would be called upon to aid their Allies so a new aircraft would need to be developed. Douglas Aircraft designer Ed Heinemann’s DB-7/A-20 was chosen to be the new attack-bomber. The prototype flew in December 1938 with the first production aircraft flew on August 17, 1939. Production ran until September 1944 with 7,478 aircraft built. During WWII these were supplied to French, British, Australian, Dutch and Soviet forces as well as their own U.S. Forces.
On March 23, 1943 the 417th Bombardment Group (Light) was constituted and activated on March 28, 1943. This group trained on the Douglas A-20 Havoc in December 1943 and January 1944 before shipping out to the South Pacific and assigned to the 5th AF. In March 1944 the group began supporting ground forces on New Guinea as well as striking at enemy troops, supply depots, airfields and shipping. From September 1944 until they relocated in the Philippines in December 1944 they carried out these operations from Saidor New Guinea against other islands in the chain. Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-9407 was named “Green Hornet” and was assigned to the 675th BS / 417th BG in New Guinea during 1944 - 45. The aircraft was piloted by Lt. J.E. Pryor and crash landed in 1945 and was a write off.