The Soviet Union was actually the single largest user of the DB-7/A-20 series, receiving nearly half the total production. The USA reserved no less than 3125 DB-7Bs, DB-73s, DB-7Cs, A-20Bs, A-20Cs, A-20Gs, A-20Hs, and A-20Ks for delivery to the USSR under Lend-Lease. 2901 of these were actually delivered. In addition, substantial numbers of RAF Bostons were diverted to the Soviet Union. Many of the Soviet A-20s were ferried by air to Russia via Iran or Alaska rather than sending them via sea, where a number had been lost aboard ships to German U-boats.
Some of the Soviet A-20s had their rear gun positions replaced by a
spherically-shaped Russian-built turret containing a single 12.7-mm
Beresin BS machine gun. Soviet A-20s were used in just about every
conceivable role, ranging from tactical support of armored units, to
low-level strafers, to torpedo bombers. Unfortunately, little is
known in the West about the service of Soviet A-20s. When the war
ended, they were rapidly phased out of service.
Sources:
-
American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner, Doubleday,
1982.
-
United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
-
McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920, Vol 1, Rene J. Francillon,
Naval Institute Press, 1988
-
A-20 Havoc in Action, Aircraft Number 144, Squadron/Signal Publications,
Jim Mesko, 1994.
-
Famous Bombers of the Second World War, William Green, Doubleday, 1960
-
Boston, Mitchell and Liberator In Australian Service, Stewart Wilson,
Aerospace Publications, 1992.
-
Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Military Press, 1989.
- Dog of War, Peter M. Bowers, Wings and Airpower, Vol 26 No 1 (1996)
