What a beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This just in from TAH contributor, leading aviation photographer and Editor of "Air Classics" Michael O'Leary. The full story of the aircraft and its restoration, plus lots of exclusive photographs, will be in the October issue of "Air Classics" (see http://www.challengeweb.com/air-classics.html for more info).
Please share this post freely, but it would be much appreciated if you would mention "Air Classics" and "The Aviation Historian" when doing so, in order to give due credit. Thanks!
Here's the story to go with the pictures:
On 15 July, 2015, test pilot Stewart "Stew" Dawson gently pulled back on the control yoke and made aviation history as a Douglas A-20 Havoc took to the air for the first time in nearly a quarter-century. Impeccably restored by Aero Trader at Chino Airport, California, the aircraft is A-20G 43-21709. Owned by Rod Lewis of San Antonio, Texas, the Havoc served with the 46th Bomb Group — an Operational Training Unit (OTU) — located at Morris Field near Charlotte, North Carolina. It remained in the training mission until May 1945 when it was flown to Hill Field in Utah. At this time, the entire A-20 fleet was deemed to have little significance for the post-war USAAF and, with the end of the war, overseas examples were blown up at their bases while Stateside aircraft were flown to Reconstruction Finance Corporation fields scattered across the country for storage and disposal.
Havoc 43-21709 was at Searcy Field near Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it was part of 475 aircraft purchased by famed "Hollywood pilot" Paul Mantz. The aviator intended to scrap the majority of the aircraft (and make a large profit), but he kept a core of former warplanes, reasoning they would be useful in post-war Hollywood films. The Havoc was the only example of its type in this group and it was made airworthy and flown to Paul Mantz Air Services, Lockheed Air Terminal, Burbank, California, where it was registered NX67932.
On 28 November 1951, it was purchased by Glenn J. McCarthy — a self-made millionaire — who started working in oil fields as a roughneck at the age of 14 and worked his way up. McCarthy sponsored several aircraft at the post-war Cleveland National Air Races and had the Havoc converted as a fast personal transport with an executive interior and the registration N22M. Larger than life, McCarthy built a huge new hotel in Houston, Texas, named The Shamrock (an 18-story monument decorated in 63 shades of green) and then purchased Howard Hughes Boeing 307 to fly his more wealthy guests to the opening party. McCarthy inspired the Edna Ferber novel "Giant" and the movie of the same name.
McCarthy sold the Havoc in 1954 to Valley Hail Suppression association of Nebraska who apparently wanted to convert the plane for weather modification. This did not happen and the aircraft began to go through numerous ownerships, its condition constantly going downhill, before winding up with the irrepressible Isaac Newton "Junior" Burchinal of Paris, Texas. At the time Junior was operating the Flying Tiger Air Museum and flight school and giving ratings in Warbirds. Owner of the largest truck stop in Paris, as well as being the local preacher, Junior never got around to using the Havoc before he was nailed for drug running.
The aircraft went to William "Willy" Farah of El Paso, Texas. A wealthy clothing manufacturer, Farah had been a bomber pilot during World War Two and he brought the machine back to flying condition as N3WF, which flew again in 1974. This was not a restoration to today's standards, but a reasonable effort at making an airworthy Havoc.
Willy got into trouble with the IRS and donated the Havoc to the National Air and Space Museum. However, the IRS stepped in and grabbed the A-20 so it could be sold to benefit creditors. The aircraft became the property of the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston. It was purchased by an Australian buyer and moved to Aero Trader. Unfortunately, the Australian died and that is when Rod Lewis stepped in and purchased the A-20 and contracted Aero Trader to bring it back to complete authentic World War Two condition. This was a huge job since all military equipment had been stripped and the interior and structure modified for the executive role. It took six years, but Aero Trader got the job done, with an operational Martin 250 turret installed, working bomb bay, full armament, and all original wartime fittings.
As of 13 August, the Havoc had made four flights. Currently a Tokyo tank is being built to extend the type's limited range. Rod Lewis commented, "From what Stewart is telling me about the first flights, I am going to enjoy the flight characteristics. The A-20 represents to the collection [Lewis Air Legends] one the absolute jewels of what I am taking care to pass on to the next generation in order to show the world these amazing aircraft and to honour those that fought for our freedom."
The above article is by Michael O'Leary of "Air Classics", in association with "The Aviation Historian".
