Designed by the most innovative engineers in the USA, Jack Northrop and Ed. Heinemann, the Douglas A-20 family of aircraft made history. It was the first bomber with nose wheel landing gear. And at that time it was not needed by any country on earth! The prototype flew on 26th Oct. 1938, the first order for the Havoc was placed by France, followed by Belgium. It was only then that Great Britain showed interest in the aircraft. It was not until June 1942 that the first American A-20Cs came to England with the 15th Bomb Squadron and they were also used in North Africa. The main model of the A-20 family was the heavily armed G version. 2850 were built and used in all theatres of war. The A-20J was a remodelled G version that had frameless glazing in the nose instead of the 6 fixed MG’s. It was very often used as the lead machine in A-20G formations and was also used by the RAF under the designation Boston Mk. IV.