Douglas B-23 Dragon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_B-23_Dragon

The Douglas B-23 Dragon is an American twin-engined bomber developed by the
Douglas Aircraft Company as a successor to (and a refinement of) the B-18 Bolo.

Douglas proposed a number of modifications designed to improve the performance
of the B-18. Initially considered a redesign, the XB-22 featured 1,600 hp Wright
R-2600-1 Twin Cyclone radial engines. The complete B-18 redesign was considered
promising enough by the USAAC to alter the original contract to produce the last
38 B-18As ordered under Contract AC9977 as the B-23. The design incorporated a
larger wingspan with a wing design very similar to that of the DC-3, a fully
retractable undercarriage, and improved defensive armament. The B-23 was the
first operational American bomber equipped with a glazed tail gun position. The
tail gun was a .50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine gun, which was fired from the prone
position by a gunner using a telescopic sight.

The first B-23 flew on July 27, 1939 with the production series of 38 B-23s
manufactured between July 1939 and September 1940.


Role
Medium bomber

National origin
United States

Manufacturer
Douglas Aircraft Company

First flight
27 July 1939

Primary user
United States Army Air Corps

Number built
38

Developed from
Douglas B-18 Bolo

While significantly faster and better armed than the B-18, the B-23 was not
comparable to newer medium bombers like the North American B-25 Mitchell and
Martin B-26 Marauder. For this reason, the 38 B-23s built were never used in
combat overseas, although for a brief period they were employed as patrol
aircraft stationed on the west coast of the United States. The B-23s were
primarily relegated to training duties, although 18 of the type were converted
as transports and redesignated UC-67.

The B-23 also served as a testbed for new engines and systems. For example, one
was used for turbosupercharger development by General Electric at Schenectady,
New York.

After World War II, many examples were used as executive transports, with
appropriate internal modifications, and as a result a large number have
survived. With its wartime experience with the type, GE bought and used five of
them. Howard Hughes (among others) used converted B-23s as personal aircraft.

Specifications (B-23 Dragon)

General characteristics
Crew: Six
Length: 58 ft 4 3/4 in (17.799 m)
Wingspan: 92 ft 0 in (28.04 m)
Height: 18 ft 5 1/2 in (5.626 m)
Wing area: 993 sq ft (92.3 m2)
Empty weight: 19,089 lb (8,659 kg)
Gross weight: 26,500 lb (12,020 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 32,400 lb (14,696 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-2600-3 radial engine, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 282 mph (454 km/h; 245 kn) at 12,000 ft (3,660 m)
Cruise speed: 210 mph (338 km/h; 182 kn)
Range: 1,400 mi (1,217 nmi; 2,253 km)
Service ceiling: 31,600 ft (9,600 m)
Time to altitude: 6.7 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,050 m)

Armament

Guns: 3 × .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns, 1 × .50 in (12.7 mm) machine gun in
tail
Bombs: 2,000 lb (910 kg) in bomb bay


The B-23 "Dragon Bomber" Crash Site and Wreck at Loon Lake:

pics --- http://www.secesh.net/B23.htm

On January 29, 1943, the B-23 "Dragon Bomber" went down at Loon Lake (elevation
5,280') with eight men aboard. The plane was returning to McChord Field in
Tacoma, Washington from a training mission in Nevada when it flew into a heavy
snow storm near Pendleton, Oregon. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot
decided to attempt a landing in Boise. The approach was hampered by heavy icing
and a failed radio. An order to prepare to parachute was given at 13,000'. Just
then a hole developed in the cloud cover. A frozen lake was spotted and a
landing was attempted.

Frozen flaps caused the first approach to be abandoned. In a successful second
approach, the plane touched down on the frozen lake, sliding across the ice and
through the trees. With both wings sheared off, the plane came to rest 150 feet
from the shore of Loon Lake in the timber.

All eight men survived. A broken kneecap was the only injury.

After waiting five days for rescue, the crew selected three men to go for help.
On February 3rd, the three left Loon Lake with a shotgun and chocolate rations.
They followed the Secesh River downstream. Then, hiking over Lick Creek Summit,
elevation 6,700', they reached the Lake Fork Guard Station. Once inside, an
exhausted crew member picked up the telephone and spoke to the operator in
McCall. The three men had hiked for fourteen days and approximately 42 miles
through waist deep snow.

On February 18th, the wreckage was spotted by bush pilot, Penn Stohr, of
Cascade, Idaho. He returned and notified authorities. Stohr made two more
flights, landing on the frozen lake to fly the crew out. After some 21 days in
the harsh winter climate of Idaho's primitive area, all eight men were rescued.




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