Cry Havoc! An A-20 Is Coming To EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

For our sport aviation enthusiasts who intend to be at AirVenture 2016, EAA continues to announce that more interesting aircraft will be placed on display. While this example goes a bit beyond recreational aviation, when you take your trek through the warbird area at AirVenture, be sure to find the rare Douglas A-20 that will be on display.

The World War II Douglas A-20 was designed in recognition of the need for a high performance, heavily armed, aircraft that could specialize in ground support missions. Today, it could be said that the Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (better known as the Warthog) fills a similar role as was intended for the A-20.

Of the more than 7,000 Douglas A-20 Havocs built for U.S. and Allied forces during World War II, just a handful survive, and EAA says as far as they know, only one flies…and it’s coming to Oshkosh. The twin-engine light bomber and attack aircraft is part of Rod Lewis’ Lewis Air Legends collection based in San Antonio, Texas. Lewis Air Legends is also the owner of the beloved P-38F Glacier Girl, as well as the well-known Reno racer Rare Bear, a highly modified F8F-2 Bearcat.

Lewis’ Havoc was built in 1943 as an A-20G, is powered by two 1,700-hp Wright R-2600s, armed with six 7.7mm (.303 caliber) machine guns (six Brownings, one Vickers) and could carry a bomb load of 4,000 pounds. The airplane was previously owned by the Lone Star Flight Museum, but has since been fully restored to its original, stock military configuration. AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 is expected to be the A-20’s first official public display since the restoration.

“We’re really excited to see this beautiful airplane this summer,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs who coordinates features and attractions at AirVenture. “As the only known flying example, the A-20 is truly unique and will be a great addition to the warbird lineup at Oshkosh 2016.”

The exact arrival and air show demonstration dates will be announced as they are finalized.

(Photo by Scott Slocum furnished by EAA)

FMI: www.eaa.org/en/airventure