47th Bomb Group A-20 Skinpack

The 47th Bomb Group was the only USAAF group to use the Douglas A-20 Havoc in the MTO. They entered action early in January 1943 in southern Tunisia. After the German surrender in N Africa, the group participated in the bombing of the islands of Pantellaria and Lampedusa. In late summer 1943 the group moved to Malta, flying many missions in co-operation with RAF and SAAF light bomber units, some of which also flew the Douglas bomber. The group was able to move to airfields in Italy proper starting in September 1943. In 1945 the group started transitioning to the new A-26 Invader, finally giving up some of the A-20Bs they had been flying for the past two years!

* Skinning notes
The 47th BG used the A-20B, which was very unusual as the USAAF preferred the C and sent most B models to the USSR via Lend-Lease. The main external differences are the nose guns and different nose glass framing. The B didn't have the bulged mounts for the .30 cal machine guns on the A and C. Instead of the 4 nose .30s, the B had only a pair of .50s in a flush mounting very similar to that seen on the later A-20G\K. The nose glass framing was also stepped instead of a straight line that angled up towards the cockpit.

Many A-20Bs of the 47th BG were converted into gunships with the nose glass painted over and additional .50 cal machine guns mounted in the bombardier's position. Usually only 2 exra MGs were fitted, although some planes received 4. To represent these craft, you can use the skins on the "BostonIIIS Strafer" mod plane. Three of the skins in this set have the nose art altered to put it in a different position where it is not cut off by the nose glass. They are "Ball of Fire", "Gremlin BUggy", and "Marty I". All skins can be used on either the strafer or standard A-20C.

Late in the Tunisia campaign, the 47th BG started using "Battle Numbers" to indicate individual aircraft. These were prominently displayed on the tails in large light grey numbers. Like many other groups in the MTO, the number assigned was determined by the squadron.
84th BS -  1-24
85th BS - 25-49
86th BS - 50-74
97th BS - 75-99

For more information about the group, visit the group's historical society web site.
http://www.47thbombgroup.org

End User Terms of Use

These skins were made using my template heavily modified from Imme's original.
These skins can be used in any way you see fit, provided that the following stipulations are followed:

1) Not for commercial use without written permission from me.

2) Do not re-upload this template to another website without written permission from me.

3) Do not remove/alter the credits on the skins.

Jarink