{{More citations needed|date=August 2024}}{{Short description|American medium bomber aircraft}} <!-- This article is a part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft | name = B-23 Dragon / UC-67 | image = File:Douglas B-23.jpg | caption = A B-23 Dragon in USAAC markings during the early 1940s | type = Medium bomber | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Douglas Aircraft Company | first_flight = 27 July 1939 | introduction = | retired = 1945 | status = | primary_user = United States Army Air Corps | more_users = | produced = <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built--> | number_built = 38 | unit cost = | developed_from = Douglas B-18 Bolo | variants = }}
The '''Douglas B-23 Dragon''' is an American twin-engined bomber developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company as a successor to the B-18 Bolo.
==Design and development== 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'''.<ref name="Mondey p. 111"/> 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.<ref name="Mondey p. 111">Mondey 1982, p. 111.</ref> The tail gun was a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine gun, which was fired from the prone position by a gunner using a telescopic sight.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Stinger Gun in Plane's Tail Guards Vulnerable Spot |magazine=Popular Science |date=January 1941 |volume=75 |issue=1 |page=6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ftkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA6 |accessdate=24 August 2021}}</ref>
The first B-23 flew on July 27, 1939 with the production series of 38 B-23s manufactured between July 1939 and September 1940.<ref>{{cite book |last=Francillion |first=R.J. |date=1988 |title=McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920: Volume I |publisher=Naval Institute Press |page=304 |isbn=0 87021-428-4 }}</ref>
thumb|B-23 Dragon front
thumb|B-23 Dragon side
==Operational history== While significantly faster and better armed than the B-18,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=McChord Air Museum Homepage - Douglas B-23 Dragon (s/n 39-36) 89th Reconnaissance Squadron, McChord AAF |url=https://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20COLLECTION%20B-23%20BORDER.htm |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=www.mcchordairmuseum.org}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Mondey p. 111"/> The B-23s were primarily relegated to training duties, although 18 of them were later converted as transports and redesignated '''UC-67.'''<ref name=":0" />
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. Another was used for testing cabin pressurization.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Have You Seen? |magazine=Flying |date=July 1945 |volume=37 |issue=1 |page=73 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9WYB5LkoXosC&pg=PA73 |accessdate=24 August 2021}}</ref>
After World War II, many examples were used as executive transports, with appropriate internal modifications, and as a result a large number have survived, both in public and private collections.<ref name=":0" /> Howard Hughes (among others) used converted B-23s as personal aircraft.
==Variants== ;B-23 :Twin-engined bomber version of the B-18 with modified fuselage, 38 built. ;C-67 :Conversion to utility transport with provision for glider towing, 12 conversions from B-23, redesignated UC-67 in 1943. ;UC-67 :C-67 redesignated in 1943.
==Operators== ;{{flag|United States|1912}} * United States Army Air Corps
==Accidents and incidents== * On 29 January 1943, a B-23 crash landed on Loon Lake near McCall, Idaho after getting lost in a snowstorm. After waiting at the crash site for five days, three of the crew hiked out to search for help. The five survivors that remained at the crash site were spotted by a passing airplane and rescued eleven days later. The three who hiked out reached a ranger station where they were able to call for help and were recovered on February 17th.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Jim |last2=Filler |first2=Bud |editor1-last=Preston |editor1-first=Peter |title=Aviation History of the Central Idaho Wilderness |date=May 2003 |publisher=Heritage Program, Payette National Forest, Forest Service, Intermountain Region, U.S. Department of Agriculture |pages=22–27 |url=https://objects.lib.uidaho.edu/taylorarchive/b08-PayetteNationalForestLiterature54.pdf |access-date=29 April 2026}}</ref>
==Surviving aircraft== [[File:Castle Air Museum B-23 Dragon.JPG|thumb|Douglas B-23 Dragon at Castle Air Museum]] [[File:N61Y Douglas B-23 Dragon (8739029084).jpg|thumb|Douglas B-23 Dragon at Pima Air & Space Museum]]
===Ecuador=== * 39-031 – UC-67 on static display at the Aeronautical and Space Museum of the Ecuadorian Air Force in Quito.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Douglas UC-67 Dragon, s/n 39-0031 USAAF, c/n 2717, c/r HC-APV |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=67265 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref>
===United States=== * 39-0033 – B-23 under restoration with ATW Aviation in Marana, Arizona.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAA Registry [N747M] |url=https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N747M |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref> * 39-0036 – B-23 on static display at the McChord Air Museum at McChord Field near Lakewood, Washington.<ref>{{cite web |title=Douglas B-23 Dragon |url=http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20COLLECTION%20B-23%20BORDER.htm |website=McChord Air Museum |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref> * 39-0037 – B-23 in storage at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.<ref>{{cite web |title=Douglas B-23 Dragon |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/198011/douglas-b-23-dragon/ |website=National Museum of the United States Air Force |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref> * 39-0038 – B-23 in storage at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, New York.<ref>{{cite web |title=The B-23 Dragon Project |url=http://www.1941hag.org/b_23_dragon.html |website=1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum |access-date=8 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510163747/http://www.1941hag.org/b_23_dragon.html |archive-date=10 May 2012}}</ref> * 39-0047 – UC-67 on static display at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.<ref>{{cite web |title=Douglas B-23 Dragon |url=https://www.castleairmuseum.org/collections/douglas-b-23-dragon |website=Castle Air Museum |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref> * 39-0051 – B-23 on static display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.<ref>{{cite web |title=Douglas B-23 Dragon |url=https://www.pimaair.org/museum-aircraft/douglas-b-23 |website=Pima Air & Space Museum |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref> * 39-0057 – B-23 in storage at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAA Registry [N4000B] |url=https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N4000B |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref> * 39-0063 – B-23 airworthy with private owner in Anchorage, Alaska.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAA Registry [N777LW] |url=https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N777LW |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref>
==Specifications (B-23 Dragon)== frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the Douglas B-23 Dragon
{{Aircraft specs |ref=McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920<ref name="Frncdoug p314,7">Francillon 1979, pp. 314, 317</ref> |prime units?=imp <!-- General characteristics --> |genhide=
|crew=Six |capacity= |length m= |length ft=58 |length in=4+3/4 |length sigfig=4 |span m= |span ft=92 |span in=0 |swept m=<!-- swing-wings --> |swept ft=<!-- swing-wings --> |swept in=<!-- swing-wings --> |height m= |height ft=18 |height in=5+1/2 |height sigfig=3 |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=993 |wing area note= |swept area sqm=<!-- swing-wings --> |swept area sqft=<!-- swing-wings --> |aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=19089 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=26500 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb=32400 |fuel capacity= |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Wright R-2600-3 |eng1 type=radial engine |eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 hp=1600<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines -->
Performance --> |perfhide=
|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=282 |max speed kts= |max speed note=at 12,000 ft (3,660 m) |cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown --> |cruise speed mph=210 |cruise speed kts= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |range km= |range miles=1400 |range nmi= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |endurance=<!-- if range unknown --> |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=31600 |g limits=<!-- aerobatic --> |roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |time to altitude=6.7 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,050 m) |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |more performance= <!-- 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 |rockets= |missiles= |hardpoints= |hardpoint capacity= |hardpoint rockets= |hardpoint missiles= |hardpoint bombs= |hardpoint other=
|avionics= }}
==See also== {{Portal|Aviation}} {{Aircontent |related= * Douglas DC-3 * Douglas B-18 Bolo * Douglas XB-22 |similar aircraft= * Martin B-26 Marauder * North American B-25 Mitchell |lists= * List of aircraft of World War II * List of bomber aircraft * List of military aircraft of the United States |see also= }}
==References== ===Notes=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== * Francillon, René J. ''McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920''. London, Putnam, 1979. {{ISBN|0-370-00050-1}}. *{{cite journal |last1=Jesse|first1=William|title=Short-lived Dragon: The Douglas B-23|journal=Air Enthusiast|date=May–June 1999|issue=81|pages=70–72 |issn=0143-5450}} * Mondey, David. ''The Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II''. London: Hamlyn Publishing Group, 2002, (republished 1996 by the Chancellor Press), First edition 1982. {{ISBN|1-85152-706-0}}.
==External links== {{Commons category|Douglas B-23 Dragon}} * [https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/198011/douglas-b-23-dragon/ Douglas B-23 Dragon] – National Museum of the United States Air Force
{{Douglas aircraft}} {{Douglas DC-3 family}} {{USAF bomber aircraft}} {{USAF transports}} {{Authority control}}
B-23 Dragon Category:1930s United States bomber aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1939 Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft