A-20 to go on show at Hendon in 2010

The restored fuselage of RAFM Douglas A-20G 43-9436 in the Precision Aerospace Productions hangar at Wangaratta in early October. Photo: via RAFM.

Work on the RAF Museum's Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-9436 'Big Nig' is advancing rapidly with Precision Aerospace Productions of Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. The aircraft is now scheduled to go on display at Hendon towards the end of 2010, when it will become the only example of this important light bomber type on show anywhere in Europe. A Spitfire from the RAF Museum's (RAFM) reserve collection is scheduled to head to Australia in exchange for the rare A-20.

The RAFM Havoc was operated by the the 89th Bombardment Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force, from Nadzab, near Lae in Papua New Guinea (PNG). On May 3, 1944, it was brought down by ground fire after a raid on Japanese forces at Wewak, part of the mopping-up operations following the invasion of Hollandia.

This is just a taster — see December's Aeroplane magazine for the full story and more pictures.