Page 4 - Aerotech News and Review, Aug. 6, 2021

Rare Mojave Dragon now lives in Washington
by Cathy Hansen
special to Aerotech News
This World War II vintage twin-en- gine bomber was developed and test flown by Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, Calif., and was designated as the B-23 Dragon.
It was first flown in July 1939, and incorporated many features of the Douglas DC-3 commercial transport. This B-23 was built by Douglas Air- craft Company, was completed June 28, 1940.
My husband, Al Hansen, and his friend and partner Ascher Ward,
bought the B-23 from the Univer- sity of Washington and flew it from Kingman, Ariz., to Mojave Airport in 1985. The plane had served the uni- versity as a weather survey craft for meteorology students. All radar and weather equipment was removed and it was returned to its original configu- ration.
In 1938, the Douglas Aircraft Com- pany developed the B-23 Dragon to rectify the shortcomings of the B-18 Bolo,.The B-23 Dragon featured up- graded engines, considerably refined fuselage included and a tail gun posi- tion found in the B-18.
The B-23 Dragon at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
The B-23 Dragon at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
Photograph by Cathy Hansen
McChord Army Air Field, Wash., re- ceived their first factory fresh Dragon Bombers as a supplement to the B-18 Bolos currently assigned to the base.
See DRAGON, Page 5
Photograph by Cathy Hansen
The first B-23 was completed in July of 1939, and completed its first flight from Clover Field at Santa Monica on July 27, 1939. After being evaluated by the Materiel Division at
Wright Field in Ohio, deliveries of the aircraft began the next year.
Beginning in February in 1940, the 17th Bombardment Group and the 89th Reconnaissance Squadron at
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August 6, 2021