Douglas B-23 Dragon

The Douglas B-23 Dragon was an American twin-engined bomber developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company as a successor to the B-18 Bolo. Douglas proposed modifications to improve the B-18, and the complete redesign proved promising enough for the Army to change the contract for the last 38 B-18As into the B-23, with a larger wingspan resembling the DC-3 wing, a fully retractable undercarriage and improved defensive armament; it was the first operational American bomber with a glazed tail gun position. The first B-23 flew on July 27, 1939. Faster and better armed than the B-18 but outclassed by newer medium bombers, the 38 aircraft were never used in combat overseas and were mostly relegated to training and transport duties, and after the war many became executive transports.