Hobby Master 1/72 HA4212 Douglas A-20G Havoc USAAF 90th BG, 321st BS "Jolly Rogers", #43-9521 Little Chief, New Guinea, 1944

LIMITED EDITION

Douglas A-20G #43-9521, "Little Chief" was assigned to the 90th Bombardment Group, 321st Bombardment Squadron during World War II. Its nose art depicted a woman in a leather jacket with a 90th BG patch, her legs resting on boxes labelled "Gin Cairns" and her head on a parachute marked "521". Although combat capable, Little Chief became a well known "fat cat" transport, flying runs between New Guinea and Australia to bring back fresh food, mail, and alcohol for the squadron. Like many A-20s used in this role, it boosted morale while still supporting routine unit operations. The name "Little Chief" was chosen, in part to complement on of the squadron's B-24D Liberators, named "Big Chief".

With war approaching America knew it would be called upon to aid their Allies so a new aircraft would need to be developed. Douglas Aircraft designer Ed Heinemann’s DB-7/A-20 was chosen to be the new attack-bomber. The prototype flew in December 1938 with the first production aircraft flew on August 17, 1939. Production ran until September 1944 with 7,478 aircraft built. During WWII these were supplied to French, British, Australian, Dutch and Soviet forces as well as their own U.S. Forces.