{"id":1628,"date":"2018-03-02T15:14:56","date_gmt":"2018-03-02T15:14:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brooksidepress.org\/cartmell\/?page_id=1628"},"modified":"2018-03-02T15:14:56","modified_gmt":"2018-03-02T15:14:56","slug":"p-70","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/brooksidepress.org\/cartmell\/things\/p-70\/","title":{"rendered":"P-70"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Douglas<\/a>
Douglas P-70 in flight. The first P-70 (S\/N 39-736). (U.S. Air Force photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The P-70 was a night-fighter version of the Douglas A-20 light bomber.<\/p>\n

From Wikipedia:<\/p>\n

Although not the fastest or longest-range aircraft in its class, the Douglas DB-7 series distinguished itself as a tough, dependable combat aircraft with an excellent reputation for speed and maneuverability. In a report to the British\u00a0Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment<\/a>\u00a0(AAEE) at\u00a0RAF Boscombe Down<\/a>, test pilots summed it up as: “has no vices and is very easy to take off and land\u00a0… The aeroplane represents a definite advantage in the design of flying controls\u00a0… extremely pleasant to fly and manoeuvre.”[4]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Ex-pilots often consider it their favorite aircraft of the war due to the ability to toss it around like a fighter.[5]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The Douglas bomber\/night fighter was found to be extremely adaptable and found a role in every combat theater of the war, and excelled as a true “pilot’s aeroplane”.[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n

The P-70 was adapted from the A-20 by adding radar into the nose, and modifying the bomb bay hold an extra gas tank and 20 mm cannon to fire forward.<\/p>\n

Although used some in the Pacific theater in its intended role, many others were use to train night fighter aircrews in Florida and California.<\/p>\n