US twin-engine buffs in Russki-land, mid-44?

[Scherf]

One for the US iron Experten here, I'm out of my depth on this, for a variety of reasons.

I'm translating a passage by a German night-fighter who was transferred to the East in mid-44 to combat Russian and UK attacks on cities in what was (for a little while longer) still East Prussia.

He says the Russians were using twin-engine American bombers, which he identifies as "Douglas B-23s". Can"t be right, I think.

Is he likely to actually be referring to Mitchells, or Havocs, or something else?

All info gratefully received. I may leave the original text intact, with an author"s note in brackets....

[AWwrgwy]

Typo.

No B-23s left the U.S. nor served overseas in any capacity. Only 58 were built.



wrongway

[Tank-Ace]

likely he means B-25's, or possibly B-26's, though I'm unsure of this.

[morfiend]

scherf,

  if he got the Douglas part correct then I'd bet he meant A20 havocs because the B25 was built by North American.

   hope that helps


   

[gyrene81]

very interesting, just goes to show how easily misidentification occurred...

b-23 profile


a-20 profile


b-25 profile



don't think there would be any way to mistake a b-25 for a b-23 though...

[Tyrannis]

Typo.

No B-23s left the U.S. nor served overseas in any capacity. Only 58 were built.



wrongway

But what if America secretly gave Russia the rights & schematics to produce B-23s?
Thought i'd throw that out there.

Is there any russian bombers that could be mistaken for a b23? (especially with that nose)

[mipoikel]

But what if America secretly gave Russia the rights & schematics to produce B-23s?
Thought i'd throw that out there.

Is there any russian bombers that could be mistaken for a b23? (especially with that nose)

SB2?

[gyrene81]

But what if America secretly gave Russia the rights & schematics to produce B-23s?
Thought i'd throw that out there.

Is there any russian bombers that could be mistaken for a b23? (especially with that nose)

never happened. but it is possible an actual russian built bomber was misidentified as an american...considering the pilot in question was used to spotting bombers at night, it's easy to believe he wasn't absolutely sure.

sb-2m/100/103


maybe a db3-m


il4 maybe


doubt a tb-7

[Butcher]

Its not likely the B-23 went overseas, if you notice the B-23 has a .50 cal machine gun in the tail, in which very few russian bombers had a tail gun.

[Tank-Ace]

Well, it was night, and the guy was likely doing 350+. Can't blame him for misidentification.

[Tilt]

2900 A20's (B,G,H) were operated by the Russians...... at least two Russian Bomber regiments operated B25's but they were so unhappy with them in 41/42 I cant see the B25's still in use in 44.

IL4 seems the best bet for confusion with the b23

[Tank-Ace]

TB-3 served at least untill 1943, and I think upto 1945.

[Karnak]

As the B-23 never served I find it highly unlikely a German pilot would be aware of what it looked like in order to misidentify a Russian aircraft as a B-23.  Far more likely and the simpler explanation is that there was a typo or other such error.

[gyrene81]

As the B-23 never served I find it highly unlikely a German pilot would be aware of what it looked like in order to misidentify a Russian aircraft as a B-23.  Far more likely and the simpler explanation is that there was a typo or other such error.

karnak...


the 3rd reich had a lot of intel on u.s. war planes...english speaking germans did operate in the u.s. and britain.

[Karnak]

karnak...
(Image removed from quote.)

the 3rd reich had a lot of intel on u.s. war planes...english speaking germans did operate in the u.s. and britain.

That is irrelevant.  That Germany may have known of the B-23 does not translate to a line fighter pilot memorizing an aircraft he has never seen.  It is still the much less likely cause of the text than a typo or mental hiccup.