Dragon N52327 c/n 2722 seen at the head of a row of USAF Museum aircraft at McChord AFB in 1995. Examination of its known history fails to turn up positive evidence that it was owned by Howard Hughes. It was obtained by Paul Mantz 16.5.45 and photographed 2.2.46 as NC52327 marked 'Paul Mantz Air Services'. It was popularly known at that time as the Honeymoon Express due to its use flying Hollywood couples to Las Vegas for speedy marriages, based then at Burbank.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas B-23 Dragon / UC-67 - СШАUSA - 1939

NR49811 on the rudder identifies this B-23 as c/n 2730 ex 39-044, another of Hughes' acquisitions, obtained 28.2.45. Here it is little altered from its service days and it was sold on to the National Supply Co 1.3.49. It became NC49811 and N49811 in 1948, by which time it had changed its military transparent nose for a more pointed one with a radar dish nosepiece, a common modification to civil conversions.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas B-23 Dragon / UC-67 - СШАUSA - 1939

N880L c/n 2733 ex 39-047 changed hands many times and spent time as N1G, N244AG, N8658E, N409ME (as above) and finally N880L. It still survives in the Castle Air Museum. Atwater, California where it is listed as a UC-67. The museum quotes N1G but this may be in doubt as a published photo showing N1G in the markings of the General Tire Co identified it as c/n 2716, 39-030.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas B-23 Dragon / UC-67 - СШАUSA - 1939

NC56249 c/n 2724 ex 39-038 is seen with the Standard Oil Co of California carrying a Chevron Aviation Gasoline advertisement on the tail. It flew again re-registered N62G in 1980 and appeared in the Confederate Air Force show at Harlingen in that year in USAAC markings.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas B-23 Dragon / UC-67 - СШАUSA - 1939

Another ex Hughes owned B-23, NC44890 c/n 2746 ex 39-060 seen at Hutchinson, Kansas in 1948 with a pointed nose. A number of B-23 bombers were converted to C-67/UC67 transports, these requiring little modification for civil use. NC44890 was not one of the long term survivors and was destroyed by fire on 20.10.51.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas B-23 Dragon / UC-67 - СШАUSA - 1939

N4000W/N400W was not a Hughes aircraft but it had an interesting career none the less. For many years as seen here it was the PAA executive aircraft used by president Juan Trippe. It was re-registered 12.68 as HC-APV of Cia Ecuatoriana de Aviacion, Ecuador and appeared to still be in use when photographed 2.77 at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito. It is now preserved at Quito in the Ecuadorian Air Museum.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas B-23 Dragon / UC-67 - СШАUSA - 1939

A good photo of N744Q with no details given. (Editorial research reveals that this was c/n 2730, see NR49811, current 1966-69, so can anyone fill in the rest of this B-23's history?). The civil approval for the B-23/UC-67 was No.2-576 of 28.10.45 which listed two 1,600 hp Wright R-2600 engines.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas B-23 Dragon / UC-67 - СШАUSA - 1939

This unidentified B-23 was used as a testbed by the General Electric Co during World War 2 with deepened engine nacelles housing turbo-superchargers in addition to the retractable undercarriage main legs. Four-blade propellers are fitted and the original observation nose is maintained. It is known that Pratt & Whitney used B-23 39-032 (c/n 2718) in military markings to test their 1,500 hp R-2800 14-cyl 2-row radial engine (1,850 hp for take off at 2,600 rpm). Another B-23 was used to test a Hamilton 6-blade contraprop on the port engine.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas B-23 Dragon / UC-67 - СШАUSA - 1939

N4000B c/n 2743 ex 39-57 was a late production B-23 manufactured in 1940. As a reconnaissance bomber it was reported to have served in the Panama Canal zone before being converted to a UC-67 transport. For the E W Scripps Co of Cincinatti it had 12 passenger seats in 2 compartments and a washroom. It was donated to Purdue University 19.11.69 and in 1970 was bought by Westair International, Broomfield and based in Florida in 1975. It was then purchased by Tom Page who painted it in olive drab 1941 markings and flew it in Confederate Air Force shows from 1976. It survives in the Weeks Air Museum, Miami, Florida.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas B-23 Dragon / UC-67 - СШАUSA - 1939