Big Nig takes shape

RAFM image

23 June 2010

Work on the RAF Museum's Douglas A-20G Havoc is progressing well.
 

June 23: Work on the RAF Museum's Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-9436 'Big Nig' is progressing well with fitting out of the cockpit about to begin. The starboard inner wing is fitted and both engines are ready for installation.

The aircraft is scheduled to go on display at the museum’s Hendon site in early 2011 and will be the only example of its type on show anywhere in Europe. The museum acquired the Havoc in 2009 after exchanging it for one of its reserve collection Spitfires.

Big Nig was operated by the 89th Bombardment Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force from Nadzab, near Lae in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and force-landed on May 3, 1944 after being brought down by ground fire after a raid on Japanese forces at Wewak. The largely intact airframe was recovered in 1994 and taken to RAAF Amberley in Australia. Big Nig is a caricature of its regular pilot, Captain James L Folse, who supposedly resembled a Damon Runyan character of that period.

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