B-23 Dragon

Here's a look at the Douglas B-23 Dragon on display at McChord AFB in Tacoma, Wash. Photos were taken by Steve Heeb, and are intended as reference to assist model builders in creating accurate representations of this fine aircraft. There are almost 40 shots from a wide variety of angles. I kept the photos pretty big so that they can be used as references by model builders who do not have access to planes like this. Hope these shots will be of some help.

Some captions and details may be included to the right of the photos. I do not claim to be an expert (by any means) but have pointed out a few items that I found interesting. Please forgive any inaccuracies on my part.

Note: this plane is on display at the museum, and some details may have been altered from its original operational condition.

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The Douglas B-23 Dragon on display at McChord AFB in Tacoma, Wash.

 
Looks a bit like a mini Flying Fortress from this angle
Starboard engine nacelle

Large scoop for radiator at bottom is similar to the C-47, but exhaust exits through two stubs
Flaps detail under the starboard wing
Closeup of the structure and the little hydraulic struts that raise/lower the flaps
Wing is pretty similar to the C-47 Skytrain
There are a few windows that have been covered toward the rear of the fuselage
Rear landing gear
More of the underside leading back to the rear landing gear
The tail -- again, seems somewhat similar to the B-17
The body seems to have been banged up a little
Moving around to the port side of the tail section
Note the little panel below the "R" on th tail code

Also, there may have been a window or door that got paneled over, just below the point where the tail starts up from the main fuselage
Note the OD anti-glare paint on the inboard portion of the engine nacelle and the heavy joint where the flaps split on the wing
Detail of the flaps on the port side
Unlike the C-47, the flaps do not span the center section of the fuselage

Note the small piping that prtrudes just inboard of the lowered flap
The main gear doors have seen better days
Landing lights on the port wing, one large white lamp and a smaller red lamp
Some sort of access door or flap on the fairing that houses a radiator below the engine
A better angle showing that panel
Looking up into the main gear well on the port wing
this is looking up and to the front
Looking essentially straight up into the wheel wheel, but slightly forward (wheel is toward the front of the plane in this shot)
Looking back into the wheel well
Closeup of the hosing and pumps inside the back of the engine nacelle.
Note the holes that poke through the engine nacelle. Not sure if there would have been something there during the plane's service days.
Port engine and propellor hub
Detail for the port engine
 
 
Protrusions and blisters under the nose
Note the air scoop on the inboard side of the port engine nacelle
Nose gun and plexi
Note the angle that the black antenna (I guess) extends from under the nose
Detail of the radiator housing under the starboard engine nacelle
And again from outside the starboard engine
Saving the best for last. Mi six-year-old son Mitchell Heeb gets a chance to ride his brand new bike (straight from the BX on base) around the planes at the McChord museum

 

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