The Douglas B-18 Bolo in Canadian Service
The United States released a total of 40 Douglas Bolo bombers for use by the Royal Canadian Air Force during WW2. In 1940, Canada acquired 20 ex-Army Air Corps B-18As which entered RCAF service with No. 10 Squadron at Halifax, NS. Operated as a maritime patrol bomber, the aircraft was renamed the Douglas Digby - after a town on the southwestern coast of Nova Scotia. Negotiations were continued by the Canadian Air Purchasing Commission in Washington, DC, for a further tranche of Bolos to operate with RCAF Western Air Command.
In February 1941, the Dominion of Canada finally completed a sale agreement. However, this next batch of Bolos would be made up of the earlier, less-powerful B-18 model now considered surplus to USAAF requirements. [1] This complicated RCAF training and parts supply but was considered worthwhile since many of the superior Lockheed Hudson patrol aircraft ordered by Canada were being surrendered to the RAF whose need was greater. Another complication was the method of delivery.
To maintain US neutrality, the bombers could not be flown from American territory into Canada. Instead, the Army Air Corps crews delivered the B-18s to an airstrip at Sweetgrass, Montana, near the Canadian border. The bombers were then towed across the borderline by trucks driven by civilians. From a strip at Coutts, Alberta, the ex-B-18s were collected by Ferry Command crews which flew their charges the 275 km to Calgary. There, the Alberta branch of MacDonald Brothers Aircraft performed checks, overhauls, and installed RCAF-supplied equipment. [2]
Douglas Digby Mk.II into Active Service
The first refurbished Digby Mk.IIs were assigned to No. 13 (Operational Training) Squadron (although 'MK' squadron codes were never applied. As further Digby Mk.IIs arrived on the West Coast, they went to No. 8 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron at RCAF Station Sea Island. These Digbys remained on Sea Island in a patrol capacity while No. 8 (BR)'s Bolingbrokes deployed to Alaska as part of RCAF X Wing. In 1943, the squadron relocated to RCAF Station Patricia Bay on Vancouver Island. The Digbys continued coastal patrols - alongside Lockheed Venturas until No. 8 (BR) was disbanded on 25 May 1945.
Top Digby Mk.II of No. 8 (BR) Squadron based at RCAF Station Patrica Bay, just outside of Victoria, BC. Camouflage is identical to 'east coast' Digby Mk.Is but No. 8 (BR) Squadron aircraft carried no squadron codes at this point. Also notice that the roundels have been altered, US-style, to remove their red centres. The red of the fin flash has also been overpainted.
This aircraft has been experimentally fitted with a Mk.IV Magnetic Anomaly Detection tail 'stinger' on loan from the USAAF. Trials were inconclusive and this MAD kit was removed and returned to the US. [3]
By the beginning of August 1945, all West Coast Digbys had been returned to RCAF Station Claresholm for storage. However, their rest period was not to last. In the immediate postwar years, the RCAF on the West Coast continued to operate Venturas in the maritime patrol role. However, the Lockheeds had been provided under the Lend-Lease Agreement and either had to be paid for or returned to the US. Ottawa chose the latter option but this left Western Air Command without land-based patrol aircraft. Accordingly, it was decided to restore the Digbys to service.
The stored aircraft were given quick overhauls by RCAF personnel at Claresholm before being flown out to Sea Island, BC. There, the Digbys were collected by Boeing of Canada for restoration. After being stripped and inspected, the Digbys were fitted with Wright R-1820-G202A engines and cowlings from surplus RCAF Lockheed Hudson bombers. [4] Once refurbished, as Digby Mk.2MRs, these aircraft were sent across the Sea Island tarmac to serve with No. 442 'City of Vancouver' Squadron (Auxiliary).
Bottom Digby Mk.2MR of No. 442 Squadron. With all wartime paintwork stripped, postwar roundels were applied - including the short-lived RCAF Type 1 Roundels on the fuselage sides and upper wings. The No. 442 Squadron badge is worn above the flash on the vertical fin.
Note that this aircraft has been retrofitted with fore-and-aft 'High Probability Radar Early Warning' direction-finding receivers (AN/UPD-501 SHF DF Receiver 'cans'). Not visible here, Digby Mk.2MR 766 was also equipped with an AN/APS-4 (Air Search Homing) radar pod pod under its starboard wing.
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[1] The Army Air Corps had become the US Army Air Force (USAAF) in June 1941.
[2] The name Dixon (from BC's Dixon Entrance) was briefly mooted for the West Coast B-18s. However, RCAF HQ decided on Digby Mk.II instead to simply record-keeping
[3] USAAF B-18B Bolos equipped with the Mk.IV MAD were also fitted with the SCR-517-T-4 search radar. However, that ASV radar set was never fitted to Digby Mk.II 748.
[4] Unlike the larger Venturas, most RCAF Hudson Mk.IIIs had been purchased outright rather than falling under the Lend-Lease Agreement.