Douglas DB-7 in Japanese Service

In October 1941 the Netherlands government in exile ordered 48 DB-7C planes for use in the Dutch East Indies. Delivery had been scheduled for May 1942 but because of the desperate situation the US government agreed to divert 32 DB-7B Boston III aircraft to the Dutch East Indies in advance.

The first six were delivered by ship in February 1942, however only one aircraft was assembled in time to take part in the action. The Japanese captured the remaining aircraft of the delivery, and at least one was repaired and later tested by the Imperial Japanese Army