Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>A-26>HA3202

General Background

In 1941 Douglas Aircraft Company began work on their twin-engine medium-bomber A-26 Invader. By the end of production there were 2,452 aircraft produced for all variants. The A- 26/B-26 was the only U.S. bomber to take part in three wars, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The confusion with the use of the designation B-26 began when the Martin B-26 Marauder was retired and in 1948 the USAF dropped the “A” (Attack) designator so the Douglas A-26 Invader became the B-26 Invader. The A-26 made its first European appearance in late 1944.

The Aircraft

The 17th BG was formed during the Korean War. The 17th BG squadrons were 34th, 37th and 95th BS. At first the 3rd and 17th BG flew day and night missions but later only night missions. By the end of the Korean War the 3rd and 17th BG’s had 55,000 interdiction sorties and credited with the destruction of 38,500 enemy vehicles, 3,700 railway cars, 406 locomotives and seven aircraft.

Specifications :

First flight:	July 10, 1942
Crew:	3
Dimensions
Length:	50 ft 9 in
Wingspan:	70 ft 0 in
Height:	18 ft 6 in
Weight:
Empty:	22,370 lbs
Maximum take-off:	35,000 lbs
Performance
Engines:	2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 radial piston each producing 2,000 hp
Maximum speed @ 15,000 ft:	355 mph
Ceiling:	22,100 ft
Range:	1,400 miles
Armament:	6 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in nose
	2 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in ventral turret
	2 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in dorsal turret
	6,000 lbs of bombs
	8 x 127 mm (5-inch) rockets