Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>A-26>HA3204

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 B-26C Invader 44-35911 was built in 1945 and in 1950 was sent to the l' Armee de l' Air GB 1\19 "Gascogne" during the French-Indo War. In 1954 the Plexiglas bomber-nose was replaced with the machine gun attack-nose. By October 1955 it had flown over 300 missions and returned to the U.S. and in 1957 it sold to the private sector. In 2000 it was painted black with red lettering and named "Spirit of North Carolina" dedicated to Invader personnel who lost their lives in conflicts.

Specifications :

Production for the USAAF:	1,091
Role:	Bomber/Pathfinder observation with Plexiglas nose and Norden bomb sight
Crew:	3 X Pilot, Bombardier/Navigator/Pilot, Gunner
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 with water injection each producing 2,000 hp
Maximum speed:	373 mph
Cruising Speed:	284 mph
Range:	1,400 mi
Service Ceiling:	28,000 ft
Armament:	2 X 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in nose firing forward
	2 X 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in dorsal turret
	2 X 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in ventral turret
	6 X 0.5 in. guns could be added to the wings in the field
Bombs	Maximum Internal - 4,000 lbs and
	Maximum Under-Wing – 2,000 lbs or
	14 X 5 inch rockets