Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>A-26>HA3207

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

At the outbreak of the Korean War the 3rd Bomber Wing was stationed in Iwakuni Japan and transferred to Kunsan AB South Korea in August 1951. A-26 #44-34287 was referred to by her crews as "Old Able" or "Patches" because of all the combat damage patches. Later a voluptuous woman was painted on the left side of the nose with the name "Versatile Lady". #44-34287 was one of 12 planes that took part in the first bombing mission and can be seen at the museum at Lackland AFB, Texas.

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