Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>A-26>HA3223

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

This RB-26C Invader was assigned to the French E.R.P. 1/32 (Escadron de Reconnaissance 1/32 Photographique Armagnac). This aircraft previous flew with the USAF 183rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photo) and the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Alabama Air National Guard. The French Armee de L'Air used this type of aircraft mostly in North Africa against an Algerian insurrection. In 1962 this aircraft was converted to an RB-26P with 6 French made cameras and a more rectangular shaped window on the left side of the nose. This aircraft survived until 1967.

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