Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>A-26>HA3226

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

On Mark Engineers was given the job to convert B-26s to the K variant. B-26K Counter Invader AF64-646 joined the USAF on August 12, 1964 and assigned to the 1st Air Commando Wing and sent to the CIA in the Congo. In July 1967 the aircraft was assigned to the 634th Combat Support Group in Thailand and then in August the 56th Air Commando Wing, later becoming the 56th Special Operations Wing. On July 8, 1969 AF64-646 became the last B-26 lost during the Vietnam War when it hit a hillside during a strafing run.

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