Douglas A-26B Invader (USA)
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Museum Hours:
April 1- September 30
9:00am - 5:00pm
October 1 - March 31
10:00am - 4:00pm
The museum is open
daily year round (weather permitting),
except for the following days:
New Year's Day,
Easter,
Thanksgiving and
Christmas Day.
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The Castle Air Museum is chartered by the Department of Education and operated by the Castle Air Museum Foundation, Inc., a private not-for-profit corporation,
tax-exempt under IRS Code 501 (c)(3). The mission of the Museum is to preserve military aviation history for future generations.
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The Douglas A-26 Invader first went into combat in November 1944 and quickly earned a reputation for being a rugged and dependable aircraft. It was built in two versions, the A-26B with six .50 caliber machine guns in the nose and the A-26C with a glass nose and provision for a navigator/bombardier plus two machine guns in the nose. Both versions had two-gun upper and lower power turrets in the aft fuselage. They saw combat with the Ninth Air Force in Europe and in the Pacific Theater. After a reorganization in 1948, the designation of the Invader was changed from A-26 to B-26, but it should not be confused with the Martin aircraft, the Marauder.
The Invader served with distinction during the Korean War as a night attack aircraft. It earned a place in history as being the type of aircraft that dropped the first and last bombs over Korea. In between, the A-26 flew over 60,000 combat sorties with a loss of only 56 aircraft to enemy fire.
The Invader was also used in the early days of the Vietnam Conflict. Many were loaned to the French Air Force for use in Viet Nam. When the U. S. entered the conflict, the USAF also used them, flying ground attack missions against the flow of enemy troops and material that came down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The last combat mission of the Invader took place in 1969, a full 25 years after it first entered service.
The aircraft on display at Castle Air Museum was delivered to the Army Air Forces in May 1944. It was dropped from the Air Force inventory in August 1957.
*We know the tail number displayed on this aircraft is not correct. There is no data plate in it, but one online resource suggests that it could be 41-39472. We believe that it is one of those loaned to the French Air Force. It has a plate riveted to the right side which says "IRAN Philippine Air Depot May 1955".
Specifications
Country of Origin:
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United States
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Manufacturer:
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Douglas Aircraft Corporation
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Role/Function:
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Attack Bomber
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Serial Number:
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Displayed as 44-35648*
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Model Number/Mk #:
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Model B
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Crew:
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2-4
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Power Plant:
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2 - 2,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 radial engines
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Maximum Speed:
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373 mph.
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Cruising Speed:
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n/a
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Service Ceiling:
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22,100 ft.
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Range:
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1,400 mi.
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Weights:
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Empty: 9,860 lbs.
Maximum: 35,500 lbs.
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Wing Span:
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70 ft.
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Length:
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18 ft. 3 in.
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Height:
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18 ft. 3 in.
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Wing Area:
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540 ft²
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Armament:
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6-18 - .50 cal machine guns; 4,000 lbs. of bombs and 10 - 5 inch HVAR rockets or additional gun packages under the wings
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Cost:
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$242,595.00
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Number Built:
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1,355 A-26B's were built and delivered. 205 at Tulsa, Ok. (A-26B-5-DT - A-26B-25-DT), plus 1,150 at Long Beach, Ca. (A-26B-1-DL - A-26B-66-DL). About 24 more airframes were built at Long Beach but not delivered to USAAF. Some of those were later sold to other civil and military customers
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# in Current Service:
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Retired from military service in 1973, many still active in civilian use
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Other Points of Interest: