41-39118
| A-26B-5 Invader | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Builders: Douglas Aircraft Company | |||
| Operators: United States Air Force | |||
| Number Built: 30 (15-DT, 15-DL) | |||
| First Built: Dec 1943 | |||
| GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS | |||
| Type: Light Attack Bomber | |||
| Wet Weight: 31,000 lb | |||
| Length: 50' 9" (with guns) 49' 11" (without guns) | |||
| Height: 18' 6" (5.64 m) | |||
| Wingspan: 70' (21.34 m) | |||
| Wing Area: 540 Sq. Feet (50.17 m²) | |||
| Speed: 212 mph | |||
| Max Speed: 370 mph | |||
| Ceiling: 31,300 feet (6,700 m) | |||
| Powerplant: 2x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 | |||
| Horsepower: 2,000 each | |||
| Fuel Capacity: 1,600 US Gallons 125 Gallon tank in bomb bay | |||
| Range: | |||
| Crew: 2 | |||
| Passengers: 1 | |||
| ARMAMENT | |||
| Nose Guns: 1x 75mm Cannon | |||
| Dorsal Turret: 2x .50 Machine Guns | |||
| Ventral Turret: 2x .50 Machine Guns | |||
| Payload: 4,000 lbs internal 2,000 lbs wing points | |||
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See also: List of Invaders by Serial Number
In his book A-26 Invader Units of WW 2 (Pg. 91), Jim Roeder states about the planes sent to the 3rd Bomb Group for testing:
"No photographs of the A-26s used by the 3rd BG for the combat evaluation undertaken in June 1944 are known to exist. It is reported that they were flown in olive drab and neutral grey camouflage."
This is incorrect. The production notes show that the A-26B-1-DT model was painted as Jim describes above. However, one of the changes listed on the production notes for the A-26B-5-DT is the "deletion of camouflage". This is further supported by photographic evidence. Jim stated that no photos existed, but I have images of 41-39116 & 41-39118 during their combat trials at Zadnab. Both of those planes are unfinished aluminum, not Olive Drab. These images confirm the data in the production note changes listed by Douglas.
Operational History
It was received by the USAAF Mar 1944.
Delivered Long Beach to NAS Alameda, CA. Dismantled for shipping.
6 May 1944 Departed Oakland, CA for delivery to Finschhafen, New Guinea. Assembled and flown to Nadzab, New Guinea. 3rd Bomb Group, Hollandia, New Guinea.
Jun 1944 - Combat evaluation
3 Jan 1945 - This plane was declared obsolete and was abandoned overseas.
Accidents
No Accidents listed
Crew
Unknown
Disposition
Unknown
Images
This photo shows 41-39118 at Nadzab Field in New Guinea, 1944 undergoing combat evaluations by the 3rd Bombardment Group. Note that this plane is different from a typical A-26B-5-DL in the nose armament. It had the standard 75mm cannon nose swapped out for the 6-gun "general purpose" nose that was standard on the A-26B-10-DL. The discolored panel around the nose armament is evidence of the swap.
The tail of 41-39118 is just visible on the left edge of this photo.
Sources
Databases searched:
- AAIR - No Entry
- MACR - No Entry
- KORWALD - No Entry
- Baugher