64-17645

B-26K-1 Invader

Builders: Douglas Aircraft Company On Mark Engineering
Operators: United States Air Force
Number Built: 40
First Built: Jan 1963 (YB-26K) First test flight
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Type: Light Attack Bomber
Weight: 25,130 lbs empty 37,000 lbs loaded 39,250 lbs Maximum
Length: 51' 7 3/16" (inc. guns)
Height: 19' 0"
Wingspan: 71'6" (including wingtip tanks)
Wing Area: 540 Sq. Feet (50.17 m²)
Speed: 169 mph (cruising)
Max Speed: 323 mph
Ceiling: 28,600'
Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-103W
Horsepower: 2,500
Fuel Capacity: 1,600 US Gallons
Range: 700 miles w/3518 lbs payload 1,480 miles empty 2,700 miles (ferry)
Crew: 2
Passengers: 1
ARMAMENT
Nose Guns: 8x .50 caliber guns
Dorsal Turret: None
Ventral Turret: None
Payload: 8,000 lbs on wings 4,000 lbs internal
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Was converted from 44-35546.

Was named "Magnet Ass" during operations with the 609th in Vietnam.

Operational History

18 Aug 1964 - sent to Congo to participate in CIA operation Anstalt Wigmo.

Served with 609th Special Operations Squadron.

Participated in Operation Steel Tiger.

Disposition of this plane is difficult to track. Martin J. Simpson's website asserts that 645 was missing in action 29 Dec 1967 with the crew as listed below. Their pages show them as being MIA that day.

But other sources, like Scott Thompson's book and Joe Baugher's site say this plane went to South Vietnam.

Since the crew pages all agree on the date of the appearance and there are no more photos of this after it went MIA I am inclined to believe Simpson on this account. I know that three crew disappeared and all of the other Invaders are accounted for.