41-19588
XA-26B Invader | |||
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Builders: Douglas Aircraft Company | |||
Operators: United States Air Force | |||
Ordered 1941 | |||
Number Built: 1 | |||
First Built: 1942 | |||
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS | |||
Type: Light Attack Bomber | |||
Dry Weight: - | |||
Wet Weight: - | |||
Length: 51' 3" (15.24 m) | |||
Height: 18' 6" (5.64 m) | |||
Wingspan: 70' (21.34 m) | |||
Wing Area: 540 Sq. Feet (50.17 m²) | |||
Speed: - | |||
Max Speed: - | |||
Ceiling: 22,100 feet (6,700 m) | |||
Powerplant: 2x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 | |||
Horsepower: 2,000 | |||
Fuel Capacity: - | |||
Range: - | |||
Crew: 3 | |||
Passengers: 1 | |||
ARMAMENT | |||
Nose Guns: 1x 75mm Cannon | |||
Dorsal Turret: 2x .50 caliber machine guns | |||
Ventral Turret: 2x .50 caliber machine guns | |||
Payload: 5,000 lbs 3,000 lbs internally |
See also: List of Invaders by Serial Number
This plane was the third working A-26 Prototype to be fully operational. In July of 1941 Douglas built a full-sized mock-up of the plane with dummy weapons to pitch to the Air Force. That initial display culminated in a contract for two operational prototypes - 41-19504 (The XA-26), and the 41-19505 (XA-26A). Later, the Air Force added a third prototype, the XA-26B (41-19588).
This plane was constructed with a solid nose and tested both with and without the 75mm cannon in the nose. Some sources report that this plane did not have the .50 caliber machine guns installed in the turrets, however photographic evidence shows this claim to be false.
There is less information on this particular plane than there is on the XA-26.
This plane served as a secondary prototype for what would become the B model Invader - those equipped with hard noses and heavy machine gun armament. One observable difference between the prototype models and the production models was the "propeller spinner" - the cone-shaped piece in the middle of the propeller blades. The prototype units were equipped with this feature, but none of the production models had them.
Differences between the XA-26B and the other XA prototypes were the addition of a third crew seat. The first two invaders were designed to be flown by a crew of two, but this one was deigned with three - Pilot, Navigator/Radioman, and Gunner.
This plane served as the prototype for what would eventually become the A-26B model. The 75mm nose cannon had some modifications on the production version; the gun had a fairing that bulged out of the nose on the production model, rather than a scoop on this version (See 41-39108 for an example of this), the flower-petal sheath on the end of the barrel was also removed on the production version.
Operational History
This plane was purpose built as a prototype for testing. It had an extremely short life span of only 4 months in service before it was destroyed in an accident and struck from the inventory.
30 JUN 1943 - Accepted by USAF, flown to Eglin AFB, FL.
8 JUL 1943 - Assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
19 OCT 1943 - At Eglin AFB, involved in a serious crash which fatally injured the pilot.
21 OCT 1943 - Struck from service.
Accidents
- 19 OCT 1943 - The plane crashed while at Eglin Field, Valpariso, FL. The Pilot, Walter J. Wagner, was killed in the crash due to a fire.
Crew
Maj. Walter J. Wagner - Pilot
Disposition
This plane was destroyed in a crash at Eglin Field, 19 Oct 1943.
Images
Luckily, being a prototype model, there are some images of this plane.
The XA-26B Prototype in profile.
The XA-26B Protoype from the front.