41-39100
| A-26B-1 Invader | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Builders: Douglas Aircraft Company | |||
| Operators: United States Air Force | |||
| Number Built: 5 | |||
| First Built: Sep 1943 | |||
| GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS | |||
| Type: Light Attack Bomber | |||
| Wet Weight: 31,000 lbs | |||
| 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 | |||
| Powerplant: 2x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 | |||
| Horsepower: 2,000 each | |||
| Fuel Capacity: 1,600 US Gallons | |||
| Range: | |||
| Crew: 3 | |||
| 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
Notes: This plane was the first production model A-26B ever produced (excluding the prototypes). It was built at the Douglas, Long Beach, CA facility.
Operational History
10 SEP 1943 - Received by USAF.
13 Sep 1943 - Sent to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
28 Aug 1944 - Sent to Long Beach
25 May 1944 - Assigned to 38th Base Unit at Long Beach.
16 Jan 1945 - Assigned to 4145th Base Unit at Wendover Air Force Base.
7 Jul 1946 - Designated for reclamation, scrapped.
Accidents
24 SEP 1943 - According to the Air Force Accident Records, this plane was struck by another plane while parked at Wright Field. No crew were aboard. It suffered heavy (3) damage.
The only other plane listed in an accident on the same date/time was listed as type "F-8" (de Havilland Canada F-8-DHB Mk VII Mosquito), tail number 43-34930 based out of Dayton, OH. It was piloted by George F. Tompkins. Pilot Tompkins crashed into 41-39100 while he was taxing on the runway.
Based on the report summary, the pilot survived this crash (otherwise the accident type would have been listed as KCRGC).
Crew
No Known Crew at this time.
Disposition
After the accident in 1943 at Wright-Patterson the plane was repaired and served for 6 more years. It was designated for scrapping in 1946.
Images
41-39100 fresh off the assembly line. Note the olive drab paint scheme that was applied to the A-26B-1-DL block.
Another view of 41-39100 while she was stationed at Wright-Patterson. The Olive drab with grey underbelly paint scheme is clearly visible. The production models lacked the propeller spinners (cones) that were covering the rotor. These were removed as they were found to impede the airflow to the engine. The 75mm cannon is also visible on the starboard side of the plane.
Sources
Databases searched:
- USAFHRA
- AAIR - One Entry Found
- MACR - No Entry
- KORWALD - No Entry
- Baugher