41-39117
| 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, 41-39117, & 41-39118 during their combat trials at Zadnab. All of those planes are unfinished aluminum, not Olive Drab. These images confirm the data in the production note changes listed by Douglas.
One thing that is of note is that the production records for the A-26B-5-DL block indicate that it was built with the 75mm cannon in the nose. This block includes planes between serial numbers 41-39105 through 41-39119. Of these, we know for certain that 41-39105 and 41-39108 had 75mm cannons. This plane should also have a 75mm cannon due to the production block, but the 75mm cannon was removed because it was too heavy to ferry. After the plane arrived at Nazdab 6x .50 caliber guns were installed in the nose.
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
25 Jul 1945 - Declared obsolete and abandoned overseas.
Accidents
No Accidents listed
Crew
Unknown
Disposition
Unknown
Images
This photo shows 41-39117 during combat trials with the 89th Bombardment Squadron in the Pacific.
41-39117, one of the Pacific Evaluation Invaders sent to the 3rd Bombardment Group during 1944. Initially I thought that the caption with this photo must be wrong because the tail had what looked like a big fat stripe that resembled the 386th Bombardment Group markings, however, once I saw 41-39118 I understood what I was seeing. The top of the fin of this plane has a colored stripe for the squadron, and then for some reason there is a bar above the serial number. This gives it the appearance of the wider stripe, but this is not correct. The Douglas A-20 Havoc in the background further places this plane squarely as being in the Pacific. In enlarging the image of the plane it looks like it reads "Coaster RAMBLER".
Sources
Databases searched:
- AAIR - No Entry
- MACR - No Entry
- KORWALD - No Entry
- Baugher