43-22273

A-26B-10 Invader
Builders: Douglas Aircraft Company
Operators: United States Air Force
Number Built: 52 (20-DL, 32-DT)
First Built: Mar 1944
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 OR 2x Ford R-2800-27
Horsepower: 2,000 each
Fuel Capacity: 1,600 US Gallons
Range:
Crew: 3
Passengers: 1
ARMAMENT
Nose Guns: 6x .50 Machine Guns
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, Serial Numbers starting with 43

Operational History

381st Combat Crew Training Squadron, Marianna AF, FL.

Accidents

24 Dec 1944 - The plane was flying north from Marianna Field so that crew members could go on leave for Christmas. For partial record I have at the moment doesn't indicate why the plane crashed. What is known is that approximately 5 miles south of Sardina, OH the plane crashed into a farm field belonging to the Patrick Family. The plane was flying low and the crew attempted to bail out. One crew member, probably the gunner, impacted the empennage and broke both of his legs. The impact of the horizontal stabilizer forced his parachute open, which saved his life. Members of the Patrick family ripped the barn door off the hinges and used it as a litter to carry the wounded airmen inside and provided medical care until the authorities arrived and took him to the hospital. The surviving airman sent the family Christmas cards every year until he passed away. Large parts of the plane remained intact after the accident, but impacted several feet into the ground. Accident officials deemed the wreck deep enough to not be worthy of removed and the plane was buried in place. The exact location will not be revealed here as it is on private property and the family does not want scavengers and parts collectors trespassing without permission. Special thanks to Jason Patrick for some of the details provided here.

Crew

1Lt. Benjamin F. Schoenfield.
2 unknown crew members.

Disposition

Unknown.

Sources

Databases searched:

• AAIR -
• MACR -
• KORWALD -
• Baugher