43-22359
| A-26B-15 Invader | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Builders: Douglas Aircraft Company | |||
| Operators: United States Air Force | |||
| Number Built: 142 (56-DL, 86-DT) | |||
| First Built: May 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 | |||
| 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
Identifying Marks: "111" on the nose.
Fuselage Code: D6-L
Operational History
This plane was assigned to the 642nd Bomb Squadron, 409th Bomb Group.
The plane was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 21 March 1945 less than 2 minutes before dropping the bombs. According to the MACR Report (#13228), the crew were presumed dead as no chutes were seen. Based on the low altitude of the plane and the bad design of the early cockpits it's not surprising that no chutes were seen.
Chuck Axtell, the grand-nephew of Ssgt Lord provided new information in September 2018. Axtell says: "Excavations are currently underway of the crash site in Reken Germany. Lt Cotton and Sgt Nord were in the front two seats. My great Uncle was in the back. After crashing in a field the plane exploded. Parts of Nord and Cotton were found and buried by the German Military at the site. Later a German police officer had them exhumed and moved to a local cemetery. In April of 1945 the US military entered Reken and exhumed the bodies and moved them to Margraten. There they were buried as unknowns X-273 and X-274. Later to be exhumed again and identified as Cotton and Nord. Keep your fingers crossed and hope the 25 member team from DPAA comes through for Loring Lord!"
The MIA Notification for Ssgt Loring E. Lord, courtesy of his grand nephew, Chuck Axtell.
Accidents
None Listed
Crew
- 1LT Donald J. Cotton (Pilot)
- Ssgt Don E. Nord (Navigator)
- Ssgt Loring E. Lord (Gunner)
Disposition
Shot down in combat over Velen, Germany, 21 Mar 1945. MACR #13228.
Images
43-22359 getting show down 21 Mar 1945 over Velen, Germany. The plane's low altitude can be seen by looking at the detail of the trees in the background.
Sources
Databases searched:
- AAIR - No Entry
- MACR - One Entry
- KORWALD - No Entry
- Baugher