64-17641

B-26K-1 Invader
Builders: Douglas Aircraft Company On Mark Engineering
Operators: United States Air Force
Number Built: 40
First Built: Jan 1963 (YB-26K) First test flight
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Type: Light Attack Bomber
Weight: 25,130 lbs empty 37,000 lbs loaded 39,250 lbs Maximum
Length: 51' 7 3/16" (inc. guns)
Height: 19' 0"
Wingspan: 71'6" (including wingtip tanks)
Wing Area: 540 Sq. Feet (50.17 m²)
Speed: 169 mph (cruising)
Max Speed: 323 mph
Ceiling: 28,600'
Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-103W
Horsepower: 2,500
Fuel Capacity: 1,600 US Gallons
Range: 700 miles w/3518 lbs payload 1,480 miles empty 2,700 miles (ferry)
Crew: 2
Passengers: 1
ARMAMENT
Nose Guns: 8x .50 caliber guns
Dorsal Turret: None
Ventral Turret: None
Payload: 8,000 lbs on wings 4,000 lbs internal
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See also: List of Invaders by Serial Number, Serial Numbers starting with 64

Was originally 44-35322.

There are some sources, such as comments on the memory wall for Cpt. Cruz, that allege that this plane was the only glass-nosed RB-26K. However, photographic evidence shows that multiple planes were converted to glass noses at some point or another. It may have been the only glass nosed invader at the base during Cruz's service time there, but it wasn't the only glass nosed RB-26K ever.

Operational History

13 Aug 1964 - Accepted into USAF inventory from OnMark Engineering Company in Van Nuys, CA
14 Aug 1964 - Assigned to the Air Force Test Center (AFTCE) at Edwards AFB.
31 Dec 1964 - Sent back to OnMark Engineering Company

22 Jan 1965 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field.
1 Jun 1965 - Assigned to Mobile Air Material Area for repairs
11 Jun 1965 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field.
17 Dec 1965 - 1st Air Commando Wing transferred from Hurlburt Field to England AFB.
NOTE: Mobile Air Material Area is commonly abbreviated as MOMAR, and the records show MOAAR. However, I am certain that this is the correct unit as it's the only unit that makes sense, and 17640 was assigned to SMAAR in Sacramento at around the same time.

10 May 1966 - 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB.
27 May 1966 - Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAAR) at McLellan AFB.
10 Aug 1966 - Transferred back to 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB
31 Oct 1966 - 603rd Air Commando Squadron at England AFB
16 Nov 1966 - 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB
Note: This assignment to SMAAR may suggest an accident that was repaired.

31 May 1967 - "Reconciliation" 1st Air Commando Wing and England AFB.
12 Jul 1967 - Sent back to OnMark Engineering Company at Van Nuys, CA.
1 Sep 1967 - Transferred on paper back to 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB
1 Sep 1967 - Sent to Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAAR) at McLellan AFB
30 Sep 1967 - 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base. Participated in Operation Steel Tiger. Assigned to 606th Special Operations Squadron.
16 Oct 1967 - 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base.
3 Nov 1967 - 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base.
24 Dec 1967 - Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAAR) at McLellan AFB
28 Dec 1967 - 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base.
29 Dec 1967 - Dropped from records, 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base. shot down by AA while attacking convoy in Steel Tiger area near Ban Phoukachgi, 35 mi NW of Khe Sanh. 3 KIA
Note: The transfers to OnMark and SMAAR suggest some sort of repairs or overhauls.

Note: A 609th Crew Chief mistakenly says it was sent to South Vietnam in 1969, but the official record contradicts this. He has this plane mixed up with 64-17645, and because of that some other sources (like Simpson) have this information listed incorrectly as well. The other sources say that this plane was sent to South Vietnam for use as a training frame and that It was blown up in Nha Trang in March of 1975 to prevent it falling into North Vietnamese hands, but this is also incorrect. The MACR file for the crew listed below confirm the identity of the plane, as does the IARC records listed above.

Accidents

Unknown

Crew

Maj Carlos Rafael Cruz - Pilot (KIA)
Lt.Col William Joseph Potter Jr. - Navigator (KIA)
SMS Paul Leonard Foster (KIA)

Disposition

Shot down by AA on 29 Dec 1967.

Images

Sources

Databases searched:

• AAIR -
• MACR -
• Baugher