64-17650
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 converted from 44-35766.
This Counter Invader has the distinction of being the first B-26K lost to enemy fire.
Operational History
9 Sep 1964 - Accepted into USAF Inventory from OnMark at Van Nuys, CA. [1]
10 Sep 1964 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field. [1]
13 Sep 1965 - Assigned to Mobile Air Material Area (MOAAR) at Brookley AFB. [2]
24 Sep 1965 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field for Flight Training and Evaluation. [2]
17 Dec 1965 - 1st Air Commando Wing moves from Hurlburt Field to England AFB. [2]
10 May 1966 - Designation changed from B-26K to A-26A while assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB. [3]
11 Jun 1966 - Sent to Thailand to participate in Operation Steel Tiger. Officially assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing. [3] In practice, the plane was assigned to the 603rd Air Commando Squadron - Detachment 1, which was attached to the 606th Air Commando Squadron.
28 Jun 1966 - Dropped from inventory due to combat loss [3]. Shot down by enemy ground fire in Steel Tiger area, 10 mi N of Ban Phakat. 603rd Air Commando Squadron, attached to 606th Air Commando Squadron. Details from the crew members service files indicate that the aircraft exploded and no parachutes were seen. Joe Baugher's site lists 4 casualties for this aircraft, but official reports only list 3.
Accidents
Unknown
Crew
Cpt. Charles Glendon Dudley - Pilot (KIA)
1Lt. Anthony Frank Cavalli - Navigator (KIA)
Cpt. Thomas Hubert Wolfe - Observer (KIA)
Disposition
Lost in action 28 Jun 1966.
Images
Sources
Databases searched:
- AAIR -
- MACR -
- KORWALD -
- Baugher