64-17672

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B-26K-1 Invader
640.jpg
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

Converted from 44-35251.

Operational History

22 Feb 1965 - Accepted into USAF Inventory from OnMark Engineering Company in Van Nuys, CA [1]
23 Feb 1965 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field[1]
16 Dec 1965 - 1st Air Commando Wing moved from Hurlburt Field to England AFB[1]

10 May 1966 - Designation changed from B-26K to A-26A while with the 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB. [2]
11 Jun 1966 - Sent to Nakhon Phanom Air Base. [2]Participated in Operation Steel Tiger
14 Dec 1966 - Dropped from inventory [2] Lost in action. Shot down by AA near Thai-Laos border. The pilot, Lt. Col. Albert R. Howarth, flew 20 miles with 1 engine on fire until all 3 persons aboard could bail out and be rescued. Lt. Col. Howarth was awarded the Mackay Trophy for "his exemplary courage and airmanship as a pilot in a combat strike mission in Southeast Asia under hazardous conditions of darkness and intense enemy fire."
NOTE: The official records lists "TA" which indicates a loss due to an accident rather than "TM" which is a loss due to combat. However, Lt. Col. Howarth's citation provides evidence that this plane was in fact shot down and not simply crashed.

AVH4-1959.jpg
AVH6-1948.jpg

Accidents

Unknown

Crew

Lt. Col. Albert R. Howarth - Pilot

Disposition

Lost 14 Dec 1966 to AA fire.

Images

672 at Andrews AFB in 1965. The plane was photographed at the air base in April and May of 1965, but there are no official records of the plane being assigned to the base.
64-17672.Apr65.jpg
64-17672-2.jpg
64-17672.6May65.jpg
64-17672.jpg
64-17672.May65.jpg

Sources

Databases searched:

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1965" Reel AVH-4, Pg 1959 USAFHRA
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1966" Reel AVH-6, Pg 1948 USAFHRA