Invader History
Design
The A-26 Invader was designed by E Heinemann, Ted R. Smith and Robert Donovan. Design of the A-26 Invader was typical of light attack bomber design in the Second World War. The fuselage was streamlined and contained the cockpit, bomb bay and gun positions. The nose on the B-26B was a solid nose capable of utilizing several different gun configurations. The glass nose found on A-26C models indicated the use of a bombardier/navigator and bombsight controls in place of the nose-mounted guns.
An Invader crew of three traditionally consisted of the pilot, navigator/radio operator, and gunner - the latter manning dorsal and ventral gun turrets. The C-model featured a bombardier/navigator crewmember. The airframe proved a well-put together structure as many Invaders were known to receive substantial amounts of damage and still return their crews to home bases. Flying on a single engine was possible, even with a full bomb-load. The empennage was traditional and featured the identifiable rounded vertical fin extending from the upper aft fuselage.
Operational Service
Deliveries of the A-26B model began in August of 1943 and became the fastest American bomber of World War 2. The plane saw extensive action in varying roles throughout the conflict both in the European Front and along the Pacific Front. A-26's were put into action with the Fifth Air Force in the Pacific Theater and flew their first sortie on June 23rd, 1944. European deliveries occurred in September of 1944 and were stationed with the Ninth Air Force, seeing their first combat sorties in November 1944. Invaders served through to the end of the war. After the war, many served in the United States Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command. The USAF dropped the "attack" designation of the aircraft in 1948 and officially re-designated the Invader as the B-26. During WW2 the Martin Marauder was the B-26, but by 1948 all of the Martin aircraft had been removed from service.
The A-26B and A-26C saw extended use in the Korean War with at least 37 aircraft in hand on June 25, 1950. Elements of the 3rd Bombardment Group (8th, 13th and 90th Squadrons) were some of the first units put the Invader into action in the conflict, launching from Japanese bases to strike targets on the Korean peninsula. Later that year, group strength increased to 90 aircraft. These Invaders could be counted on to operate at low levels in the dark of night, maneuvering over and around the dangerous mountain terrain in Korea. Invaders were credited with thousands of enemy vehicles destroyed by the end of the war, totaling some 232,000 flight hours and close to 20 million rounds of .50 caliber ammunition fired.
Initially, Invaders stationed in Japan were intended to provide cover fire for US citizens evacuating the South Korean capital of Seoul. But by June 29, 1950, the aircraft were directly hitting North Korea targets. The B-26 proved an invaluable asset in the disruption of supply lines running along known roads where the Invader could bring the brunt of its firepower to bear on unarmored targets. Tactics changed with operational experience and Invader crews learned to bomb with precision. Moving targets that they may have attempted to strafe with their guns in earlier operations were bombed instead. Invaders targeted airfields with equal fervor, utilizing their formidable bomb-loads (including napalm) along with their machine guns and rockets against targets of opportunity. The A-26 itself proved a success in its night missions and forced the enemy to change their routing patterns on the ground in reaction to American attack patterns.
B-26 aircraft were the last USAF aircraft to drop ordnance in the conflict before the cessation of hostilities. After the war, a North Korean general admitted that the B-26 was one of the most feared weapons of the conflict - such was its terrorizing reach on ground targets at night. At least 7 B-26 squadrons were available for combat missions in the Korean War including one RB-26 (Recon) element. American B-26 models were temporarily removed from service in 1958 and served in strictly liaison mission and staff transportation roles.
France became another Invader operator, flying USAF Invaders on lease in their Indo-China conflict of the 1950's. These carried the unofficial designation of B-26N and were based on B-26C models with the AI Mk X radar systems from old Meteor NF.11 jet-powered night-fighters. French systems operated their Invaders with gun pods and underwing rockets.
American B-26B systems were called to action once again in 1961 as tactical bombers in the early years of the Vietnam War. President John F. Kennedy's assistance initiative called the aircraft back into action from storage and the Invader was brought online in reconnaissance and attack roles. This action was short-lived, however. The planes served from 1961 through 1964. Aircraft taking part in this early action actually fought with South Vietnamese markings and under RB-26 reconnaissance designations but were fully combat ready. The number of missions soon grew to include escort and close air support along with traditional attack roles. By this time, the war-weary B-26's began to show their age. Years of operational use began to take their toll on airframes as constant operation decreased the overall safety of the type. The B-26B was soon withdrawn from service for safety's sake, as the crash of at least two such aircraft from structural failure necessitated the move. Cracks on the wingspars of the planes were a serious issue in this time.
In 1963, at least 40 B-26 aircraft were converted into the two-seat B-26K "Counter Invader" model for the USAF following the successful trials of the YB-26K program. The YB-26 featured water injection Pratt & Whitney R-2800-103W engines of 2,500 horsepower, 8x .50 caliber nose machine guns, 6 x .50 caliber wing machine guns with external pylons for up to 8,000 lbs of ordnance, an internal capacity of 4,000 lbs, and dual cockpit controls with updated avionics.
With the modifications performed by On Mark Engineering Company, these aircraft were equipped with Pratt & Whitney R-2800-52W engines with water injection, reversible propellers, reinforced wings with modified wing flaps, rebuilt tail section with larger rudder and wingtip fuel tanks for increased endurance. Additionally, these B-26K models had their 6x .50 caliber wing-mounted machine guns removed but retained the formidable 8 x .50 caliber formation in the nose. These Invaders, like their Korean brethren, were charged with disruption of enemy supply lines. In 1966, these B-26K models were officially re-designated as A-26A. The so-called Counter Invaders operated in Southeast Asia up until 1969 before retirement from the USAF. By this time, the role of the A-26A was overtaken by the cannon-laden Lockheed AC-130 Hercules gunships among other more capable aircraft. Modifications of the B-26K/A-26A occurred between 1963 and 1964 at a unit cost of $577,000.
The final A-26 was retired from US Air Force combat service in 1969 and the entire line was removed from service by 1972. 2,503 Invaders were produced. In all, 18 different countries operated the Invader in either civilian or military capacities.
A-26's also served with US Air National Guard units. They were the final American military operators of the aircraft. ANG units received their Invaders in the post-war (WW2) years. This was abruptly abandoned at the start of the Korea Conflict as B-26's were earmarked for war once again. With the jet age progressing and the Korean War drawing to a close, A-26 deliveries resumed to the ANG, who operated the planes throughout the 1950's. The B-26 saw its last noticeable ANG use in early 1970 as a converted staff transport.
Conclusion
The Douglas A-26/B-26 lived a very long and productive operational life considering her origins in World War 2. The Invader took part in both theaters of World War 2, and the Invader saw long life for a bomber in the ensuing Korean and Vietnam Wars. Throughout it's entire service life, the Invader retained many of the qualities that her crews admired - speed, survivability, and offensive firepower.