64-17641: Difference between revisions

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Was originally [[44-35322]].  
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==
==Operational History==
unknown
13 Aug 1964 - Accepted into USAF inventory from [[OnMark Engineering Company]] in Van Nuys, CA <ref name="AVH-1"> "Aerospace Vehicle Report, Jul - Sep 1964" Reel AVH-1, Pg 1179. USAFHRA</ref><br>
14 Aug 1964 - Assigned to the [[Air Force Test Center]] (AFTCE) at [[Edwards AFB]]. <ref name="AVH-1"/><br>
31 Dec 1964 - Sent back to [[OnMark Engineering Company]]<ref name="AVH-4">"Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1965" Reel AVH-4, Pg 1956 USAFHRA</ref>


Participated in [[Operation Steel Tiger]].  
22 Jan 1965 - Assigned to [[1st Air Commando Wing]] at [[Hurlburt Field]]. <ref name="AVH-4"/><br>
1 Jun 1965 - Assigned to [[Mobile Air Material Area]] for repairs <ref name="AVH-4"/><br>
11 Jun 1965 - Assigned to [[1st Air Commando Wing]] at [[Hurlburt Field]]. <ref name="AVH-4"/><br>
17 Dec 1965 - [[1st Air Commando Wing]] transferred from [[Hurlburt Field]] to [[England AFB]]. <ref name="AVH-4"/><br>
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.  


Lost in action, December 1967.  
10 May 1966 - [[1st Air Commando Wing]] at England AFB. <ref name="AVH-6> "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1966" Reel AVH-6, Pg 1943 USAFHRA </ref><br>
27 May 1966 - Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAAR) at McLellan AFB. <ref name="AVH-6"/><br>
10 Aug 1966 - Transferred back to [[1st Air Commando Wing]] at [[England AFB]] <ref name="AVH-6"/><br>
31 Oct 1966 - [[603rd Air Commando Squadron]] at [[England AFB]] <ref name="AVH-6"/><br>
16 Nov 1966 - [[1st Air Commando Wing]] at [[England AFB]] <ref name="AVH-6"/><br>
Note: This assignment to SMAAR may suggest an accident that was repaired. <br>
 
31 May 1967 - "Reconciliation" [[1st Air Commando Wing]] and England AFB. <ref name="AVH-8"> "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1967" Reel AVH-8, Pg 2747-2748 USAFHRA</ref><br>
12 Jul 1967 - Sent back to [[OnMark Engineering Company]] at Van Nuys, CA. <ref name="AVH-8"/><br>
1 Sep 1967 - Transferred on paper back to [[1st Air Commando Wing]] at England AFB <ref name="AVH-8"/><br>
1 Sep 1967 - Sent to Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAAR) at McLellan AFB <ref name="AVH-8"/><br>
30 Sep 1967 - [[56th Air Commando Wing]] at [[Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base]]. <ref name="AVH-8"/> Participated in [[Operation Steel Tiger]]. Assigned to [[606th Special Operations Squadron]].<br>
16 Oct 1967 - [[56th Air Commando Wing]] at [[Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base]]. <ref name="AVH-8"/> <br>
3 Nov 1967 - [[56th Air Commando Wing]] at [[Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base]]. <ref name="AVH-8"/><br>
24 Dec 1967 - Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAAR) at McLellan AFB <ref name="AVH-8"/><br>
28 Dec 1967 - [[56th Air Commando Wing]] at [[Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base]]. <ref name="AVH-8"/><br>
29 Dec 1967 - Dropped from records, [[56th Air Commando Wing]] at [[Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base]]. <ref name="AVH-8"/> shot down by AA while attacking convoy in Steel Tiger area near Ban Phoukachgi, 35 mi NW of Khe Sanh. 3 KIA
<br>
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.
 
[[File:AVH1-1179.jpg|200px]]<br>
[[File:AVH4-1956.jpg|200px]]<br>
[[File:AVH6-1943.jpg|200px]]<br>
[[File:AVH8-2747.jpg|200px]]<br>
[[File:AVH8-2748.jpg|200px]]<br>


==Accidents==
==Accidents==
Line 17: Line 51:


==Crew==
==Crew==
Unknown
Maj [[Carlos Rafael Cruz]] - Pilot (KIA)<br>
Lt.Col [[William Joseph Potter Jr.]] - Navigator (KIA)<br>
SMS [[Paul Leonard Foster]] (KIA)


==Disposition==
==Disposition==
Lost in action, Dec 1967.  
Shot down by AA on 29 Dec 1967.  


==Images==
==Images==
 
[[File:64-17641.jpg|600px]]


==Sources==
==Sources==
Line 29: Line 65:
*AAIR -  
*AAIR -  
*MACR -  
*MACR -  
*KORWALD -
*Baugher
*Baugher


Line 38: Line 73:
[[Category:Needs Research]]
[[Category:Needs Research]]
[[Category:Shot Down]]
[[Category:Shot Down]]
[[Category:Have Photo]]
[[Category:609th Special Operations Squadron]]
[[Category:606th Special Operations Squadron]]

Latest revision as of 15:41, 16 February 2021

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

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 [1]
14 Aug 1964 - Assigned to the Air Force Test Center (AFTCE) at Edwards AFB. [1]
31 Dec 1964 - Sent back to OnMark Engineering Company[2]

22 Jan 1965 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field. [2]
1 Jun 1965 - Assigned to Mobile Air Material Area for repairs [2]
11 Jun 1965 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field. [2]
17 Dec 1965 - 1st Air Commando Wing transferred from Hurlburt Field to England AFB. [2]
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. [3]
27 May 1966 - Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAAR) at McLellan AFB. [3]
10 Aug 1966 - Transferred back to 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB [3]
31 Oct 1966 - 603rd Air Commando Squadron at England AFB [3]
16 Nov 1966 - 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB [3]
Note: This assignment to SMAAR may suggest an accident that was repaired.

31 May 1967 - "Reconciliation" 1st Air Commando Wing and England AFB. [4]
12 Jul 1967 - Sent back to OnMark Engineering Company at Van Nuys, CA. [4]
1 Sep 1967 - Transferred on paper back to 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB [4]
1 Sep 1967 - Sent to Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAAR) at McLellan AFB [4]
30 Sep 1967 - 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base. [4] 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. [4]
3 Nov 1967 - 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base. [4]
24 Dec 1967 - Sacramento Air Material Area (SMAAR) at McLellan AFB [4]
28 Dec 1967 - 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base. [4]
29 Dec 1967 - Dropped from records, 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base. [4] 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.

AVH1-1179.jpg
AVH4-1956.jpg
AVH6-1943.jpg
AVH8-2747.jpg
AVH8-2748.jpg

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

64-17641.jpg

Sources

Databases searched:

  • AAIR -
  • MACR -
  • Baugher
  1. 1.0 1.1 "Aerospace Vehicle Report, Jul - Sep 1964" Reel AVH-1, Pg 1179. USAFHRA
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1965" Reel AVH-4, Pg 1956 USAFHRA
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1966" Reel AVH-6, Pg 1943 USAFHRA
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1967" Reel AVH-8, Pg 2747-2748 USAFHRA