Invader Timeline

1941

• Douglas Aircraft Corporation Constructs a full-sized wood mock-up on the Invader to pitch to the Air Force. Two Prototypes are ordered, 41-19504 and 41-19505. A third prototype, 41-19588 is ordered later.

1942

JULY

• 10 - The first test flight of an Invader is completed at Mines Field, El Segundo, CA.

1943

SEP

• UNK - The first Invader productions models are delivered to the Air Force.
• 24 - The first production model Invader, 41-39100, less than a month in Air Force inventory, is involved in an accident at Wright Field, OH. Another pilot in a De Haviland Mosquito crashed into this plane while it was parked. The pilot survived.

1944

JUNE

• 23 - 5th AF Invaders stationed in Japan attack Japanese-held islands near Manokwari. 1st Combat Mission in Pacific.
• 24 - 5th AF Invaders attack enemy positions East of Mokmer Airfield. 2nd Combat Mission in Pacific.
• 26 - 5th AF Invaders attack airfields, shipping, villages, town areas, roads, and numerous other targets at Efman, Noemfoor Island, Japen, and Biak Islands, at Manokwari and Ransiki, and near Sarmi.
• 27 - 5th AF Invaders hit airfields, gun positions, and various other targets in or near Babo, Manokwari, Biak and Noemfoor Islands, Ransiki, Waren, and Moemi.

JULY

• 6 - 5th AF Invaders bomb the town and warehouse area of Yap Island and a few hit the airfield at Woleai Atoll.
• 11 - Despite several accidents by this point, none had been fatal until now. A stateside Invader assigned to a training unit of the 3rd Air Force, 43-22253, crashed 1.5 miles west of Portland, ME. The pilot was Phillip I. Russell.

SEPTEMBER

• UNK - 18 Invaders are delivered to the 553rd Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group, 9th AF.
• 6 - 553rd BS flies first of 8 evaluation missions in the Invader.

NOVEMBER

• 17 - 416th Bomb Group fully converted to Invaders, flies first Invader combat mission.
• "Late" - 409th Bomb Group fully converted to Invaders.

DECEMBER

• 24 - The first Invader is shot down in combat. 41-39242 of the 669th Bomb Squadron, 416th Bomb Group. The plane was shot down in Germany. Pilot was Reece B. Robertson.

1945

JANUARY

• UNK - 47th Bomb Group, 12th AF converts to Invaders.

Sources

Note: This source list is not exhaustive. Much of this list was compiled simply through cross-reference of existing records.

• Douglas A-26 Production List
• Individual Aircraft Record Cards
• Unit Diaries, Mission Briefings, and Service Member Records, including:
  • 43rd Bomb Group (JUN & JUL 1944) transcribed online here: http://www.kensmen.com/chronology.html