64-17669

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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 44-34606.

Operational History

2 Feb 1965 - Assumed accepted into USAF Inventory from OnMark Engineering Company at Van Nuys, CA.
3 Feb 1965 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field[1]
11 Jun 1965 - Assigned to Mobile Air Material Area (MOAAR). [1]
1 Jul 1965 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field[1]
17 Dec 1965 - 1st Air Commando Wing moved from Hurlburt Field to England AFB[1]
NOTE: There is no entry for acceptance of this plane into inventory on the official records. The 2 Feb is assumed based on the pattern of acceptance of other B-26Ks.

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

22 Feb 1967 - Lost in action. [3] This plane accompanied its damaged sister ship (64-17668) back from a strafing run. 668's starboard wing was on fire and the crew of 669 encouraged them to bail out. As soon as 668's crew bailed out the plane exploded, sending a large part of the wing to 669, destroying the plane and causing it to crash with a loss of both crew.

AVH4-1959.jpg
AVH6-1947.jpg
AVH8-2752.jpg

Accidents

Unknown

Crew

Cpt. Dwight Stanley Campbell - Pilot - KIA
Cpt. Robert Lee Sholl - Navigator - KIA

Disposition

Lost Feb 1967.

Images

File:64-17669.jpg
Note that the original caption that came with this photo said that the plane was dumping fuel prior to an attack run. While that was a standard procedure, the crew of Special Kay (64-17679) has pointed out that this doesn't make sense. The wing pylons are empty, so there are no bombs and the bomb bay doors are closed. Additionally, the USAF "Stars and bars" insignia is displayed on the fuselage, which was not something that remained visible during combat in Vietnam. Once arriving in-country the stars and bars were removed from the special operations planes. They also note that the left engine is feathered and not running. Based on all of these factors I agree with their assessment that this plane is definitely not setting up for an attack run. Instead, they are likely at Eglin doing a training exercise of some kind.

Sources

Databases searched:

  • AAIR -
  • MACR -
  • KORWALD -
  • Baugher
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1965" Reel AVH-4, Pg 1959 USAFHRA
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1966" Reel AVH-6, Pg 1947 USAFHRA
  3. "Aerospace Vehicle Report, 1967" Reel AVH-8, Pg 2752 USAFHRA