64-17669
| B-26K-1 Invader | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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.
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 England AFB doing a training exercise of some kind.
Sources
Databases searched:
- AAIR -
- MACR -
- KORWALD -
- Baugher