64-17672
| 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 44-35251.
Operational History
22 Feb 1965 - Accepted into USAF Inventory from OnMark Engineering Company in Van Nuys, CA [1]
23 Feb 1965 - Assigned to 1st Air Commando Wing at Eglin AFB[1]
16 Dec 1965 - 1st Air Commando Wing moved from Eglin AFB to England AFB[1]
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
14 Dec 1966 - Dropped from inventory [2] Lost in action. Shot down by AA near Thai-Laos border. The pilot, Lt. Col. Albert R. Howarth, flew 20 miles with 1 engine on fire until all 3 persons aboard could bail out and be rescued. Lt. Col. Howarth was awarded the Mackay Trophy for "his exemplary courage and airmanship as a pilot in a combat strike mission in Southeast Asia under hazardous conditions of darkness and intense enemy fire."
NOTE: The official records lists "TA" which indicates a loss due to an accident rather than "TM" which is a loss due to combat. However, Lt. Col. Howarth's citation provides evidence that this plane was in fact shot down and not simply crashed.
Accidents
Unknown
Crew
Lt. Col. Albert R. Howarth - Pilot
Disposition
Lost 14 Dec 1966 to AA fire.
Images
Sources
Databases searched:
- AAIR - No Listing
- MACR - No Listing
- Baugher - http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1964.html