GeneralTate on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/generaltate/art/Douglas-A-26-Invader-701914861GeneralTate

Deviation Actions

GeneralTate's avatar

Douglas A-26 Invader

By
Published:
676 Views

Description

Photo taken at the McMinnville Evergreen aviation and space museum in Northern Oregon. Photo taken by me, ask for permission to use.

The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is a twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Cold War conflicts. A limited number of highly modified United States Air Force aircraft served in Southeast Asia until 1969. It was a fast aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft.

A re-designation of the type from A-26 to B-26 led to confusion with the Martin B-26 Marauder, which first flew in November 1940, about 16 months before the Douglas design's maiden flight. Although both types were powered by the widely used Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp eighteen-cylinder, double-row radial engine, they were completely different and separate designs — the Martin bomber originated in 1939, with roughly twice as many Marauders (nearly 5,300) produced in comparison to the Douglas design.

Role: Ground attack; light bomber
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight: 10 July 1942
Retired: 1980 Colombian Air Force 
Primary users: United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Air ForceUnited States NavyFrench Air Force
Number built: 2,452
Unit cost: US$242,595 (1942)
Variants: On Mark Executive, Marketeer, and Marksman

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 6 or 8 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in solid, "all purpose" nose: or 2 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in glass "bombardier" nose
    • Up to 8 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns paired in four optional under wing pods: or 3 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in each outer wing panel
    • 2 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in remote-controlled dorsal turret
    • 2 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in remote-controlled ventral turret
  • Rockets: Up to 10 5-inch (12.7 cm) HVAR rockets on "zero length" launch pylons, five under each outer wing panel
  • Bombs: Up to 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) capacity - 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) in the bomb bay plus 2,000 lb (910 kg) carried externally on underwing hardpoints 
Documentary on this aircraft:
Great Planes Douglas A-26 Invader

Be sure to follow me on Dailymotion!


Image size
4320x3240px 13.61 MB
© 2017 - 2024 GeneralTate
Comments0
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In