Douglas A-26 Invader

The Douglas A-26 Invader is a twin-engined attack aircraft. It was used by the United States Army Air Force. It was also used in France and UK. The 'Invader' was used in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War by the United States. The French used it in the Algeria War. After 1948 its role in the US was changed from an attack aircraft to a bomber aircraft. The letter 'A' (for attack) in its name was changed to a 'B' (for bomber). It became the B-26 Invader. This caused some confusion because the Air Force already had the Martin B-26 Marauder, which was a different aircraft. Some A-26 Invaders were used during the 1950s by the United States Forest Service to fight forest fires. In this role the plane was used to put out wildfires from the air by dropping first borate, then later water and other retardants.

Douglas A-26 Invader
Role	Attack aircraft and medium bomber
National origin	USA
Manufacturer	Douglas
First flight	1942
Introduction	1943
Status	Out of service
Primary user	USA
Produced	Out of production
Number built	2450 examples

Douglas A-26 Invader Media

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  Douglas XA-26 AAC Ser. No. 41-19504 first flight, Mines Field, California, piloted by Benny Howard

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  Douglas XA-26B Invader AAF Ser. No. 41-19588, 5 May 1943, with a "strafer" nose, was adaptable to a combination of weapons, including a 75 mm (3 in) cannon.

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  An eight-gun nose A-26, 8th BS, 3rd BG Machinato Airfield, Okinawa 20 August 1945

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  Douglas A-26 Invader "Miss Murphy"

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  A B-26C Invader on a bombing run over Korea

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  A-26B-51-DL (AF Ser. No. 44-34331) over Korea, February 1951

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  B-26B-61-DL, AF Ser. No. 44-34517 "Monie" of the 37th BS, 17th BG flown by 1st Lt Robert Mikesh, Pusan AB, Korea 1952

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  A Farm Gate B-26B

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  An A-26A of the 609th SOS in 1969

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  A U.S. Douglas A-26C Invader painted in fake Cuban Air Force colors for the military invasion of Cuba undertaken by the CIA-sponsored paramilitary group Brigade 2506 in April 1961