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.[1] 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

References

  1. David Legg, Consolidated PBY Catalina: The Peacetime Record (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2002), p. 257