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United States' Douglas A-26 Invader light attack bomber

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Douglas A-26 Invader bomber:
United States' Douglas A-26 Invader bomber 		Douglas A-26 Invader bomber:
United States' Douglas A-26 Invader bomber		 Douglas A-26 Invader bomber:
United States' Douglas A-26 Invader bomber		 Douglas A-26 Invader bomber:
United States' Douglas A-26 Invader bomber
Douglas A-26 Invader bomber:
United States' Douglas A-26 Invader bomber		 Douglas A-26 Invader bomber:
United States' Douglas A-26 Invader bomber		    

Design

In 1940 the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) put out a request for a two engine high performance bomber.4

Ed Heinemann designed the A-26 Invader to replace the A-20 Boston.1,2

The early models had poor visibility and later models had a clam shell canopy that improved visibility and opening in-flight for emergencies.1

The A-26B had oil cooler air intakes that were redesigned and increased performance by 80%.1

The insides of the engine cowlings were painted to alleviate the glare that affected the pilots.1

The bomb bay was between the cockpit and the rear gunner and the doors were two pieces that stretched from the cockpit to the ventral turret.1

Prototype

In June 1941 three prototypes were ordered.3,4

The prototype was the XA-26 #41-19504 and flew July 10, 1942.1,2,3,4

Production

The A-26A night fighter version was cancelled.1 The A-26B and A-26C were moved into production.1

  • Douglas XA-26: 13
  • Douglas XA-26A: 13
  • Douglas XA-26B: 13
  • Douglas A-26B: 1,3552,3,4
  • Douglas A-26C: 1,0912,3,4
  • Douglas XA-26D: 13
  • Total: 2,4464, 2,4503, 2,4521
    • Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company4

At the end of the war over 5,250 / 5,2544, that were ordered, were cancelled after VJ Day.2,3,4

Variants

  • Douglas XA-26: Bomber prototype.2,3 Had a glazed nose section.2
  • Douglas XA-26A: Night fighter prototype.2,3,4 Four 20 mm guns under fuselage.2,3,4 Four 12.7 mm machine guns in a dorsal turret that was remotely controlled.2,4
  • Douglas XA-26B: Prototype.2,3,4 Had 75 mm gun in the nose.2,3,4
  • Douglas XA-26D: Had 14 0.5" machine guns in nose and wings.3 Flew in 1945.3
  • Douglas XA-26F: Converted an A-26B to be used as a test bed for the GE J31 jet engine.3
  • Douglas A-26:
  • Douglas A-26A: Night fighter with a radar set and 4: 20 mm cannons in a ventral pack.1
  • Douglas A-26B: Had ten 12.7 mm machine guns in under wing and under fuselage packs.1 Delivered to United States Air Force in November 1944.2,3 Had a solid nose.3 Top turret was fixed forward to be used against ground targets.3
  • Douglas A-26C: Bomber version.1,3,4 Only two 12.7 mm machine guns in nose.2 Transparent bombardier station.2,3 Most saw action in the Pacific.2 A few had bombing radar installed.3 Sometimes were used as lead ships in bombing formations.3

Usage

United States

Used towards the end in World War II, but also used in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.1,3,4

Sixty seven were lost in European operations and seven enemy planes were shot down by the A-26 Invaders.1

New Guinea

The first four A-26Bs used in combat were in New Guinea.1 Low-level sorties were unpopular.1

United Kingdom / Europe

Eighteen A-26s were received by the 553rd Bomb Squadron in Great Dunmow, England.1

The first mission of the A-26s was on November 9, 1944, with the 9th Air Froce.4

11,567 missions were flown and 18,054 tons / 18,344 tonnes bombs dropped.1,3

One aircraft was credited with a probable kill of a Me 262 jet fighter.1

Pacific

There were three A-26 USAAF bomb groups that were used against the Japanese on Okinawa, Taiwan, and mainland Japan.1

88 A-26Cs were supplied to the United States Navy.2

Korean War

The A-26 was changed to the B-26 and was used in the Korean War.2,4

Specifications

  Douglas A-26 Invader3 Douglas A-26B Invader4, Douglas A-26B-1 Invader2 Douglas A-26C Invader1
Type Attack bomber3 Bomber4, Light attack bomber2 Light attack bomber1
Crew 33 32,3 31
Pilot, bombardier/navigator, gunner1
Engine (Type) 2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27/79 Double Wasp3 2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 Double Wasp4
2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 piston2 		2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 Double Wasp piston1
Cylinders Radial 183 Radial2, Radial 184 Radial-181
Cooling   Air4  
HP 2,000 each3 2,000 each2,4 2,000 each1
Propeller blades 3 each3 3 each2 3 each1
Dimensions      
Span 70'3
21.34 m3 		70'2,4
21.35 m2 		70'1
21.34 m1
Length 50' 9"3
15.47 m3 		50'4, 50' 9"2
15.47 m2 		51' 3"1
15.62 m1
Height 18' 6"3
5.64 m3 		18' 6"2,4
5.64 m2 		18' 3"1
5.56 m1
Wing area   540 ft2 2
50.17 m2 2 		540 ft2 1
50.17 m2 1
Weight      
Empty   22,370 lb2,3
10,147 kg2,3 		22,803 lb1
10,365 kg1
Loaded   35,000 lb2,3,4
15,876 kg3, 15,880 kg2 		34,927 lb1
15,876 kg1
Performance      
Speed   355 mph4 372 mph1
600 kph1
Speed @ 15,000' /
4,572 m 		  355 mph3
571 kph3 		 
Speed @ 16,000' /
4,875 m 		  355 mph2
572 kph2 		 
Cruising speed   284 mph3
457 kph3 		 
Climb   2,000'/minute3
610 m/minute3 		2,030'/minute1
619 m/minute1
Climb to 10,000' /
3,048 m 		  8.1 minutes3  
Climb to 10,000' /
3,050 m 		  8.1 minutes2  
Service ceiling   22,100'2,3,4
6,735 m2, 6,736 m3 		22,100'1
6,735 m1
Range   1,400 miles2,4
2,253 km2 		1,400 miles1
2,253 km1
Range with bomb load   1,400 miles3
2,253 km3 		 
Armament   10: MG4  
Nose 6: Heavy MG4 6: 12.7 mm MG2,3 2: 12.7 mm MG1,3
Dorsal turret 2: MG4 2: 12.7 mm MG2,3 2: 12.7 mm MG1,3
Ventral position 2: MG4 2: 12.7 mm MG2,3 2: 12.7 mm MG1,3
Wings (special missions)4 8: MG4    
Fuselage sides (special missions)4 2: MG4    
Bombs   4,000 lb4, 6,000 lb2
2,722 kg2 		4,000 lb1
1,814 kg1
Bombs - internal 4,000 lb4 4,000 lb3
1,814 kg3 		4,000 lb3
1,814 kg3
Bombs - under wings   2,000 lb3
907 kg3 		2,000 lb3
907 kg3
Rockets 164 8: 5"2
8: 127 mm2 		 

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
  3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  4. World War II Airplanes Volume 2, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976