United States' Douglas A-26 Invader light attack bomber^1,2,3

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

Design

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

The prototype was the XA-26 #41-19504 and flew July 10, 1942.^1,2,3

Production

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

XA-26: 1³
XA-26A: 1³
XA-26B: 1³
A-26B: 1,355^2,3
A-26C: 1,091^2,3
XA-26D: 1³
Total: 2,450³, 2,452¹

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

Variants

XA-26: Bomber prototype.^2,3 Had a glazed nose section.²
XA-26A: Night fighter prototype.^2,3 Four 20 mm guns under fuselage.^2,3 Four 12.7 mm MGs in a dorsal turret that was remotely controlled.²
XA-26B: Prototype.^2,3 Had 75 mm gun in the nose.^2,3
XA-26D: Had 14 0.5" MGs in nose and wings.³ Flew in 1945.³
XA-26F: Converted an A-26B to be used as a test bed for the GE J31 jet engine.³
A-26:
A-26A: Night fighter with a radar set and 4: 20 mm cannons in a ventral pack.¹
A-26B: Had ten 12.7 mm MGs 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
A-26C: Bomber version.^1,3 Only two 12.7 mm MGs 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

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

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

	Douglas A-26 Invader³	Douglas A-26B-1 Invader²	Douglas A-26C Invader¹
Type	Attack bomber³	Light attack bomber²	Light attack bomber¹
Crew	3³	3²	3¹ Pilot, bombardier/navigator, gunner¹
Engine (Type)	2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27/79 Double Wasp³	2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 piston²	2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 Double Wasp piston¹
Cylinders	Radial 18³	Radial²	Radial-18¹
Cooling
HP	2,000 each³	2,000 each²	2,000 each¹
Propeller blades	3 each³	3 each²	3 each¹
Dimensions
Span	70'³ 21.34 m³	70'² 21.35 m²	70'¹ 21.34 m¹
Length	50' 9"³ 15.47 m³	50' 9"² 15.47 m²	51' 3"¹ 15.62 m¹
Height	18' 6"³ 5.64 m³	18' 6"² 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 lb^2,3 10,147 kg^2,3	22,803 lb¹ 10,365 kg¹
Loaded		35,000 lb^2,3 15,876 kg³, 15,880 kg²	34,927 lb¹ 15,876 kg¹
Performance
Speed			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 6,735 m², 6,736 m³	22,100'¹ 6,735 m¹
Range		1,400 miles² 2,253 km²	1,400 miles¹ 2,253 km¹
Range with bomb load		1,400 miles³ 2,253 km³
Armament
Nose		6: 12.7 mm MG^2,3	2: 12.7 mm MG^1,3
Dorsal turret		2: 12.7 mm MG^2,3	2: 12.7 mm MG^1,3
Ventral position		2: 12.7 mm MG^2,3	2: 12.7 mm MG^1,3
Bombs		6,000 lb² 2,722 kg²	4,000 lb¹ 1,814 kg¹
Bombs - internal		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		8: 5"² 8: 127 mm²

Sources:

Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

United States' Douglas A-26 Invader light attack bomber1,2,3