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View Full Version : A-26, B-26 or other?



barney_g
05-08-2014, 09:19 PM
What aircraft is this?

Kyle Boatright
05-08-2014, 09:34 PM
Douglas A-26 or B-26. Same airframe, just listed as either a bomber or an attack type depending on how the USAF classified it on a particular date.

barney_g
05-08-2014, 10:13 PM
I'm guessing this is a B-26 then with the nose set up like that

Bob Dingley
05-14-2014, 06:11 PM
What aircraft is this?
I'm no expert. Answer is "Depends when the picture was taken."


When the Army bought them in WW2, "B-26" was already taken by the Martin bomber, so it was an alpha -26. Then, they were deployed to RVN in the early 60's as B-26s. There were no Martins left in the USAF, so no confusion. They went back to A-26 about the time they were pulled from service. I heard that some fine print in the Status of Forces Agreement required the A to B to A dance. Could be wrong.


There used to be one on a post at Hurlbert field (Eglin aux fld #4) and I think another at the Eglin AFB Armament Museum.


Bob

champ driver
05-14-2014, 07:09 PM
The original B-26 from WWII was the Martin Marauder, the A-26 Douglas Invader also flew in WWII. Both were similar but completely different airframes built by different manufacturers. The Martin Marauder first flew in 1940 and the Douglas Invader flew 16 months later in 1942. The Douglas Invader was designated as the B-26 from 1948 to 1965 and flew in combat until 1969 and remained in service until 1972.
The plane in the photo from the original poster is commonly known as an A-26 Invader.