Warplanes of the USA: Douglas A-26 Invader

Douglas A-26 Invader

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in the USA.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are as credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second World War in the United States of America would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

(USAAF Photo)

Douglas A-26 Invader formation, 8th Bombardment Squadron, Japan 1947.

(USAAF Photo)

Douglas A-26B-35-DL Invader (Serial No. 41-39456) in flight, circa in 1945.

(USAAF Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (s/n 44-35787) bombers on transit to Indochina in the Philippines. From 1950-1954, the USAF loaned transport and attack aircraft to the French air force and also sent about 200 aircraft mechanics to help maintain them.

(USAAF Photo)

Douglas A-26 Invader in flight.

(USAAF Photo)

A-26 Invader attack aircraft dropping bombs on the Siegfried Line, Germany, 1945.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Douglas A-26C-45-DT Invader (Serial No. 44-35674), Davis-Winters, California, May 1947.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Douglas A-26 Invader, USAF Reserve.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Douglas B-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35262), California Air National Guard

(Bill Larkins Photo)  

Douglas A-26C-55-DT Invader (Serial No. 44-35982), painted overall gloss black, showing the Bombardier nose and improved, clear-view "clamshell" canopy. An AN/APQ-13 radome is fitted in the forward bomb-bay, and "zero-length" launchers for 5 in HVAR rockets are under the outer wings.  Concord, California, 3 Aug 1946.

The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during the Second World War, the Invader also saw service during several major Cold War conflicts. A limited number of highly modified United States Air Force aircraft served in Southeast Asia until 1969. It was a fast aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft. A redesignation of the type from A-26 to B-26 has led to confusion with the earlier and unrelated Martin B-26 Marauder, which had already been withdrawn from service when the designation was reused. (Wikipedia)

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Dougls B-26C-56-DT Invader, (Serial No. 44-35992), San Francisco, California, Feb 1949.

(USAAF Photo)

Douglas XA-26B Invader 5-14-1943. Solid nose was intended to allow a combination of weapons, included a 75 mm cannon.

(USAAF Photo)

Eight gun nose A-26, 8th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Group, Machinato Airfield, Okinawa 20 August 1945.

Operations in the Pacific

Douglas officially delivered the first production model A-26B aircraft to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on 10 September 1943. These were sent for field evaluation in actual combat operations, with the Fifth Air Force in the Southwest Pacific theater. The A-26 first saw action on 23 June 1944, when four aircraft attached to the 3rd Bombardment Group's 13th Squadron ("The Grim Reapers"), bombed Japanese-held islands near Manokwari. Aircrew from "The Grim Reapers", while evaluating these four A-26Bs, noted that downward views from the cockpit were significantly hindered by the nature of the design – especially the positioning of the engines – which made the A-26B unsuitable for its intended role of ground attack. In response to such evaluations, General George Kenney, commander of the Far East Air Forces, stated: "We do not want the A-26 under any circumstances as a replacement for anything." Nevertheless, development continued. While the 3rd BG was waiting suitably modified A-26s, it requested additional Douglas A-20 Havocs, although both types were used in composite flights. Some USAAF units in the Pacific that operated either the A-20 or B-25 received the A-26 for trials in limited quantities.The 319th Bomb Group was fully converted to the A-26 in March 1945, when it commenced operations with the 3rd BG. In August, after a few dozen A-26 missions, it became evident that the war was coming to an abrupt close, and operations began to wind down. The 319th officially ceased combat operations on 12 August 1945.

Operations in Europe

Douglas needed better results from the Invader's second combat test, so ferried A-26s arrived in Europe in late September 1944 for assignment to the Ninth Air Force. The initial deployment involved 18 aircraft and crews assigned to the 553d Squadron of the 386th Bomb Group. This unit flew their first mission on 6 September 1944. No aircraft were lost on the eight test missions, and the Ninth Air Force announced they were satisfied, eventually replacing their A-20s and B-26s with the A-26 Invader. The first group to convert to the A-26B was 416th Bombardment Group. With it, they entered combat on 17 November, and the 409th Bombardment Group, whose A-26s became operational in late November. Due to a shortage of A-26C variants, the groups flew a combined A-20/A-26 unit until deliveries of the glass-nosed version caught up. Besides bombing and strafing, tactical reconnaissance and night interdiction missions were successful. In contrast to the Pacific-based units, the A-26 was well received by pilots and crew alike, and by 1945, the 9th AF had 11,567 missions, dropping 18,054 tons of bombs, recording seven confirmed kills while losing 67 aircraft. In Italy, the Twelfth Air Force's 47th Bomb Group also received the A-26 starting in January 1945. They were used against German transport links, and for direct support and interdiction against tanks and troop concentrations in the Po Valley in the final campaigns in Italy. (Wikipedia)

(USAAF Photo)

Douglas A-26C-2-DL Invader (Serial No. 41-39199), 553rd BS, 386th BG, 9th AF Beaumont-sur-Oise Airfield (A-60), France, 2 December 1944.

(USAF Photo)

Douglas A-26B-15-DL Invader (Serial No. 41-39186) coded AN-W, 6899, in flight.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Douglas VB-26B-66-DL (Serial No. 44-34723), VIP aircraft from The Fighter School at Williams AFB, visiting Hamilton Field, September 1948.

(USAAF Photo)

Douglas RB-26 Invader, 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Sembach, Germany, 1950.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Douglas TA-26B-66-DL (Serial No. 44-34642), overall dark green color, San Francisco, California, May 1947.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Douglas XB-26F (Serial No. 44-34586), with jet engine, at Oakland in May 1949.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Douglas TA-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34746), San Francisco, California, February 1948.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Douglas A-26 Invader, Reg. No. N67908, Ford Motor Company, Detroit, Michigan, 1949.

Douglas A-26 Invaders preserved in the USA by aircraft type, serial number, registration number and location:

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 41-39161), painted as (Serial No. 436874), Reg. No. N26RP, Military Aviation Museum, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Douglas A-26B (JD-1) Invader  (Serial No. 41-39215), USN (BuNo. 77141), painted as (Serial No. 446928), National Museum of Naval Aviation, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 41-39221), (On Mark Marksman), Reg. No. N26GT, South Mountain High School, Phoenix, Arizona.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Douglas A-26B/C Invader (Serial No. 41-39230), painted as (Serial No. 139230), "Lady Liberty", Reg. No. N9682C, Commemorative Air Force, Enid, Oklahoma. c/n 6943. Built in 1944 with the US military serial 41-39230. Assigned to the 410th Bomb Group as a target marker and began combat duties in early 1945. She was damaged by night-fighters and still carries a few patches as a result. Re-designated as a B-26B in 1948, she was sold off in 1958 and became N9682C on the US civil register. From 1969 she flew with D&D Aero Spraying as tanker #105, but in 1979 she was involved in smuggling operations and was seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency. She was sold at auction in 1980 and became part of the Confederate/Commemorative Air Force who still operate her today. She originally flew as “Panhandle’s Pride”, later changing to “Vegas Vixen” and now finally as “Lady Liberty”. She is seen taking off to display at the Commemorative Air Force’s 2019 ‘Wings Over Dallas’ WWII Airshow. Dallas Executive Airport, Redbird, Dallas, Texas. 27 Oct 2019.

(BrokenSphere Photo)

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 41-39303), painted as (Serial No. 434324), "City Of Santa Rosa", Pacific Coast Air Museum, Santa Rosa, California.

Douglas A-26B/C (Serial No. 41-39359), painted as (Serial No. 39359), Marine Aviation Museum, Wilmington, Delaware.

Douglas A-26B/C Invader (Serial No. 41-39401), Reg. No. N39401, Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, Florida.

(Balon Greyjoy Photo)

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 41-39427), painted as (Serial No. 437140), Reg. No. N240P, Commemorative Air Force, Meacham Field, Texas.

(Nehrams2020 Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 41-39472), painted as (Serial No. 435648), Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California.

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 41-39516), painted as (Serial No. 0-139516), Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, Horseheads, Elmira, New York.

(Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez, USAF Photo)

Douglas A-26B/C Invader (Serial No. 43-22258), painted as (Serial No. 434220), Grand Forks AFB, Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 43-22444), painted as (Serial No. 434156), Vance AFB, Enid, Oklahoma.

(aeroprints.com Photo)

Douglas A-26B/C Invader (Serial No. 43-22494), painted as (Serial No. 322494), Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 43-22499), painted as (Serial No. 322499, "Reida Rae", New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 43-22602), MAPS Air Museum, Canton, Ohio.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 43-22612). Crashed on 21 Sep 1980 during the 40th anniversary Battle of Britain airshow at Biggin Hill. The aircraft hit the ground during a barrel roll and the pilot Don Bullock, along with six passengers, two of whom were serving USAF airmen from Upper Heyford, died in the crash.

Douglas A-26C/B-26K Invader (Serial No. 43-22652), painted as (Serial No. 43652), Jimmy Doolittle Air & Space Museum, Travis AFB, Fairfield, California.

(wallycacsabre Photo)

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34104), Reg. No. N99420, Historical Aircraft Group Museum, Geneseo, New York.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-34165), Air Force Flight Test Center Museum, Edwards AFB, California.

Douglas A-26B/C Invader (Serial No. 44-34313), "Miss Michelle", Reg. No. N4313, Black Crow Aviation, Santa Rosa, California.

Douglas A-26B/C Invader (Serial No. 44-34423), Armed Forces and Aerospace Museum, Spokane Valley, Washington.

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34508), Reg. No. N74874, W.S. Glover, Mount Pleasant, Texas.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34520), "Lu Lu", Reg. No. N126HP, Lauridsen Aviation Museum, Buckeye, Arizona.

Douglas A-26B/C Invader (Serial No. 44-34538), "Feeding Frenzy", Reg. No. N34538, Lyon Air Museum, Santa Ana, California.

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34559), Mississippi Air National Guard, 172nd Airlift Wing, Jackson ANGB, Jackson, Mississippi.

(Ragnhild & Neil Crawford Photo)

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34602). Reg. No. N167B, built in 1944. Germany. "Monarch 26" conversion.

(ZLEA Photo)

Douglas VB-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34610), painted as (Serial No. 27889).  This aircraft is preserved in the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia.

(Aaron Headly Photo)

(aeroprints Photo)

(ZLEA Photo)

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34665), Strategic Air and Space Museum, Ashland, Nebraska.

(Valder1378 Photo)

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34722), Reg. No. N3222T, Erickson Aircraft Museum, Madras, Oregon.

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34746), "Sonny", VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 382, El Reno, Oklahoma.

Douglas A-26B/C Invader (Serial No. 44-34749), "Puss & Boots", N4959K, Abrams Airborne Manufacturing Inc, Avra Valley, Arizona.

Douglas A-26B Invader (Serial No. 44-34766), Reg. No. N26BK, H.B. Keck, Thermco Aviation, Thermal, California.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35204), Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, Texas.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35224), "Midnight Endeavour", March Field Air Museum, March ARB, Riverside, California.

(Eric Salard Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35323), "Ahaulin", Reg. No. N8026E, Planes of Fame Grand Canyon, Valle, Arizona.

(ZLEA Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35326), Indiana Military Museum, Vincennes, Indiana.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35371), Reg. No. N4818E, Marine Aviation Museum, Houston, Texas.

(Greg Goebel Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35439), "Margie", N74833, Evergreen Aviation Museum, McMinnville, Oregon.

(André Du-pont (Mexico Air Spotters) Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35440), wearing false Cuban AF markings, painted as No. 931, Wings Over Miami, Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35456), Reg. No. N5625S, Wade Eagleton, Shafter, California.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35493), Reg. No. N576JB, War Eagles Air Museum, Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35523), Air Mobility Command Museum, Dover AFB, Dover, Delaware.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35562), "Sexy Sue", Reg. No. NL7079G, Alien Invaders Inc, Medina, Washington.

(Author Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35596), Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

(Marine 69-71 Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35601), "Miss Murphy", Reg. No. N202R, Commemorative Air Force, Mesa, Arizona. Mesa-Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum-Douglas A-26 Invader. US Air Force s/n 44-35601. Registration NL202R. On-Mark Engineering Company of Van Nuys, CA, converted it into an executive aircraft "Miss Murphy". This was done by modifying the spar so seats could be placed in the interior.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35617), "Grim Reaper", Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35627), Dodge City Airport, Dodge City, Kansas.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35643), "Lil Twister", Reg. No. N626SH, Commemorative Air Force, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35696), "My Mary Lou", Reg. No. N8036E, Collings Foundation / Aviation Museum of Texas, Uvalde, Texas.

(Greg Goebel Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35708), Reg. No. N26PJ, Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum, Hillsboro, Oregon.

(Greg Goebel Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35710), "Hard To Get", Reg. No. N7705C, Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison, Texas.

Douglas A-26C (JD-1) Invader (Serial No. 44-35721), "Invader", Reg. No. N9425Z, Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs, California.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35724), "Monie", Southern Museum of Flight, Birmingham, Alabama.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35732), Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia.

(NMUSAF Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35733), c/n 29012, "Dream Girl", National Museum USAF, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35752), "Rude Invader", Carolinas Aviation Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35788), Reg. No. N126HK, Cactus Air Force Wings & Wheels, Carson City, Nevada.

(Author Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35892), Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, Pueblo, Colorado.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35911), "Spirit of NC", Reg. No. N6840D, George W Lancaster, Wilmington, North Carolina.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35913), Dyess Linear Air Park, Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

(Peter Rimar Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35918), "Versatile Lady", USAF History and Traditions Museum, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas.

(Author Photo)

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35937), Jackson Barracks Military Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35948), Reg. No. N381EC, Champaign Aviation Museum, Grimes Field, Urbana, Ohio.

Douglas A-26C Invader (Serial No. 44-35986), "Stormy Weather", Selfridge Military Air Museum, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Detroit, Michigan.

Douglas B-26K (A-26A) Invader (Serial No. 64-17640), South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, South Dakota.

(aeroprints.com Photo)

(kitmasterbloke Photo)

Douglas B-26K (A-26A) Invader (Serial No. 64-17653), Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.

Douglas B-26K (A-26A) Invader (Serial No. 64-17666), Air Commando Park, Hurlburt Field, Florida.

(NMUSAF Photo)

Douglas B-26K (A-26A) Invader (Serial No. 64-17676), National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.

Douglas B-26K (A-26A) Invader (Serial No. 64-17679), "Special Kay", Reg. No. N4988N, J.S. Reynolds, Fort Worth, Texas.

(Jonathan Cutrer Photo)

Douglas A-26K Counter Invader (Serial No. 64-17679), "Special Kay", IF 679, Reg. No. N4988N. Meacham International Airport (FTW) in Fort Worth, Texas.