hey everyone i ussally post over in commercial but i thort id spread my wings a bit lol.
Anywho im looking for info on the A-26 and what it was used for during the vietnam war? pictures, mission examples would be helpfull.
cheers
luke
By: Emerson - 23rd May 2006 at 01:59
A-26 Invader Fleet
You should check out (if you haven’t already) www.airspray.com This company operated up to 18 A-26s as Air Tankers over the years and you never know what mission these particular aircraft may have been involved with. By the way, for those who don’t know where Airspray is located, they are a Canadian firm in Red Deer,, Alberta. They presently have two A-26s up for sale.
By: contrailjj - 23rd May 2006 at 01:25
one of my personal altime favourites…
4400th Combat Crew Training Sqn (Jungle Jims – later Air Commandos) deployed 4 RB-26 to Bien Hoa, South Vietnam in ’61 (2 more RBs and 4 B-26B in ’62) to supply reconnaisance to RVN forces (also flying counter-insurgency strike ops) Wing spar failures forced the withdrawl in 64. Aircraft flew in bare metal (oxidized)/light grey finish with USAF ‘star n bars’ modified to South Viet Air Force markings.
On Mark Engineering developed the B-26K (later known again as A-26A) rebuild of old Invaders. This included resparred/strengthened wings, 165 gal tip tanks, 2500 hp R2800-52W engines with clipped broad chord props, broader chord rudder, deletion of the wing guns, 8 strengthened underwing pylons and removal of turrets, full dual controls. Later aircraft in the 40-ship order also has cowling intakes moved further aft.
These made their way to the 609th SOS based at Nakhom Phanom AB, Thailand flying ops from ’66 until ’69 primarily on the HCM Trail. The ‘B’ designation was changed to A-26A to conform to basing agreements. After ’69 most aircraft returned to the US but some reports state some were delivered to RVN SOC at Nha Trang.
The attached B-26K (A-26A) carries a glass nose, while most operations were undertaken with the solid 8-gun nose. The second pic depicts a B-26B of the earlier deployment and was taken at Danang. I found that pic on a US SOC website when I got back from Nha Trang 2 years ago – I wish I could find that site again, there was some very good reference material there.
P.S. Just found that website again… http://www.oldspooksandspies.org/Russo/russo.htm
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May 22, 2006 at 7:01 pm