The Douglas A-26B Invader was a US twin-engined light attack bomber designed by Edward Heinemann, Robert Donovan and Ted R. Smith and first flew in july 1942. The Invader became operational in June 1944 in the Pacific theatre but poor cockpit visibility lead to the request for more of the older Douglas A-20 Havocs in preference to the new Douglas A-26B Invader. A quick re-design of the Invader's cockpit improved the aircrafts combat ability greatly and resulted in a truly excellent attack bomber. A total of 2,452 Douglas Invaders were produced, they served with USAF until the late 1960's seeing action in the Korean War and with the Air National Guard until 1972, indeed some Douglas Invaders remained operational with the Colombian Air Force until 1980! It is of note that on the 15th of April 1961 in a CIA designed plan eight of twenty Douglas A-26B Invaders disguised as "Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria" aircraft and crewed by Cuban exiles attacked three Cuban airfields and two days later more disguised Douglas Invaders supported the aborted seaborne Bay of Pigs Invasion. The CIA backed Douglas Invaders with their Cuban exile pilots proved to be no match for the FAR's Sea Fury and T-33 fighters even after unmarked USN Douglas A4 Skyhawk jets flying Combat air patrols, this proved to be a major factor in the invasion's failure, air superiority again proving essential to a successful seaborne invasion. Douglas A-26B Invader Specifications: - Crew: Three
- Length: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
- Wingspan: 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
- Height: 18 ft 3 in (5.64 m)
- Empty weight: 22,850 lb (10,365 kg)
- Loaded weight: 27,600 lb (12,519 kg)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 35,000 lb (15,900 kg)
- Engines: twin 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 "Double Wasp" radials
- Maximum speed: 355 mph (308 kn, 570 km/h)
- Range: 1,400 mi (1,200 nmi, 2,300 km)
- Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,700 m)
Armament: - Eight 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in the nose in some variants
- Eight 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in four optional under-wing pods
- Two 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in remote-controlled dorsal turret
- Two 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in remote-controlled ventral turret
- 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) of internally carried bombs
- 2,000 lb (910 kg) of bombs carried externally under wings
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