DOUGLAS's A-26 INVADER ONE AIRCRAFT, THREE US WARS

The Douglas A-26 Invader was a World War II era, American, twin-engined light-bomber and ground attack aircraft designed to meet a 1940 US Army Air Corps (USAAC) requirement for multi-role light bomber optimised for low-level and medium-altitude precision bombing attacks.

- ATHOL FRANZ

The order called for an aircraft capable of carrying both a substantial bomb-load and a great deal of defensive armament. Over the years that I have attended EAA AirVenture, I have been fortunate to see several Douglas A26 Invaders parked in the Warbirds area of the vast airfield.

Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, 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.

Design and development

Designed by Ed Heinemann, Robert Donovan and Ted R. Smith, the innovative NACA 65215 laminar-flow airfoil wing of the A-26 was the work of project aerodynamicist A.M.O. Smith. The Douglas XA-26 prototype (AAC Ser. No. 41-19504) first flew on 10 July 1942 at Mines Field, El Segundo, with test pilot Benny Howard at the controls. Flight tests revealed excellent performance and handling, but engine-cooling problems led to cowling changes and elimination of the propeller spinners on production aircraft. During testing, the nose wheel was found to be structurally inadequate, thus the nose gear was redesigned and made more structurally sound.

The A-26B gun-nose could be equipped with a combination of armament, including .50 calibre machine guns, 20 or 37mm auto cannon. The 'B' gun-nose version housed six (and later, eight) .50 calibre machine guns. The A-26C's 'glass bombardier nose', contained a Norden bombsight for medium-altitude precision bombing. The nose section included two fixed M-2 guns, but those were eliminated after underwing gun packs or internal guns in the wings proved effective during colder weather.