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The B-26K Counter Invader was a heavily modified version of the World War II-era Douglas A-26 Invader, rebuilt and modernized by the On Mark Engineering of Van Nuys, California for the United States Air Force and CIA during the early 1960s. It was primarily used for counterinsurgency (COIN), close air support, and interdiction operations.
History
Originally introduced in 1944 as a light bomber and ground attack aircraft, the Doulas A-26 Invader served as a versatile and effective aircraft throughout the last years of WWII and would go on to become the primary ground attack bomber of the USAF when it was formed in 1948. However, the Korean War showed that emerging technologies and jet aircraft were rendering the A-26 and other aircraft obsolete, and it became primarily a night time interdiction aircraft until being replaced in frontline service by the Martin B-57 and Douglas B-66 Destroyer. Although out of frontline service, going into the late 1950s and early 1960s the USAF still retained a number of B-26 aircraft and veteran crew experienced in flying them; this led to the USAF and CIA using these aircraft in numerous counter insurgency operations around the world, including the attempted overthrow of President Sukarno of Indonesia, Bay of Pigs, counter insurgency operations in Laos and Operation Millpond. As the United States started to become more involved militarily in the South East Asia region and the ongoing conflicts there, the B-26’s became more of a common sight, eventually being operated in South Vietnamese markings but flown by U.S. personnel as the conflict in Vietnam continued to escalate; this eventually led to the creation of 1st Air Commando Wing of the USAF, which flew B-26 aircraft based in Thailand to support of U.S. allies in the region. Although the aircraft in service with the 1st Air Commando Wing had been decently effective, they had not been upgraded since their original service in the 1940’s; the aircraft were quickly showing their age with multiple component failure, the main problem being wing failure which was started to force the aircraft out of service. To try and remedy this problem the aircraft still in service in this region began to receive wing straps along the bottom of the wing spars to extend their service, this modification was so successful it led to USAF to develop another modification of the B-26. This new development was not only intended to strengthen the aircraft but also to make it much better suited for its new found role, counter insurgency, this new modification would become the B-26K
The original manufacturer of the B-26, Douglas Aircraft, has no interest in restarting production line or manufacturing new components for what they views as an antiquated aircraft, the wanted to focus their production on new aircraft models. This led to the Air Force c approaching On Mark Engineering of Van Nuys, California. On Mark, while having no experience building military aircraft, did have extensive experience converting military service B-26 aircraft into civilian aircraft a they were retired from service, so they were quite familiar with the B-26 platform. On Mark quickly went to work on the Air Force’s new request; they began by swapping out the original engines for new Pratt and Whitney R-2800-52W 2500hp engines with automatic feathering props, the rudder was enlarged in order to improve aircraft handling and survivability should one engine be lost, the defensive turrets were removed, new 185 gallon wing tip fuel tanks were added, the wings were strengthened significantly leading to the x8 wing mounted .50cal M2 machine guns being removed and the cockpit received new controls, electronic equipment and upgraded instruments. The first of the newly modified aircraft, the B-26K first flew in January 28, 1963 and deliveries of non prototype aircraft to the 1st Air Commando Wing officially began in June 1964.
B-26K aircraft saw limited service as soon as deliveries began, at least unofficially. Between August 1964 and January 1965, x5 B-26K aircraft were delivered to CIA operations in the Congo, officially operating in the 211th “Makasi” Squadron of the Congolese Air Force, being flown by volunteer A-26 Invader pilots from Latin America in support of CIA operations. These aircraft were only permitted to be armed with bombs or incendiary weapons, instead being armed with the x8 nose mounted .50cal machine guns and x4 LAU 13 rocket pods on each wing. The use of these aircraft in clandestine missions in the Congo provided important insight into the new aircraft’s capabilities and limitations.
(B-26K of the 211th “Makasi” Squadron)
In 1966 B-26K Counter Invaders began conducting clandestine missions over Laos and along the border of North Vietnam, by 1967, the United States began officially deploying B-26K aircraft to Southeast Asia with the primary purposes of stemming the flow of supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. For some B-26K aircraft in the region conducted numerous night time interdiction and ground attack missions against North Vietnamese forces, being used by the 609th Air Commando Wing, 56th Air Commando Wing, 606th Air Commando Squadron and 603rd Air Commando Squadron. Because of the upgraded wings, the B-26K could carry a total of 12,000 pounds of ordinance, 8,000 pounds one wings and 4,000 pounds in the I thermal bomb bay, this allowed them to carry enough munitions for multiple missions and allowed them to carry a variety of new weapons for blew threat types.
B-26K aircraft would remain in service, primarily in South East Asia during the Vietnam war until November 1969, when they were completely phased out of service by other, arguably more well suited aircraft, primarily AC-130A and AC-130E which had a longer loitering time and were better suited for interdiction missions. During their service in the region, B-26K Counter Invaders flew 7,159 combat sorties with a total of 19,762 combat flight hours. During these sorties B-26K Counter Invaders tallied 4,268 trucks and 897 gun emplacements along the Ho Chi Minh trail destroyed. These missions, though, were not without loss, of the 30 aircraft sent to Southeast Asia, 12 were lost in combat.
Specifications
- Crew: 3
- Engine: x2 Pratt and Whitney R2800-52W Radial 2500hp Engines
- Max Speed: 327mph
- Rate of Climb: 2,050ft/min
- Service Ceiling: 30,000ft
- Range: 2,700 Miles
- Max Take Off Weight 38,314 pounds
Armament
For its primary armament, the B-26K retained the x8 nose mounted .50cal M2 Machine Guns seen on previous B-26 variants.
Due to increased payload capability the B-26K could carry a total of 12,000 pounds of ordnance, 8,000 pounds on the wings, and 4,000 pounds in the internal bomb bay, much of which could not have been carried by previous variants of the aircraft, the options included:
- M117 750-Pound General Purpose Bomb
- Mark 81 250-Pound General Purpose Bomb
- Mark 82 500-Pound General Purpose Bomb
- Mark 82 Snake Eye 500-Pound Low Drag Bomb
- BLU-23 500-Pound Napalm Bomb
- BLU-27 750-Pound Napalm Bomb
- Mark 77 Incendiary Bomb
- M47 White Phosphorus Bomb
- CBU-14 Cluster Bombs
- CBU-24,-25,-29, and -49 Cluster Bombs
- M31 and M32 Incendiary Cluster Bombs
- SUU-14/A Submunition Dispenser
- LAU-3A and LAU-69A “Mighty Mouse” 2.75-inch Mk. 4 Folding Fin Aerial Rocket Pods
- LAU-10A Zuni 5-inch Folding Fin Aerial Rocket Pods
- Multiple Ejector Racks could also be attached to the outermost pylons of the B-26K wings, allowing it to carry multiple rocket pods on one pylon
https://pimaair.org/museum-aircraft/douglas-b-26k/