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Douglas A-26 Invader

Douglas · Attack / Light Bomber · USA · WWII (1939–1945)

Douglas A-26 Invader — Attack / Light Bomber
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The Douglas A-26 Invader (later redesignated B-26 by the post-war U.S. Air Force) was a U.S. twin-engine medium bomber that served from 1944 through three wars: WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Douglas built 2,452 A-26s between 1942 and 1945, plus a small post-war run. The Invader was the longest-serving piston-engine combat aircraft in U.S. service, with the last operational A-26 retired by the Air National Guard in 1972 — a 28-year combat career across three generations of warfare.

The A-26 used two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radials (2,000 hp each, 2,500 hp on later variants). Maximum speed 359 mph (the fastest U.S. medium bomber of WWII); range 1,400 miles; service ceiling 22,100 ft. Bomb load: 6,000 lb internal in twin bomb bays. Armament: configuration depended on variant. The A-26C 'glass nose' bombardier variant used a clear acrylic nose for level bombing; the A-26B 'gun nose' variant used a solid nose with 6-8 forward-firing .50-cal machine guns plus underwing cannon for ground-attack and anti-shipping work.

WWII service was brief but intensive. A-26s entered USAAF service in November 1944; in 6 months they flew about 11,567 sorties in the European Theater for only 67 combat losses (0.6% mission loss rate). Pacific theatre A-26s flew similar low-loss-rate operations. The post-war redesignation to B-26 in 1948 (after Martin B-26 Marauder retirement) created the long-running nomenclature confusion that persists. Korean War B-26s flew night-intruder strikes against North Korean and Chinese supply lines; about 12,000 B-26 sorties were flown 1950-1953 with about 75 combat losses. Vietnam War service began in 1962; the upgraded B-26K Counter Invader (designated A-26A) operated against Ho Chi Minh Trail interdiction targets through 1969.

The Invader's late-1950s upgrade programme produced the B-26K Counter Invader: refurbished airframes with new R-2800-103W engines, strengthened wing spars, eight-gun nose, and underwing bomb / rocket pylons. About 40 B-26Ks were converted from existing A-26 airframes. The B-26K was operated covertly by CIA-supported air units in Indochina, Africa, and Latin America through the 1960s and 1970s. About 18 A-26 / B-26 airframes survive in 2026, including airworthy examples at the Yanks Air Museum, the Lone Star Flight Museum, and others.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Douglas A-26 Invader was an American twin-engine bomber. It first flew in combat in 1944. Pilots loved it because it was fast and tough. It was the fastest American medium bomber of World War II.

Two big radial engines powered the Invader. Each engine made about 2,000 horsepower. That power pushed the plane to 359 miles per hour. It could carry bombs for up to 1,400 miles.

The Invader could carry 6,000 pounds of bombs inside its two bomb bays. Some versions had a clear nose for a bombardier. Other versions had six to eight forward-firing machine guns in a solid nose. Pilots could pick the right tool for the job.

Douglas built 2,452 of these planes between 1942 and 1945. The Invader served in three wars: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. It stayed in service until 1972. That is a 28-year career — longer than most people spend at one job!

The A-26 is the longest-serving piston-engine combat aircraft in American history. It flew more than 11,000 sorties in Europe in just six months during World War II. No other piston combat plane served the American military longer.

Fun Facts

  • The A-26 Invader served in three different wars across 28 years.
  • Douglas built 2,452 Invaders between 1942 and 1945.
  • At 359 miles per hour, it was faster than any other American medium bomber in World War II.
  • The Invader could carry 6,000 pounds of bombs — heavier than three full-grown horses combined.
  • Some versions had a clear plastic nose so a bombardier could aim bombs from inside.
  • The gun-nose version packed six to eight forward-firing machine guns in its nose.
  • In just six months over Europe, A-26s flew about 11,567 combat missions.
  • The last Invader was retired in 1972, making it the longest-serving piston combat plane in American service.

Kids’ Questions

Why did the A-26 have two different nose designs?

One nose design was clear so a bombardier could look out and aim bombs carefully. The other nose was solid and packed with machine guns for attacking targets on the ground or at sea. Each design was built for a different kind of mission.

How long did the A-26 Invader stay in service?

The Invader served for 28 years, from 1944 all the way to 1972. It flew in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. No other American piston combat plane had a longer career.

What powered the A-26 Invader?

Two Pratt and Whitney Double Wasp engines powered the Invader. Each engine had 18 cylinders and made about 2,000 horsepower. Together they gave the plane its amazing speed.

Variants

A-26B (gun nose)
Solid-nose ground-attack variant with 6-8 forward-firing .50-cal machine guns. About 1,355 built. Used for low-level strafing and anti-shipping in WWII.
A-26C (glass nose)
Bombardier variant with clear acrylic nose for level bombing. About 1,091 built. Primary level-bombing variant for European Theater 9th Air Force operations.
B-26K Counter Invader
1960s upgrade: refurbished airframes with new R-2800-103W engines, strengthened wings, 8-gun nose, underwing pylons. About 40 conversions. Operated in covert Indochina, African, and Latin American operations through the 1970s.

Notable Operators

U.S. Army Air Forces / U.S. Air Force
Primary user. WWII service November 1944 - August 1945; post-war service 1945-1972 (Air National Guard). Combat in WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War.
French Air Force
About 110 A-26s operated 1951-1965 in the First Indochina War and the Algerian War.
Other operators
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Turkey all operated A-26 / B-26 fleets at several points 1945-1980.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the A-26 redesignated B-26?

In 1948, the newly-formed U.S. Air Force consolidated its bomber and attack categories under "B" designations. The Martin B-26 Marauder had been retired in 1947, freeing up the B-26 designation. The Douglas A-26 Invader was redesignated B-26 to fit the new doctrine. The result is two completely different aircraft sometimes both called "B-26" — the WWII Martin B-26 Marauder and the longer-serving Douglas A-26 / B-26 Invader.

Did A-26s serve in three wars?

Yes — World War II (1944-1945), Korean War (1950-1953), and Vietnam War (1962-1969). The Invader is the longest-serving U.S. piston-engine combat aircraft, with a 28-year combat career between first WWII deployment and final B-26K Counter Invader operations in Indochina.

How fast was the A-26 Invader?

Maximum speed 359 mph at 17,500 ft — the fastest U.S. medium bomber of WWII. Faster than the contemporary Martin B-26 Marauder (282 mph) or North American B-25 Mitchell (272 mph). The speed came from the powerful R-2800 engines and clean aerodynamic design.

What was the B-26K Counter Invader?

A 1960s upgrade programme that refurbished about 40 surplus A-26 airframes with new R-2800-103W engines, strengthened wing spars (which had cracked on hard manoeuvres), an 8-gun nose, and underwing weapons pylons. The B-26K was operated by CIA-supported air units in Vietnam, Laos, the Congo, and Latin America through the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Are any A-26s still flying?

Yes — about 6 airworthy A-26 / B-26s in 2026, mostly at U.S. warbird collections including the Yanks Air Museum, the Lone Star Flight Museum, and the Commemorative Air Force. About 18 total airframes survive in static-display condition.

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