Douglas A-26 Invader: boeken - historie, techniek en inzet

A-26 Invader: Douglas A-26/B-26 from WWII through Vietnam

NIEUW

The Douglas Invader has the distinction of being used by the United States in a combat role in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Originally created as an attack aircraft, with the designation A-26, the Invader was intended to replace the Douglas A-20, North American B-25, and Martin B-26 in the US Army Air Forces. However, production delays prevented the aircraft from reaching the field until June 1944.

With up to 14 forward-firing .50-caliber machine guns as well as bombs and rockets, the Invader was well suited for ground strikes when war broke out in Korea in 1951. The Invader returned to combat during that war, carrying the markings of the US Air Force and redesignated B-26.
Used first by the French during their war in Indochina, Invaders later returned to the skies over Vietnam in the hands of American as well as South Vietnamese crews.
In order to base the type in Thailand, which prohibited the USAF from basing bombers in the country, the Invader was once more classified as an attack aircraft, and the A-26 designation returned.

This volume is profusely illustrated with over 250 photos, including vintage color, as well as profile illustrations and line drawings.

A-26 Invader

One of the only aircraft to fly and fight in three wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam - the Douglas A-26 Invader earned a reputation for its durability under fire.First flown in 1942, the Invader (known after 1948 as the B-26) featured a single pilot, with a navigator bombardier sitting in the co-pilot's position. Many B-26's served as transport and fire-fighting aircraft after their combat service.
This 150-page reproduction of an original A-26 Pilot's Flight Manual gives a rare glimpse into the cockpit of this Warbird.

A-26 Invader Units of World War 2

Designed to combine the bombing capability of the B-26 Marauder with the versatility of the ground-attack A-20 Havoc, the A-26 Invader would become the USAAF's attack bomber par excellence. Capable of flying low-level strafing or conventional bombing missions by simply changing the nose configuration of the aircraft, the Invader first saw action in 1943 in the Pacific Theatre attacking Japanese-held islands.
Arriving in Europe several months later, the A-26 served with distinction for the remainder of World War 2. In fact, the design proved so successful that it would go on to fly combat missions for a further two decades.

Written by military aviation expert, Jerry Scutts, and illustrated with brand-new colour profiles and rare photography, this is the first book to focus exclusively on the A-26's missions in World War 2.

Contents: Arnold's baby - Pacific Puncher - Out with the Old - In the Groove - Softening-up for Olympic - New weapons, new roles - Appendices.