The ONLY Flying A-26A Counter Invader in the world!!

This B-26K is a World War II A-26 Invader that received extensive modifications for the Vietnam war and was renamed the A-26A Counter Invader for political reasons. This is the only A-26A/B-26K that flies, that we know of. This is NOT a Martin Marauder B26, but a Douglas Invader A-26A.

Short naming history for this aircraft:
Built as A-26B or C, renamed B-26 after WWII when the Martin Marauder B-26 left service, then B-26K after the On Mark conversion, then A-26A because Thailand wouldn't allow bombers in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

This is the Denny Lynch aircraft from Billings. It has been stripped of its paint for restoration.

This is NOT an A-26B Invader. Two visible clues, 4 hard points on each wing, and tip tanks.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• A26A
• A26 Counter Invader
• A26
• B26K
• A26A Counter Invader
• Counter Invader

[hawkeyepoole]

We have so far, been unable to locate an OnMark Engineering data plate. They are the rebuilders in Van Nuys CA that rebuilt the aircraft into its "A" configuration.

Regarding the air intake, what you're seeing is known as the 'Congo Mod' a change made to the intake to get cooler air into the carbs due to the heat and humidity in the African Congo. Subsequently done on airplanes that went to SEA.

[40intrepid]

Is this the one that was used by a technical school at Detroit City Airport (now Coleman A.Young Municipal)?

I took a polaroid of similiar plane there in the late 70's.

[hawkeyepoole]

@40intrepid No. This airplane went from the Air Force to the GA Forest Service to Billings Montana, then to us.

[Skyraider60]

Very nice vid. This is what I call "heavily weathered." Must have seen some heavy use during its day.

[hawkeyepoole]

@Skyraider60 It was stripped of its paint before this video was shot. It has spent 10 years outside though...

[hawkeyepoole]

I keep calling it an A model because it is an A model. Use Google. Since there's only one (in civilian hands) i imagine the FAA didnt make a category for it. Jim Terry is registered to the aircraft... it's complicated.

[poodleslayer]

Thailand *did* allow bombers to be based in their country during the Vietnam War. B-52 were based at Utapao (U-tapao? U-Tapao? I've seen it spelled all those ways, and probably more.)

(youtube.com/watch?v=6lNxccqK_­GI)

[poodleslayer]

R2800s sound like a bucket of bolts for a few minutes after they start. They remind me of how my parents (both smokers) would cough their lungs out when they first got out of bed in the morning.

I was trained on the HC-131A in the Coast Guard, and the plane the ATTC had as a training aid in '79 sounded just like this. I remember wondering whether that was normal, or if that particular airplane had been held back as a training aid because it and its engines were so tired and worn-out.

[woodyoneII]

Back in 1969-1970 I was assigned to the 603rd Special Operations Squadron (SOS) at England AFB located in Alexandria, La. The squadron consisted of A-26A's and were painted camouflage, green, dark green and black.

I was a weapons loader and was very familiar with the wing stations as well as the bomb bay. We also loaded the six .50 cal Browning machine guns that were located in the nose, 4 guns in each bank, we often wet fired out at the range to zero in the guns.

I love the smell of AVGas

[MrIdasam]

Too bad we can't look at the data plate, that would answer all of our questions.

[SgtGrant23]

Huh I just noticed the Air intake is different is not in the top of cowling its behind the cowl flaps

[mowrman100]

This vid's as real as it gets. Brings back memories of wrenching on Convair 220's that started as T-29 navigation trainers and got stripped to be cargo haulers. Pair of 2800's running got a sound all their own! Too bad we didn't get to see this bird fly, though.

[mckinzi1]

I thought that Yesterday's Air Force in Topeka had one....now that's assuming YAF still exists as well as the plane.

[bux49]

Checkout Howard Huges Flying B-26 at Lyon Air Museum John Wayne Air Port