Douglas A-26K Counter-Invader
By the time of American involvement in Southeast Asia, the USAF had gone to an almost all-nuclear capable force. None of the aircraft in first-line units were capable of counterinsurgency (COIN) roles; pilots and crews were not trained for it either. As a result, the USAF had to fall back on World War II-era aircraft taken out of storage and reconditioned for a war the country had never meant to fight.
By Vietnam, the Douglas A-26 Invader had been redesignated B-26 (this had happened during the Korean War, but it was generally referred to by its former designation). RB-26Cs were among the first USAF aircraft deployed to the area, in 1960, first seeing service under Operation Farm Gate, supporting Royal Laotian Army forces against Pathet Lao guerillas. Later, Farm Gate was expanded to South Vietnam as well and B-26C bombers were deployed for service as well—despite their age, the Invaders were liked for their easy handling and long loiter times, both valuable and necessary in counterinsurgency warfare. (The USAF was not the first nation to use Invaders in Vietnam—the French had used them during the siege of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.)
Age caught up to the force by 1965, and after a number of fatal crashes caused by metal fatigue, the B-26 force was grounded. They were then modified to A-26K Counter-Invaders, with new engines, reinforced structure, and wingtip fuel tanks (and further confusing the matter by readopting the attack designation). Returning to Vietnam in 1966, A-26Ks would remain in service until 1970, gradually replaced by gunship AC-130s, and turned in an excellent performance in the counterinsurgency role. The last A-26 did not leave USAF service until 1972.
A good number of A-26s were sold as surplus after the Vietnam War and were subsequently converted to firefighting aircraft. Though most of these have been retired in recent years, it ensured that there would be significant numbers of flyable Invaders left. Today, 96 aircraft remain in museums and in private collections.
Built as 41-39596, one of the first A-26Bs to be delivered, this aircraft was in storage in Arizona when it was returned to service as an A-26K and renumbered 64-17676. It served during the Vietnam War with the 1st Special Operations Wing, based out of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. After the war, it was retired once more, but this time was bought by the state of Georgia and converted to a firefighting aircraft. It would then go through several owners, mostly Canadian, as a firebomber until 1978, when it was bought by a collector, restored to its A-26K appearance, and flown in airshows. In 1981, it was donated to the National Museum of the USAF, where it remains today.
64-17676 wears standard USAF Southeast Asia camouflage, with black undersides for night operations. This view shows the A-26K's impressive "business end" of eight .50 caliber machine guns; in addition to the guns, it carries two 20mm gunpods, two Mk 82 bombs with "Daisy Cutter" fuse extenders, and two rocket pods.
Douglas A-26K Counter-Invader
By the time of American involvement in Southeast Asia, the USAF had gone to an almost all-nuclear capable force. None of the aircraft in first-line units were capable of counterinsurgency (COIN) roles; pilots and crews were not trained for it either. As a result, the USAF had to fall back on World War II-era aircraft taken out of storage and reconditioned for a war the country had never meant to fight.
By Vietnam, the Douglas A-26 Invader had been redesignated B-26 (this had happened during the Korean War, but it was generally referred to by its former designation). RB-26Cs were among the first USAF aircraft deployed to the area, in 1960, first seeing service under Operation Farm Gate, supporting Royal Laotian Army forces against Pathet Lao guerillas. Later, Farm Gate was expanded to South Vietnam as well and B-26C bombers were deployed for service as well—despite their age, the Invaders were liked for their easy handling and long loiter times, both valuable and necessary in counterinsurgency warfare. (The USAF was not the first nation to use Invaders in Vietnam—the French had used them during the siege of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.)
Age caught up to the force by 1965, and after a number of fatal crashes caused by metal fatigue, the B-26 force was grounded. They were then modified to A-26K Counter-Invaders, with new engines, reinforced structure, and wingtip fuel tanks (and further confusing the matter by readopting the attack designation). Returning to Vietnam in 1966, A-26Ks would remain in service until 1970, gradually replaced by gunship AC-130s, and turned in an excellent performance in the counterinsurgency role. The last A-26 did not leave USAF service until 1972.
A good number of A-26s were sold as surplus after the Vietnam War and were subsequently converted to firefighting aircraft. Though most of these have been retired in recent years, it ensured that there would be significant numbers of flyable Invaders left. Today, 96 aircraft remain in museums and in private collections.
Built as 41-39596, one of the first A-26Bs to be delivered, this aircraft was in storage in Arizona when it was returned to service as an A-26K and renumbered 64-17676. It served during the Vietnam War with the 1st Special Operations Wing, based out of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. After the war, it was retired once more, but this time was bought by the state of Georgia and converted to a firefighting aircraft. It would then go through several owners, mostly Canadian, as a firebomber until 1978, when it was bought by a collector, restored to its A-26K appearance, and flown in airshows. In 1981, it was donated to the National Museum of the USAF, where it remains today.
64-17676 wears standard USAF Southeast Asia camouflage, with black undersides for night operations. This view shows the A-26K's impressive "business end" of eight .50 caliber machine guns; in addition to the guns, it carries two 20mm gunpods, two Mk 82 bombs with "Daisy Cutter" fuse extenders, and two rocket pods.