A-26 (Family) - Revision history

U17577377: /* Description */ Redone

2023-12-11T11:21:34Z

‎Description: Redone

U20043873: Rewrote the article to be less... weird and casual, and more in line with other family pages

2021-12-18T15:37:27Z

Rewrote the article to be less... weird and casual, and more in line with other family pages

U38088265: Edits

2020-11-10T10:25:06Z

Edits

U57926: Major addition, just needs some polishing. ~P51

2020-11-10T02:50:10Z

Major addition, just needs some polishing. ~P51

U57926: Major addition, first major edit (WIP)

2020-11-10T02:09:52Z

Major addition, first major edit (WIP)

U44629479: Simplified links

2020-10-11T12:08:55Z

Simplified links

U44629479: Updated aircraft names

2020-08-18T08:02:41Z

Updated aircraft names

U28580205 at 17:20, 21 March 2019

2019-03-21T17:20:25Z

U28580205 at 17:17, 21 March 2019

2019-03-21T17:17:30Z

U28580205: U28580205 moved page A-26 (Disambiguation) to A-26 (Family): Renamed

2019-03-21T17:17:06Z

U28580205 moved page A-26 (Disambiguation) to A-26 (Family): Renamed

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 == Description ==
-The '''Douglas A-26 Invader''' is a bomber and strike aircraft developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States. It saw service in WW2 and into the Cold War.
+The '''Douglas A-26 ''Invader''''' was a twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II. It also served in several Cold War conflicts, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It was a fast and versatile aircraft that could carry a large bomb load and a variety of guns. It had two configurations: the A-26B with a gun-nose and the A-26C with a glass nose for precision bombing. The A-26 was redesignated as B-26 in 1948, causing confusion with the Martin B-26 ''Marauder'', a different aircraft that was retired in 1945.
 == Vehicles==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-<gallery mode="packed-hover">
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:A-26 (Family)}}
-==History==
+== Description ==
-===Development===
+The '''Douglas A-26 Invader''' is a bomber and strike aircraft developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States. It saw service in WW2 and into the Cold War.
-This sequel was clearly worthy of the original!
+== Vehicles==
-The A-26 retained many features of its older sibling. Take an A-20, widen the fuselage about 2x, lengthen the engine nacelles and make them more cylindrical, and square off the wing tips, elevator, and rudder, you would have an A-26. Of course under the skin was a far more sophisticated aircraft with more powerful everything to keep it competitive in a world gone mad.
+== History ==
-From the first production versions to the last "-55" versions there was little difference externally, an indication of how well the original design was. The most noticeable difference was from the heavily framed cockpit canopy to a slightly raised all Plexiglas canopy with a much better crew view.
+After serial production was underway, the A-26 design was modified. First, 3 machine guns were installed in each wing, and a new "gun-nose" fitted with 8 machine guns was introduced, and later the heavily framed cockpit canopy was changed to a slightly raised all-Plexiglass canopy with much better visibility.
-It was after WW2 that the frame was subject to extensive trials and experiments. During the Korean War, IR night vision was tried (ironically a system first tested on the Dornier Do 17, which was the impetus for the A-20!).
+After the Second World War, the aircraft was redesignated B-26, and its frame was subject to various trials and upgrades. The most notable was a major overhaul program done by On Mark engineering during the Vietnam War, which rebuilt 43 into the B-26K Counter Invader (nicknamed "Special K"), whose changes include a rebuilt and strengthened structure, improved engines, increased ordnance load, of up 5 440 kg, and the removal of the turret armament. This variant was used in ground attack missions in the Vietnam War until 1969.
-Others surplus B and C's became successful executive transports and utility aircraft.
+Military surplus A-26s were converted into various civilian roles, such as executive transports or firefighter tankers.
-===Manufacturer===
+=== Service History ===
-Douglas Aircraft Company was one of the great aircraft producers of the interbellum years. It was perhaps the first name in aircraft of the time, overshadowing Boeing and Lockheed and produced some ground breaking aircraft, and the most important aircraft in all of history, the DC-3 (C-47).
+The A-26 first saw action in 1944, used by the Fifth Air Force in the Southwest Pacific theatre, attacking Japanese-held islands. It was discovered that the downward view was limited and inadequate for its role as a strike aircraft, with the commander of the Far East Air Forces even stating "We do not want the A-26 under any circumstances as a replacement for anything."
-Besides the founder, Donald Douglas, employees that worked there were Edward (Ed) Heinemann, Robert Donovan, Apollo M.O. Smith, Ted R. Smith, and Jack Northrop (the last two went on to create successful companies later).
+In Europe, the A-26 fared better, assigned to the Ninth Air Force, it flew 8 test missions with no losses and was generally well-liked by its crews. By 1945, it had flown 11 567 missions, dropped 18 054 tons of bombs, and recorded 7 kills and 67 losses.
-{{Template:AirManufacturer Douglas}}
+In the post-war period, it saw action in East and Southeast Asia, Cuba, and Africa. In the Korean War, the B-26 was used as a night bomber, as other aircraft, like the F-80 and F-51, were considered inadequate for the role. It is credited with the destruction of 38 500 vehicles, 400 locomotives, 3 700 train cars, and 7 aircraft. Most famously Captain John S. Walmsley Jr. and his squadron attacked a supply train, all his guns simultaneously jammed, so instead, he used a searchlight to illuminate the target for his wingmen. He was shot down but the train was destroyed, and he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
-===Operators===
+In the Vietnam War, the B-26 was used for ground attack missions operating from Thailand until it was withdrawn after accidents due to aircraft fatigue. It wasn't until the B-26K conversion was completed that it saw service again, attacking supplies moving along the Ho Chi Minh trail until 1969 when it was retired from active service. As Thailand officially did not allow bomber aircraft to be stationed there, the B-26 was again redesignated as the A-26.
-===Operations/Service History===
+The CIA used B-26s crewed by Cuban exiles and painted in the markings of the Cuban Air Force during the Bay of Pigs invasion, attacking Cuban airfields and supporting the landings. 9 B-26s and 14 men were lost in the conflict.
-Over the decades there is almost nothing an Invader was not involved in (one even had a jet engine installed!). Already older than some of the crew that flew her, they proved their worth over the jungles of Vietnam, earning great respect and love by those who flew the "Special K" version.
+The last combat mission was flown by the Honduran Air Force in 1977, 33 years after it was first put into service.
-=== Legacy ===
+In the 1950s, A-26s were converted and used as air tankers to suppress and put out wildfires by the US, and later Canada.
-== The Invaders! ==
+=== Operators ===
-[[File:GarageImage_A-26B-10.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
+Apart from the United States, the A-26 was used by a variety of nations and actors after WW2, notably:
-=== [[A-26B-10]] ===
+* '''Biafra''' - Biafra acquired 2 B-26s during the Nigerian Civil War, they were provisionally armed with a few machine guns and were abandoned.
-{{Break}}
+* '''Cuba''' - Purchased by the pre-revolution government, and used by both the CIA-backed exiles and Cuban government during the Bay of Pigs Invasion
+* '''France''' - France was leant B-26s during the First Indochina War
-[[File:GarageImage_A-26B-50.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
+* '''Honduras''' - The last nation to operate the A-26
-=== [[A-26B-50]] ===
+* '''Portugal''' - Secretly bought 20 B-26s and used in the Portuguese Colonial War
 == Media ==
 {{Youtube-gallery|E1IDVFUqzrI|'''The Shooting Range #83''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 10:29 discusses the Douglas A-26 Invader.}}
 [[Category:Family pages]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 <gallery mode="packed-hover">
-Image:GarageImage_A-26B-10.jpg|''[[A-26|A-26 "Invader" early model]]''
+File:GarageImage_A-26B-10.jpg|''[[A-26B-10|A-26B "Invader" early model]]''
-Image:GarageImage_A-26B-50.jpg|''[[A-26|A-26 "Invader" late model]]''
+File:GarageImage_A-26B-50.jpg|''[[A-26B-50|A-26B "Invader" late model]]''
 </gallery>
-<!--- mode="slideshow" or packed-hover --->
+<div style="float:right">__TOC__</div>
-<!--- Please do not change this page in anyway --->
+The A-26 retained many features of its older sibling. Take an A-20, widen the fuselage about 2x, lengthen the engine nacelles and make them more cylindrical, and square off the wing tips, elevator, and rudder, you would have an A-26. Of course under the skin was a far more sophisticated aircraft with more powerful everything to keep it competitive in a world gone mad.
-https://youtu.be/E1IDVFUqzrI
+From the first production versions to the last "-55" versions there was little difference externally, an indication of how well the original design was. The most noticeable difference was from the heavily framed cockpit canopy to a slightly raised all Plexiglas canopy with a much better crew view.
-===DEVELOPMENT===
+It was after WW2 that the frame was subject to extensive trials and experiments. During the Korean War, IR night vision was tried (ironically a system first tested on the Dornier Do 17, which was the impetus for the A-20!).
-The A-20 was a war winning design, but was being rapidly exceeded by the frantic place of new technologies and more capable aircraft.  In every way the A-26 is an A-20 made bigger, better, badder.  Still consisting of a crew of 3, this new version could carry more bombs farther and faster.  It could also mount big and bigger cannons, carry the latest weapons, offer better defensive fire power with more coverage, and carry 2 torpedoes.
+When Vietnam escalated from a clash to a conflict the tired 26B and 26C's age started to show. A major overhaul program rebuilt the old Invaders into the A-26K Counter Invader (aka "Special K") that surpassed expectations in combat mission success.
-This squeal was clearly worthy of the original!
+Others surplus B and C's became successful executive transports and utility aircraft.
 ===Manufacturer===
-Douglas Aircraft Company was one of the great aircraft producers of the interbellum years.  It was perhaps the first name in aircraft of the time, overshadowing Boeing and Lockheed and produced some ground breaking aircraft, and the most important aircraft in all of history, the DC-3 (C-47).
+Douglas Aircraft Company was one of the great aircraft producers of the interbellum years. It was perhaps the first name in aircraft of the time, overshadowing Boeing and Lockheed and produced some ground breaking aircraft, and the most important aircraft in all of history, the DC-3 (C-47).
 Besides the founder, Donald Douglas, employees that worked there were Edward (Ed) Heinemann, Robert Donovan, Apollo M.O. Smith, Ted R. Smith, and Jack Northrop (the last two went on to create successful companies later).
 ===Operators===
-While the A-20 eventually was flown by dozens of countries on both sides of the conflict (including Germany and Japan), the A-26 was an US only aircraft until after the Korean War when the US started to sell or give it away to allies.  At that point is quickly distributed to dozens of nations.  One of the recipients was Cuba, which ironically had a revolution and in response the American government formed a secret air force to attack the now Communist Cuba, with A-26's!
+While the A-20 eventually was flown by dozens of countries on both sides of the conflict (including Germany and Japan), the A-26 was a US only aircraft until after the Korean War when the US started to sell or give it away to allies. It was quickly distributed to dozens of nations. One of the recipients was Cuba, which ironically had a revolution and in response the American government formed a secret air force to attack the now Communist Cuba, with A-26's!
 ===Operations/Service History===
 The first combat missions were flown by the USAAF in 1944.
 The last combat mission was flown by the Honduran Air Force in 1977, 33 years later.
 Governmental service continued for years later as "Borate Bombers" to put out wild fires.
-Over the decades there is almost nothing an Invader was not involved in (one even had a jet engine installed!).  Already older than some of the crew that few her, they proved their worth over the jungles of Vietnam, earning great respect and love by those who flew the "Special K" version.
+Over the decades there is almost nothing an Invader was not involved in (one even had a jet engine installed!). Already older than some of the crew that flew her, they proved their worth over the jungles of Vietnam, earning great respect and love by those who flew the "Special K" version.
-From the first production versions to the last "-55" versions there was little difference externally, an indication of how well the original design was.  The most noticeable difference was from the heavily framed cockpit canopy to a slightly raised all Plexiglas canopy with a much better crew view.
+=== Legacy ===
-It was after WW2 that the frame was subject to extensive trials and experiments.  During the Korean war IR night vision was tried (ironically a system first tested on the Dornier Do 17, which was the impetus for the A-20!).
+== The Invaders! ==
 [[File:GarageImage_A-26B-10.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
+=== [[A-26B-10]] ===
-== [[A-26B-50|A-26B-50]] ==
+{{Break}}
 [[File:GarageImage_A-26B-50.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
-{{break}}
+[[File:GarageImage_A-26C-45.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
+=== [[A-26C-45]] ===
+{{Break}}
-'''A-26''' may refer to:
+[[File:GarageImage_A-26C-45DT.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
-==Rank IV - Aircraft==
+== Media ==
-* [[A-26B-10]]
+{{Youtube-gallery|E1IDVFUqzrI|'''The Shooting Range #83''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 10:29 discusses the Douglas A-26 Invader.}}
 [[Category:Family pages]]

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 Douglas Aircraft Company was one of the great aircraft producers of the interbellum years.  It was perhaps the first name in aircraft of the time, overshadowing Boeing and Lockheed and produced some ground breaking aircraft, and the most important aircraft in all of history, the DC-3 (C-47).
-Besides the founder, Donald Douglas, employees that worked there were Edward (Ed) Heinemann, Robert Donovan, Ted R. Smith, Apollo M.O. Smith, and Jack Northrop.
+Besides the founder, Donald Douglas, employees that worked there were Edward (Ed) Heinemann, Robert Donovan, Apollo M.O. Smith, Ted R. Smith, and Jack Northrop (the last two went on to create successful companies later).
 ===Operators===
+While the A-20 eventually was flown by dozens of countries on both sides of the conflict (including Germany and Japan), the A-26 was an US only aircraft until after the Korean War when the US started to sell or give it away to allies.  At that point is quickly distributed to dozens of nations.  One of the recipients was Cuba, which ironically had a revolution and in response the American government formed a secret air force to attack the now Communist Cuba, with A-26's!
 ===Operations/Service History===
---->== History of family. ==
+Over the decades there is almost nothing an Invader was not involved in (one even had a jet engine installed!).  Already older than some of the crew that few her, they proved their worth over the jungles of Vietnam, earning great respect and love by those who flew the "Special K" version.
-==== The proposal. ====
+From the first production versions to the last "-55" versions there was little difference externally, an indication of how well the original design was.  The most noticeable difference was from the heavily framed cockpit canopy to a slightly raised all Plexiglas canopy with a much better crew view.
 ==== Legacy ====
+Today the Invader is one of the most iconic war planes ever.  With almost 3 generations of pilots flying them, there is a rich legacy and deep love for this hot rod of an aircraft.
 == The Invasion! ==
 {{break}}
 {{break}}
-[[File:P-51-MK1-RAF-FP.png|400px|thumb|left]]
+[[File:GarageImage_A-26B-10.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
 {{break}}
-{{break}}
+[[File:GarageImage_A-26B-50.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
 {{break}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:09, 10 November 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:A-26 (Family)}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:A-26 (Family)}}
		+	<!--- Please do not change this page in anyway --->
		+
		+	<gallery mode="packed-hover">
		+	Image:GarageImage_A-26B-10.jpg\|''[[A-26\|A-26 "Invader" early model]]''
		+	Image:GarageImage_A-26B-50.jpg\|''[[A-26\|A-26 "Invader" late model]]''
		+	</gallery>
		+	<!--- mode="slideshow" or packed-hover --->
		+
		+	<!--- Please do not change this page in anyway --->
		+	===The need for this vehicle===
		+
		+	https://youtu.be/E1IDVFUqzrI
		+
		+	===DEVELOPMENT===
		+	The A-20 was a war winning design, but was being rapidly exceeded by the frantic place of new technologies and more capable aircraft. In every way the A-26 is an A-20 made bigger, better, badder. Still consisting of a crew of 3, this new version could carry more bombs farther and faster. It could also mount big and bigger cannons, carry the latest weapons, offer better defensive fire power with more coverage, and carry 2 torpedoes.
		+
		+	This squeal was clearly worthy of the original!
		+
		+	===Manufacturer===
		+	Douglas Aircraft Company was one of the great aircraft producers of the interbellum years. It was perhaps the first name in aircraft of the time, overshadowing Boeing and Lockheed and produced some ground breaking aircraft, and the most important aircraft in all of history, the DC-3 (C-47).
		+
		+	Besides the founder, Donald Douglas, employees that worked there were Edward (Ed) Heinemann, Robert Donovan, Ted R. Smith, Apollo M.O. Smith, and Jack Northrop.
		+	===Operators===
		+
		+
		+
		+	===Operations/Service History===
		+
		+	--->== History of family. ==
		+
		+	==== World events. ====
		+
		+
		+	==== The proposal. ====
		+
		+
		+	==== Birth of a legend. ====
		+
		+
		+	==== Polishing the Diamond. ====
		+
		+	==== British have a Mustang fan club. ====
		+
		+	==== A most British of aircraft. ====
		+
		+
		+	==== Legacy ====
		+
		+
		+	== The Invasion! ==
		+
		+	{{break}}
		+	[[File:P-51-Miss-America-FP.png\|400px\|thumb\|left]]
		+
		+	== [[A-26B-10]] ==
		+	[[P-51#History\|'''Click here to read more''']]
		+	{{break}}
		+
		+	{{break}}
		+	[[File:P-51-MK1-RAF-FP.png\|400px\|thumb\|left]]
		+
		+	== [[Mustang_Mk_IA_(Great_Britain)\|A-26B-50]] ==
		+
		+	{{break}}
		+
		+	{{break}}
		+
		+	[[File:GarageImage P-51C-10.jpg\|left\|thumb\|400x400px]]
		+	== [[P-51C-10]] ==
		+	{{break}}
		+
		+

	'''A-26''' may refer to:		'''A-26''' may refer to:

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 * [[A-26B-10]]
 * [[A-26B-50]]
-* [[A-26C-45|A-26C-45]] - ''(Gift, non-premium variant)''
+* [[A-26C-45]] - ''(Gift, non-premium variant)''
-* [[A-26C-45DT|A-26C-45DT]] - ''(PlayStation 4 exclusive vehicle purchased in a vehicle pack)''
+* [[A-26C-45DT]] - ''(PlayStation 4 exclusive vehicle purchased in a vehicle pack)''
 [[Category:Family pages]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:20, 21 March 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	{{DISPLAYTITLE:A-26 (~~Disambiguation~~)}}	+	{{DISPLAYTITLE:A-26 (Family)}}

	'''A-26''' may refer to:		'''A-26''' may refer to:

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:17, 21 March 2019
Line 4:		Line 4:

	==Rank IV - Aircraft==		==Rank IV - Aircraft==
		+	* [[A-26B-10\|A-26B-10]]
		+	* [[A-26B-50\|A-26B-50]]
		+	* [[A-26C-45\|A-26C-45]] - ''(Gift, non-premium variant)''
		+	* [[A-26C-45DT\|A-26C-45DT]] - ''(PlayStation 4 exclusive vehicle purchased in a vehicle pack)''

−	* '''A-26 ''Invader'''''	+	[[Category:Family pages]]
−	** [[A-26B-10\|A-26B-10]]
−	** [[A-26B-50\|A-26B-50]]
−	** [[A-26C-45\|A-26C-45]] ''(Gift, non-premium variant)''
−	** [[A-26C-45DT\|A-26C-45DT]] ''(PlayStation 4 exclusive vehicle purchased in a vehicle pack)''
−
−	[[Category:~~Disambiguation~~ pages]]

← Older revision	Revision as of 17:17, 21 March 2019
(No difference)