Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA3211
Douglas A-26B Invader
44-34298, 89th BS/3rd BG, August 1945

True 1/72 scale.
Professionally painted.
Great attention to detail.
All markings are Tampoed (pad applied).
Option to display the model on a stand that is provided.
Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions.
Loads of optional armament provided.
Canopy can be removed to place figures inside.
3 figures included.
Turrets can turn.
Bomb bay can be opened with 6 bombs included.
Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic.
Highly collectable.

In 1941 Douglas Aircraft Company began work on their twin-engine medium-bomber A-26
Invader. By the end of production there were 2,452 aircraft produced for all variants. The A-
26/B-26 was the only U.S. bomber to take part in three wars, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The
confusion with the use of the designation B-26 began when the Martin B-26 Marauder was
retired and in 1948 the USAF dropped the “A” (Attack) designator so the Douglas A-26
Invader became the B-26 Invader. The A-26 made its first European appearance in late 1944.

In June 1945 the 3rd BG began to convert from the A-20 Havoc to the A-26 Invader. A-26B
44-34298 c/n 27577 was delivered to the 89th BS/3rd BG in March 1945. In early August
1945 the group moved to Okinawa and unfortunately on August 11th A-26 44-34298 piloted
by Captain Harvey Truesdale was forced to make a belly-landing on Okinawa after suffering
a loss of hydraulics due to enemy fire during a mission to Kyushu. During the winter of 1945
the 3rd BG became part of the Occupation of Japan Forces.

Specifications Douglas A-26B Invader

First flight – July 10, 1942

Crew – 3

Dimensions
Length – 50 ft 9 in
Wingspan – 70 ft 0 in
Height – 18 ft 6 in

Weight
Empty – 22,370 lbs
Maximum take-off – 35,000 lbs

Performance
Engines – 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 radial piston each producing 2,000 hp
Maximum speed @ 15,000 ft – 355 mph
Ceiling – 22,100 ft
Range – 1,400 miles

Armament
6 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in nose
2 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in ventral turret
2 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in dorsal turret
6,000 lbs of bombs
8 x 127 mm (5-inch) rockets

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