Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA3225
Douglas B-26K Counter Invader
64-17660, 609 SOS, Nakhon Phanom 1969

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.
Canopy can be removed to place figures inside.
3 figures 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.

Operating from Nakhon Phanom, Thailand the 609th SOS, 56th SOW spent 1966 through
1969 flying highly modified B-26K/A-26B Counter Invader (Nimrods) on nightly patrols of the
Ho Chi Minh Trail in search of North Vietnamese supply trucks. In December 1966 there
were over 3000 sorties flown with B-26Ks flying 6.5% of the sorties but attributed with 64% of
the 195 trucks destroyed. Thailand didn’t allow bombers so the B-26K became an A-26A, “A”
for ATTACK. B-26K 17660 ex 44-35608 was the 60th SOS/56th SOW CO’s aircraft and was
scrapped in 1972.

Douglas B-26K Counter Invader Specifications

Modified From A-26C To B-26K By - On Mark Engineering

Maiden Flight – May 26, 1964

Designated A-26A While In Thailand

Nickname - Nimrod

Number Of WWII A-26 Modified – 40

Dimensions
Length – 51.7 ft   (15.76 m)
Wingspan – 71.52 ft   (21.8 m)
Height – 19 ft   (5.79 m)

Maximum Take-Off Weight – 38,312 lb   (17,378 kg)

Performance
Power-Plants
2 X Pratt & Whitney R-2800-52W Water-Injected Radial Engines, 2,500 hp Per Engine

Maximum Speed – 322 mph   ( 519 kph, 280 kts)
Maximum Range – 2,700 miles   (4,345 km, 2,346 nm)
Service Ceiling – 30,000 ft   (9,144 m, 5.68 miles)

Armament
Standard
8 X .50 Caliber   (12.7 mm) Forward-Fixed Heavy Machine Guns Mounted In Nose
Optional
8 X External Hardpoints For Up To 8,000 lbs Mixed Ordnance
Up To 4,000 lbs Mixed Ordnance In Bomb Bay

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