Douglas Aircraft Company A-26 Invader

Twin Piston

The Douglas A-26 Invader stands as one of the most successful American light attack bombers of World War II and the only American bomber to serve in three major conflicts: WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. First flown in 1942, the twin-engine Invader was designed as a fast, heavily armed successor to earlier attack aircraft, capable of carrying 4,000 pounds of bombs while bristling with up to fourteen .50-caliber machine guns in various configurations. Its sleek design and powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engines gave it a maximum speed exceeding 350 knots, making it one of the fastest piston bombers of its era and allowing it to outrun many contemporary fighters. The type was so effective that it remained in frontline service well into the jet age, with the last combat missions flown in 1969 during the Vietnam War—a remarkable 27-year operational span. After military retirement, many Invaders found civilian roles as executive transports, fire bombers, and warbird attractions, prized for their robust construction and spirited performance. The aircraft's military designation changed from A-26 to B-26 in 1948 when the Air Force reorganized its bomber categories, creating occasional confusion with the unrelated Martin B-26 Marauder. Today, surviving airworthy examples are treasured warbirds, their distinctive profile and thundering radial engines a living connection to the propeller-driven combat aircraft that dominated mid-20th century warfare. SkyMeter has tracked 20 flights across 4 airframes and 4 operators, with TAILWINDS LLC the largest observed operator.