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American Combat Planes of the 20th Century is an incredible reference for anyone who is interested in any American Combat Plane History. There are 758 pages and 1700 b/w photos in this substantial labor of love by Ray Wagner, who has been passionately researching and writing about aircraft for over 50 years. Whether you are already familiar with his past works, or just discovering this accomplished author for the first time... This is the book that you've been waiting for!

If you'd like to see the book's Table of Contents ... Click here. You can also browse the entire Index Section to get an idea of the extensive amount of information that is covered within this book.

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Air Weapons for the Cold War, 1946-1962

B-26K, A-26, B-26, and B-26C

Page 3

Douglas Invader light bombers from 1948 to 1969
Concentrating on strategic bombing, not close support of ground forces, the USAF had built no light bombers after the war, and had even dropped the A designation for attack bombers in June 1948, changing the Douglas Invader from A-26 to B-26. Many were relegated to non-combat duties, like 152 A-26Cs that in 1945-1947 became the Navy's JD-l and JD-1D unarmed target-towing and drone-control planes, redesignated UB-26J and DB-26J in 1962. ON MARK B-26K

Surplus Invaders left over after World War II appeared in many countries around the world involved in Cold War rivalries. The first of these exports resulted from the Truman Doctrine opposing Soviet pressure on Turkey, which inspired the transfer of 45 B-26s to the Turkish Air Force, beginning in March 1948.

The unexpected war begun in Korea on June 25, 1950, confronted America with the need for immediate support of ground troops. While the small North Korean air force was easily demolished soon after fighting began, stronger ground forces were not routed until September. North Korea was defeated in three months, but China entered the war in October, extending that war to a 37-month stalemate.

When war began, there were 1,054 B-26s in the USAF inventory. All were in reserve units or storage except for 26 B-26Bs in Japan with the 3rd Bombardment Wing (Light), and 46 RB-26C night reconnaissance aircraft serving with Tactical Reconnaissance wings (TRW).

The 3rd Bomb Wing flew the first American bombing mission into Korea on June 28, 1950, against a railway supplying enemy forces, and the following day, 18 B-26Bs struck North Korea with a successful attack on the principal enemy air base. That same unit dropped the last American bombs in Korea on July 27, 1953, and an RB-26C flew the last combat sortie of the Korean War the same evening. Other B-26 Wings in Korea were the 452nd reserve Wing in October 1950, replaced by the 17th Bomb Wing in 1952. USS Midway

During that war, 60,096 B-26 and 11,944 RB-26 sorties were made, the majority at night, with 226 aircraft lost, including 56 to enemy action. In 1954, there were four B-26 and two RB-26 active wings in the USAF. They were replaced by B-57 and RB-66 jets by 1956.

Another war was going on at the same time in Vietnam, and the French asked to borrow Douglas Invaders, then the only bomber type available to form their first post-WW II bomber force. On January 1, 1951, GB l/19 was formed with 17 B-26B and 8 B-26C bombers and was soon joined by four RB-26C Invaders of a reconnaissance unit. By July 1954, four groups had received 111 B-26s, but French defeat at Dien Bien Phu halted the fighting with a cease-fire signed July 21, and surviving planes were returned to the USAF in 1955.

French B-26s were also at war in Algeria where, from 1957 to 1962, they were being used by escadrons GB.1/91, 1/91 and ERP.1/32 (RB-26). Saudi Arabia's first combat planes were nine B-26Bs received in 1955, establishing an air force that would be helpful in 1991's desert war.

After the Korean War ended, American B-26s were supplied to various small air forces and used in several covert operations arranged by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). An excellent book by Hagedorn and Hellstrom* describes the operations in these countries in such detail that only a brief survey shall be made here.

Latin American deliveries began when Peru acquired eight B-26Cs in October 1954, followed by ten for Chile in November, as well as allotments to Colombia and Brazil, and later replenishments for each of them. Guatemala got eight B-26s, its first bombers, in 1961.

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