DOUGLAS B-26B IN VIETNAM
After the end of the Korean War, the B-26B was gradually replaced by newer and more advanced aircraft. By the late 1950s, the B-26 was only used for liaison missions, such as staff transport . However, with the continuing internal problems in South Vietnam combined with the increasing activities of the North Vietnam sponsored Viet Cong, President Kennedy decided to provide military assistance to South Vietnam. The initial stated purpose of U.S. involvement was to provide advisors and training in support of counter insurgency operations. The USAF's 4410th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) was assigned to this mission. B-26s were pulled from storage and readied for reconnaissance and combat duties before being sent to Vietnam. The first aircraft began arriving in late 1961 as part of Operation Farm Gate. These aircraft initially had South Vietnamese markings and were designated RB-26s, but were fully combat capable. The South Vietnamese training mission was only a minor part of Farm Gate and nearly all missions were flown by USAF crews occasionally accompanied by a South Vietnamese crew member. Counter insurgency operations continued while the 4410th CCTS mission gradually expanded to include some close air support and escort duties. For example, the B-26 was used to escort C-123s flying Operation Ranch Hand defoliation missions. When two B-26s crashed because of structural failures, the aircraft were withdrawn from combat in 1964. For the B-26B, this was the end of its combat service. An improved and rebuilt version of the B-26 would return to Vietnam for combat duty in the late 1960s. This aircraft was initially designated B-26K and later re-designated A-26A.
Type
Number built/converted
Remarks
B-26B*
1,355**
Light Attack Bomber*The A-26B was re-designated B-26B in 1948 after the USAF dropped the attack designation **1355 A-26Bs built and accepted by the Army Air Force; however, at least 25 more were completed but never delivered to the AAF. These aircraft (on canceled contract AC-21393) were direct delivered from the factory to the Kingman reclamation center (RFC) beginning in October 1945. Known serial numbers are 44-34754 to 44-34775; 44-34777 to 44-34779. (Source: Individual Aircraft Record Cards stored at the AFHRA)TECHNICAL NOTES (Typical for late block B-26B): Armament: Two .50-cal. machine guns in a dorsal barbette, two .50-cal. machine guns in a ventral barbette (sometimes omitted in favor of an extra fuel cell), eight forward-firing .50-cal. machine guns in the nose and six .50-cal. machine guns in the wings, plus provisions for 6,000 lbs. of bombs (4,000 lbs. internal and 2,000 lbs. external on wing racks), 14 5-inch rockets could be carried in place of the wing-mounted bombsEngines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 (or -71 or -79) radials of 2,000 hp eachMaximum speed: 322 mph Cruising speed: 278 mph Range: 2,900 miles maximum ferry range Service ceiling: 24,500 ft. Span: 70 ft. 0 in. Length: 50 ft. 8 in. Height: 18 ft. 6 in. Weight: Approx. 41,800 lbs. gross takeoff weight Crew: Three (pilot, navigator, gunner) Serial numbers: 41-39100 to 41-39151; 41-39153 to 41-39192; 41-39194; 41-39196 to 41-39198; 41-39201 to 41-39599; 43-22252 to 43-22303; 43-22305 to 43-22307; 43-22313 to 43-22345; 43-22350 to 43-22466; 44-34098 to 44-34753 Click here to return to the Attack Aircraft index.
Inside the Museum
Search
function clearKeywords(obj)
{
if (obj.value == 'search fact sheets')
obj.value = '';
}
Advanced Search
View All RSS
Aircraft
Categories
Museum Fact Sheets Museum Exhibits Online Historical References
Museum Foundation
Foundation Membership Gift Shop IMAX Theatre Valkyrie Cafe
Related Links
U.S. Air Force Dept. of Defense Air Force Materiel Command Wright-Patterson AFB AF Historical Research Agency National Archives National Aviation Heritage Area Aviation Museums
Connect
The Official Web Site of National Museum of the USAF
Site Map Contact Us Questions Security and Privacy notice FOIA Disclaimer
After the end of the Korean War, the B-26B was gradually replaced by newer and more advanced aircraft. By the late 1950s, the B-26 was only used for liaison missions, such as staff transport . However, with the continuing internal problems in South Vietnam combined with the increasing activities of the North Vietnam sponsored Viet Cong, President Kennedy decided to provide military assistance to South Vietnam. The initial stated purpose of U.S. involvement was to provide advisors and training in support of counter insurgency operations. The USAF's 4410th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) was assigned to this mission. B-26s were pulled from storage and readied for reconnaissance and combat duties before being sent to Vietnam. The first aircraft began arriving in late 1961 as part of Operation Farm Gate. These aircraft initially had South Vietnamese markings and were designated RB-26s, but were fully combat capable. The South Vietnamese training mission was only a minor part of Farm Gate and nearly all missions were flown by USAF crews occasionally accompanied by a South Vietnamese crew member. Counter insurgency operations continued while the 4410th CCTS mission gradually expanded to include some close air support and escort duties. For example, the B-26 was used to escort C-123s flying Operation Ranch Hand defoliation missions. When two B-26s crashed because of structural failures, the aircraft were withdrawn from combat in 1964. For the B-26B, this was the end of its combat service. An improved and rebuilt version of the B-26 would return to Vietnam for combat duty in the late 1960s. This aircraft was initially designated B-26K and later re-designated A-26A.
Type
Number built/converted
Remarks
B-26B*
1,355**
Light Attack Bomber*The A-26B was re-designated B-26B in 1948 after the USAF dropped the attack designation **1355 A-26Bs built and accepted by the Army Air Force; however, at least 25 more were completed but never delivered to the AAF. These aircraft (on canceled contract AC-21393) were direct delivered from the factory to the Kingman reclamation center (RFC) beginning in October 1945. Known serial numbers are 44-34754 to 44-34775; 44-34777 to 44-34779. (Source: Individual Aircraft Record Cards stored at the AFHRA)TECHNICAL NOTES (Typical for late block B-26B): Armament: Two .50-cal. machine guns in a dorsal barbette, two .50-cal. machine guns in a ventral barbette (sometimes omitted in favor of an extra fuel cell), eight forward-firing .50-cal. machine guns in the nose and six .50-cal. machine guns in the wings, plus provisions for 6,000 lbs. of bombs (4,000 lbs. internal and 2,000 lbs. external on wing racks), 14 5-inch rockets could be carried in place of the wing-mounted bombsEngines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 (or -71 or -79) radials of 2,000 hp eachMaximum speed: 322 mph Cruising speed: 278 mph Range: 2,900 miles maximum ferry range Service ceiling: 24,500 ft. Span: 70 ft. 0 in. Length: 50 ft. 8 in. Height: 18 ft. 6 in. Weight: Approx. 41,800 lbs. gross takeoff weight Crew: Three (pilot, navigator, gunner) Serial numbers: 41-39100 to 41-39151; 41-39153 to 41-39192; 41-39194; 41-39196 to 41-39198; 41-39201 to 41-39599; 43-22252 to 43-22303; 43-22305 to 43-22307; 43-22313 to 43-22345; 43-22350 to 43-22466; 44-34098 to 44-34753 Click here to return to the Attack Aircraft index.
Inside the Museum
Search
function clearKeywords(obj)
{
if (obj.value == 'search fact sheets')
obj.value = '';
}
Advanced Search
View All RSS
Aircraft
Categories
Museum Fact Sheets Museum Exhibits Online Historical References
Museum Foundation
Foundation Membership Gift Shop IMAX Theatre Valkyrie Cafe
Related Links
U.S. Air Force Dept. of Defense Air Force Materiel Command Wright-Patterson AFB AF Historical Research Agency National Archives National Aviation Heritage Area Aviation Museums
Connect
The Official Web Site of National Museum of the USAF
Site Map Contact Us Questions Security and Privacy notice FOIA Disclaimer
No comments:
Post a Comment