A-26 Invader - Palm Springs Air Museum - Palm Springs, CA
N 33° 49.965 W 116° 30.292
11S E 545814 N 3743722
This static aircraft display is one of many displays at the Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, CA.
Waymark Code: WMKMAA
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 05/01/2014
Views: 5
Visitors to the
Palm Springs Air Museum might see this fighter aircraft located inside one of two hangers, the African-European Theater Hanger. Near this static aircraft is a placard that reads:
A-26 "INVADER" ATTACK BOMBER
PRIME MANUFACTURER:
Douglas Aircraft Co., El Segundao & Long Beach, Calif. and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The XA-26 first flew on July 10th 1942. Service delivery began in December 1943. Final delivery was Jan. 2, 1946. Approximately 2500 A-26s were built.
ENGAGEMENT INFORMATION
The A-26 was powerful, very fast, heavily armed and showed itself to be the best ground attack and tactical bomber to be put into the field by the U.S. Military.
The invasion of Normandy, included the A-26 medium bomber. During WW II, A-26 Invaders dropped over 18,000 bombs on European targets. A-26s operated in all theaters of the war.
During the Korean War, (1950-1953), NATO air forces used more than 450 B-26s (formerly the A-26). B-26s (formerly the A-26) were also used in the Vietnam War. Large numbers fought, mainly by night, until late into 1970. The A-26 was used by the US Army Air Force and US Navy plus the French Air Force.
HISTORY OF A-26 IN THE PALM SPRINGS AIR MUSEUM
The INVADER in our Museum was built by Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, CA. It served with the 9th Air Force in Europe during World War II. It served in Japan and Korea between 1953 and 1956. After military service, it became a fire bomber in British Columbia for 16 years as tanker number 321 for Corsair. It came to the Planes of Fame Museum in Minnesota in 1987.
Clicking this link will go to a web page that lists this former bomber along with additional info about its rich history.
*NOTE* I was told by volunteer staff that many planes and historical items (like this display) often move around inside the hangers and outside on the tarmac, BUT they always stay within the museum, unless they are part of a visiting exhibition. Waymarkers should keep this in mind when searching for a particular waymark that I or someone else has posted on Waymarking.com. If, by chance, you cannot locate a particular waymark within the museum, please let me know and I'll contact the staff and inquire to its whereabouts. Thanks.