A-26C 44-35918 painted as B-26B 44-34287 Versatile Lady, a night intruder aircraft in the Korean War. At starboard is a huge squadron badge instead of the nose art, painted here in a General Audiences version. This airframe actually ended active USAF service in 1957, had several civil US, Costa Rican and Honduran registrations and was even with the Honduran air force. Arrived here as N2781G in jungle camo, later completely resprayed.

A-26C 44-35918 painted as B-26B 44-34287 Versatile Lady, a night intruder aircraft in the Korean War. Nose art for the name on the other side, huge 13th Bombardment Squadron badge here. The Invader on display actually ended active USAF service in 1957, had several civil US, Costa Rican and Honduran registrations and was even with the Honduran air force. Arrived here as N2781G in jungle camo, later completely resprayed.

Built by Douglas at Tulsa, this Invader flew combat missions with the 416th BG of the 9th AF in Europe from December 1944 to August 1945. Post-war it was registered N86481 and I saw it as such when stored at Bradley during my first visit in 1973. In 2012 a nine-year restoration was completed.

The sad remains at the dump. My guess is it was on delivery to the French Air Force

Is actually ex 44-35918.

Constructed as A-26C-40-DT 44-35601 by Douglas at Tulsa. Registered NL202R in November 1956. Substantially damaged in January 1965 when gear retracted during an aborted take-off at Oklahoma City. I photographed the aircraft in executive configuration with large windows at Santo Domingo on 8th Oct 1980 in a cream and brown c/s. To Confederate Air Force in 1998

One of the 31 aircraft on display at the Lackland parade field in 2024. Now painted to represent 44-34287, but is actually ex 44-35918.

Parked at the British Columbia Aviation Museum at Victoria Airport on Vancouver Island. Built for the USAAF around 1943 as 43-22357 and continued in military service until 1956. Became N91348 in 1966. Joined Conair Aviation from Aero Union of Chico, California, configured as an air tanker, in 1970. Operated as fire bomber "22", registered CF-BMS later C-FBMS. Donated to the BC Aviation Museum in 1989.

Parked outside the Champaign Museum's hangar during MERFI, still in her previous outfit as an air tanker. Though on the FAA registry as N381EC, she doesn't wear it. Ex 44-35948, but was never delivered to the USAAF, instead went directly to the RFC and storage at Kingman AFB, AZ. Had some On Mark modifications fitted during her long and varied career, but these were apparently removed during the tanker conversion.

Delivered to USAAF in 1945. Saw combat in Korean War for two years, sold surplus in 1957. Converted into a water bomber in the U.S. (N5457V) and later used in the same role in Canada (C-GHLK). From 1990-1999 it was owned and flown by the Canadian Warplane Heritage marked as a French Air Force A-26. Transferred to the U.S. and registered as N119DR. In 2011 reregistered N4313.

Ex 43-22612. Destroyed in a fatal crash during a display at the Biggin Hill Air Fair on 21 September 1980. Pilot Don Bullock (who flew the RAF Museum's CASA 352L from Spain to Biggin Hill in 1978) was killed along with his 6 passengers.

This photo appears to be the immediate postwar period. It has a buzz number but still with the wartime roundel without the red bar. The tail markings have been obliterated and the guns removed, but not the turrets. The fate of this aircraft is not known. Photo from: Delaware Military Museum

Former USAF 43-22612. Registered as N3710G in 1961. Acquired by Euroworld in 1978 and based at Biggin Hill. Destroyed in a fatal crash at an airshow at Biggin Hill in 1980.

The BC Forest Service first evaluated the Douglas A-26 Invader for firefighting in June 1969 when three aircraft attacked 30 fires over a 12-day period from the Kamloops tanker base. In 1970, Conair Aviation won contracts for three A-26s which joined three Flying Fireman PBY-5 Cansos, and five Conair TBMs Avengers to form BC's provincial firefighting fleet. This Douglas A-26C was delivered to the USAAF as 44-34520 in June 1945. In 1958 it became N9420Z and flew as a corporate aircraft. Conair imported it in 1974 as C-GHCF. Sold it to Hawkins & Powers Avn. in 1988 as N94207. To N126HP in 1989.

This A26 is on display as 44-35523, cn 28802, ex-N3428G and is often misidentified. In fact, the frame is 44-35552, cn 28831, ex N5544V.

Maintenance in Copenhagen before delivery to the French Air Force

Conair Tanker 21 on a practice retardant drop near Kamloops BC