Kits: Repainted & Modify worked from F-toys Attack Bomber Col.2 Modeler: Supawat Putthitornworasit Nov'2013
The first B-26s to arrive in Southeast Asia were deployed to Takhli RTAFB, Thailand in December 1960. These unmarked aircraft, operated under the auspices of the U.S. CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), were soon augmented by an additional 16 aircraft, 12 B-26Bs and B-26Cs plus four RB-26Cs under Operation Mill Pond. The mission of all of these aircraft was to assist the Royal Lao Government in fighting the LARP of Laos. The repercussions from the Bay of Pigs invasion meant that no combat missions are known to have been flown, although RB-26Cs operated over Laos until the end of 1961. The aircraft were subsequently operated in South Vietnam under Project "Farm Gate". The only other deployment of B-26 aircraft to Laos prior to the introduction of the B-26K/A-26A, was the deployment of two RB-26C aircraft, specifically modified for night reconnaissance, deployed to Laos between May and July 1962 under Project Black Watch. These aircraft, initially drawn from Farm Gate stocks, were returned upon the end of these missions.
Combat Operations During the Vietnam War
The 609th Special Operations Squadron was activated as the 609th Air Commando Squadron at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand on 22 Aug 1967 and officially organized on 15 Sept 1967. It was assigned to the 56th Air Commando Wing. The squadron flew the Douglas A-26 Invader, a twin engine attack bomber of WWII vintage. These aircraft were transferred from the 606th Air Commando Squadron which transitioned to other aircraft. The primary mission of the 609th was night interdiction of truck traffic along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Its call sign for these missions was "Nimrod", inherited from the 606th and other squadrons that had flown that mission, and "The Nimrods" soon became the squadron's nickname. The squadron's A-26 aircraft carried tail letters "TA".
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
- Wingspan: 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
- Height: 18 ft 3 in (5.64 m)
- Wing area: 540 ft² (50 m²)
- Empty weight: 22,850 lb (10,365 kg)
- Loaded weight: 27,600 lb (12,519 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 35,000 lb (15,900 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 "Double Wasp" radials, 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 355 mph (308 kn, 570 km/h)
- Range: 1,400 mi (1,200 nmi, 2,300 km)
- Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,250 ft/min (6.4 m/s)
- Wing loading: 51 lb/ft² (250 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.145 hp/lb (108 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns:
- Up to 8 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in the nose (1,600 rpg)
- 8 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns paired in four optional underwing pods
- 2 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in remote-controlled dorsal turret
- 2 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in remote-controlled ventral turret
- Bombs: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) capacity - 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) in the bomb bay plus 2,000 lb (910 kg) carried externally on underwing hardpoints
Static model In Scale 1:144
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