@ Half Moon Bay, CA
April 2012
This restored A-26 Invader begins its takeoff roll after a day at the 2012 Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, engines at full power with the propeller tips creating visible vortices. This warbird is the result of a nine-year restoration that began in 2001, after a 31-year career fighting wildfires. The A-26B was the solid-nosed attack version of the Invader, armed with six .50 cal machine guns with 400 rounds per gun. This Invader was destined for service in the Pacific theater, thus lacks the remotely-controlled ventral turret which was replaced by a 125 gal auxiliary fuel tank for extra range. First flown in 1942, a total of 1150 A-26Bs were built at Long Beach and an additional 205 were built at Tulsa. Production of the A-26B ended in September 1945, when the end of the war resulted in the cancellation of further contracts. In 1948 the A-26B was re-designated B-26B, without any issue of confusion with the Martin B-26 Marauder since that aircraft was out of service by then. In 2014, this aircraft joined the Mid America Flight Museum collection in Texas. Nikon D7000 w/80-200mm.