Model Description

Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale HA3225 Douglas B-26K Counter Invader 64-17660, 609 SOS, Nakhon Phanom 1969. Buy online at Flying Tigers.

In 1941 Douglas Aircraft Company began work on their twin-engine medium-bomber A-26 Invader. By the end of production there were 2,452 aircraft produced for all variants. The A-26/B-26 was the only U.S. bomber to take part in three wars, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The confusion with the use of the designation B-26 began when the Martin B-26 Marauder was retired and in 1948 the USAF dropped the “A” (Attack) designator so the Douglas A-26 Invader became the B-26 Invader. The A-26 made its first European appearance in late 1944.

Operating from Nakhon Phanom, Thailand the 609th SOS, 56th SOW spent 1966 through 1969 flying highly modified B-26K/A-26B Counter Invader (Nimrods) on nightly patrols of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in search of North Vietnamese supply trucks. In December 1966 there were over 3000 sorties flown with B-26Ks flying 6.5% of the sorties but attributed with 64% of the 195 trucks destroyed. Thailand didn’t allow bombers so the B-26K became an A-26A, “A” for ATTACK. B-26K 17660 ex 44-35608 was the 60th SOS/56th SOW CO’s aircraft and was scrapped in 1972.