HiTech, We would like to see a A-26 in AH, Please

[Tracer-15]

just the look of that thing says "HO me.....i dare ya!"

[frank3]

Originally posted by Andijg
Special Twin "Bun Gun" nose package on the A-26.

must scare of enemy pretty quick

[daflea]

I know this a little late for this posting ....But let an "ole warrior" sing you a song....Puff the Magic Dragon, A bird of days long gone,Came to fly the evening sky, in a land called Vietnam...That old bird pulled my bacon out of the fire more than once.

[TWOLF]

This was on of my prefered birds in Air Warrior, and I was somewhat surprised not to see it here.  

But I have to agree with the other folks not wishing to see it here.  There is a shortage of non allied attackers.  

I would love to see the Vader though.  As I said, this is one of my prefered birds.

[jdp]

OK, just to set the record straight.....there were a few wwII vintage aircraft (such as the A-26, and the C-47) still in use during the Vietnam war.  However, the idea that fighters such as the Mustang, Hellcat, and Spitfire were still in frontline use by major western powers such as the U.S. and Britian is absurd.  It is a facthat the P-51 ceased even National Guard and Reserve service in 1957, and I believe that the Navy and the Brits stopped using their prop fighters around the same timeframe.  You may be confusing Vietnam with Korea in which most WWII aircraft were still in service along with the new jets.  Also, the French used the F-8F Bearcat (a close descendant of the Hellcat) during their stint in Vietnam in the 1950s.  If anyone has any questions, I am willing to do some research on a time permitting basis.

1Lt Joel Prosio, USAF

[Airscrew]

When Hyena first hijacked my thread and said something about French F6F's in Vietnam I did a little searching on the internet and remember finding a reference to the French using some surplus WW2 aircraft in 1947.    I think Hyena took some information he found out of context.   I believe that maybe some people dont realize that the "Vietnam War" started around the same time WW2 ended so naturally there would be references to WW2 aircraft being using.   As far as US WW2 aircraft being reutilized by US forces in the 60's and 70's the only aircraft I remember reading about were C-47's,  A/B-26 Invaders, and some redesigned and redesignated P-51's that by the time they were done modifing the P-51 it was hardly recongizable.

AirScrew

[Airscrew]

Ok, quickie search on the internet

The P-51 proved to be so useful that in 1967 the Mustang was put into production once again, this time by Cavalier and Piper. The Cavalier Turbo-Mustang III and Piper Enforcer were developed as Counter-Insurgency (COIN) aircraft with duties including light attack, Forward Air Control and interdiction roles.



Turbo-Mustang III:
One 1,740 Rolls-Royce Dart 510 Turboprop

Enforcer: One 2,535 Lycoming T55-9 Turboprop

AirSCrew

[Airscrew]

And this is supposed to be the last operational US Army TF-51, but no date is given the photo.  I'm guessing my looking at the truck on the flightline that this is about 1963-64 or later, guess it also depends on when the Army using those paint schemes on their aircraft.  I remember these colors from at least 68-69.

AirScrew

[Shiva]

Originally posted by MajTom
As far as US WW2 aircraft being reutilized by US forces in the 60's and 70's the only aircraft I remember reading about were C-47's,  A/B-26 Invaders, and some redesigned and redesignated P-51's that by the time they were done modifing the P-51 it was hardly recongizable.

A number of B-17s were used, painted all black, for covert operations during Vietnam. What I find most humorous about this is that the reason they were used was because they "didn't look like American aircraft" -- a clear illustration of how much aircraft design had changed since the B-17 was built.

[Airscrew]

And , 1,2,3 Punt....

Deep down inside this is still a request to add the A-26B/C  Invader at some point in the future.

AirScrew (LA7 Dweeb and I don't care)

[Airscrew]

I can't help myself,....Punt

[Rasker]

Until the First Indochina War ended in 1954, the French would have been using F8F Bearcats and F4U Corsairs.  Perhaps Hellcats were in that mix as well.  The French also flew Corsairs off their carriers to disable Egypt's MiG bases in the Suez operation.  I believe the last use of a Mustang in combat was strafing a Cuban intelligence ship that would not leave Dominican Republic waters in 1969.  The Cubans sent MiG-21s to retaliate, and the P-51 pilots understandibly declined to up in defense of their base.

[humble]

One interesting fact not mentioned here so far...the a26 had a
1:1 ratio in air to air encounters over europe in WW2. A26 pilots would often go "hunting" after dropping their load...obviously a lot were probably our equivelent of vulching...but a number of recorded "dogfight" victories are around.

[Rasker]

I recall one A-26 being awarded a kill on a 262, im guessing that was a landing vulch.

The LW would protect the 262 fields with standing patrols of 109D's and Ta152's whenever the 262's were landing or taking off, as these low speed operations were the jet's period of maximum vulnerability.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by 2Slow
"I agree. And is there market for this type of planes? I don't see the A-20 or the Boston III getting much use."

There is a market for the A26!  The A-20 and Boston can't get the job done, so they are not used.

A26's were quite popular in AW.  B-25's worked nice too.

The A-20G can't get the job done??!!

Well, I beg to differ. Not only can it deliver 4k in ordnance, it can deliver it with a precision not possible with any level bomber. It's a single plane town killer.

What's more, it can be deadly in a dogfight for anyone silly enough to blow their E. It's a decent turner at low speeds and wields a powerful punch with 6 fifties packed in the nose.

I frequently fly the A-20G as a fighter just for the fun of terrorizing the unsuspecting.

Recently, during the Battle of Britain scenerio in the CT, it was discovered that the Boston III was nearly impossible to intercept or chase down. On the deck, it was the fastest aircraft in the scenario. Imagine the shock of watching a Boston climb away from your Bf 110C while you burn up your WEP, unable to keep up. Besides, you may regret catching it when you realize that the dang thing turns on a dime (the Boston is lighter and turns even better than the A-20G).

These are decent aircraft, but require the knowledge of how to use them effectively.

One last thing, you can dogfight flying in the F3 position, meaning you have tremendous outward vision, and that is a huge advantage. Especially once you learn how to shoot accurately from that view. So, don't be surprised if you spot a Havoc on you 6, guns blazing. But, by then it'll be too late......

My regards,

Widewing