B-26K with USAF Pilots & Ground Personnel
The B-26K Counter Invader aircraft began entering service with the US Air Force in the spring of 1964. Until April 1965, the USAF received all ordered copies. By this time, the American armed forces in Vietnam were in dire need of an anti-guerrilla aircraft, and in the spring of 1966 it was decided to deploy the B-26K in Southeast Asia. Based on airfields in Thailand, they flew combat missions to Laos. Since Thailand did not allow the basing of bombers on its territory, from May 1966, these aircraft were temporarily designated as attack aircraft – with the designation A-26A. And since the actions in Laos were considered unofficial, the Counter Invaders based in Southeast Asia did not carry national insignia.
Most of their combat missions, these attack aircraft made in the dark. The reason for this was the means of Vietnamese air defense, which posed a serious danger to piston aircraft at low speeds.
Markings:
- В-26К 64-17651, 56th Special Operations Wing, 609th Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Phanom, 1969
- В-26К 64-17649, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, 1970
- В-26К 64-17645, 56th Special Operations Wing, 609th Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Phanom, 1969
- В-26К 64-17679, 1st Special Operations Wing, USAF, late 1960s