RAF Invader B Mk1 (A-26)

I stumbled up on an A-26 site earlier & it mentioned that 130 (I
think) A-26s had been ordered by the RAF but were later diverted to
the Navy or something. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone's ever seen a
paint scheme for the Invader B. Mk. 1. Sand & spinach over sky, or
what? might look pretty cool.

Hi Frank

I have a black and white photo of KL692 a Douglas Invader Mk. I
(A-26C-25-DT, U.S.A.A.F. s/n 43-22604 and Douglas construction number
18751). It was one of the aircraft that was not delivered to the Royal Air
Force. The aircraft is bare metal except for the anti-glare panel on the
nose. I can not tell you if it is black or olive drab. It carries the
R.A.F. serial number (KL692) just forward of the hortizontal stabilizer and
most of the the U.S.A.A.F. serial number '322604' two-thirds the way up the
vertical stablizer (none of the numbers cross over to the rudder). The
aircraft carries typical R.A.F. roundels and tri-colour fin flash.
Incently, KL690 and KL691 were the only two Invaders delivered to the Royal
Air Force.

If you want me to scan it for you, give me a shout off board at


Cheers...Chris

Hi

The Royal Air Force had only 'three' squadrons that used the Marauder.

No. 14 (B) Squadron - Marauder Mk. I, Mk. II and Mk. III
No. 39 (B) Squadron - Marauder Mk. III
No. 231 Squadron - Marauder Mk. I - Marauders were stationed at Dorval,
Quebec in support of No. 45 Groups Trans-Atlantic ferry operations.

No. 70 (Middle East ) Operational Training Unit trained R.A.F. crews on the
Marauder Mk. II and Mk. III.


The following South African Air Force squadrons used the Martin Marauder:

No. 12 (B) Squadron
No. 21 (B) Squadron
No. 24 (B) Squadron
No. 25 (B) Squadron
No. 30 (B) Squadron
* The above four squadrons were assigned to the North African Air Forces
No. 25 (B) Squadron was assigned to the Balkan Air Force where it


The following Free French Air Force Squadrons also used the Martin Marauder
as part of the U.S.A.A.F.'s 42nd Bomb Wing of the 1st Tactical Air Force.

GB 1/19 'Gascogne'
GB 2/20 'Bretange'
GB 1/22 'Maroc'
GB 1/32 'Gourgogne'
GB 2/52 'Franche-Comte'
GB 2/63 'Senegal'
GB 1/34 - Although equipped with the Martin Marauder, the squadron did not
fly any operational sorties with the type.

Cheers...Chris

Moose wrote:

Hi

The Royal Air Force had only 'three' squadrons that used the Marauder.

No. 14 (B) Squadron - Marauder Mk. I, Mk. II and Mk. III
No. 39 (B) Squadron - Marauder Mk. III
No. 231 Squadron - Marauder Mk. I - Marauders were stationed at Dorval,
Quebec in support of No. 45 Groups Trans-Atlantic ferry operations.

No. 70 (Middle East ) Operational Training Unit trained R.A.F. crews on the
Marauder Mk. II and Mk. III.

The following South African Air Force squadrons used the Martin Marauder:

No. 12 (B) Squadron
No. 21 (B) Squadron
No. 24 (B) Squadron
No. 25 (B) Squadron
No. 30 (B) Squadron
* The above four squadrons were assigned to the North African Air Forces
No. 25 (B) Squadron was assigned to the Balkan Air Force where it

The following Free French Air Force Squadrons also used the Martin Marauder
as part of the U.S.A.A.F.'s 42nd Bomb Wing of the 1st Tactical Air Force.

GB 1/19 'Gascogne'
GB 2/20 'Bretange'
GB 1/22 'Maroc'
GB 1/32 'Gourgogne'
GB 2/52 'Franche-Comte'
GB 2/63 'Senegal'
GB 1/34 - Although equipped with the Martin Marauder, the squadron did not
fly any operational sorties with the type.

Cheers...Chris


Just out of curiosity and not really intending to cause an off-topic
drift.
What exactly was the role of 231 Squadron in support of No. 45 Groups
Trans-Atlantic ferry operations? Although Dorval was a major base in the
ferry operations it is a long way from the Atlantic. I could see their
usefulness in the battle of the St. Lawrence, but surely they must have
staged out of Goose or Gander to be much use on the North Atlanic.

Dave

(frank may) wrote in message . com...
I stumbled up on an A-26 site earlier & it mentioned that 130 (I
think) A-26s had been ordered by the RAF but were later diverted to
the Navy or something. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone's ever seen a
paint scheme for the Invader B. Mk. 1. Sand & spinach over sky, or
what? might look pretty cool.

By the time the Invaders would have been delivered they probably
wouldn't have been painted at all, at least in the day bomber role. If
we can speculate a bit further that some may have been used at night
for target marking, they would probably have been finished in one or
other of the RAF night schemes, either Dark Green\Dark Earth\Night or
overall Medium Sea Grey with Dark Green camouflaged uppers.

John

Bummer! Another bare metal scheme. I wondered about that as late in
the war as it would've been. Thanks for the replies. I'd love to see a
Washington in a bomber camo scheme too, but I guess they just weren't
meant to be.



(John Walker) wrote in message . com...
(frank may) wrote in message . com...
I stumbled up on an A-26 site earlier & it mentioned that 130 (I
think) A-26s had been ordered by the RAF but were later diverted to
the Navy or something. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone's ever seen a
paint scheme for the Invader B. Mk. 1. Sand & spinach over sky, or
what? might look pretty cool.

By the time the Invaders would have been delivered they probably
wouldn't have been painted at all, at least in the day bomber role. If
we can speculate a bit further that some may have been used at night
for target marking, they would probably have been finished in one or
other of the RAF night schemes, either Dark Green\Dark Earth\Night or
overall Medium Sea Grey with Dark Green camouflaged uppers.

John

"frank may" wrote in message
om...
Bummer! Another bare metal scheme. I wondered about that as late in
the war as it would've been. Thanks for the replies. I'd love to see a
Washington in a bomber camo scheme too, but I guess they just weren't
meant to be.

You might be interested in the photo at...

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org...es/b29-009.jpg

Early delivery B-29's from the Wichita plant sported an OD and gray
paintjob.

Brooks

snip

Hi Dave

While at Dorval, No. 231 (T) Squadron operated at least one Marauder Mk. I
as a high-speed V.I.P. transport and diplomatic courier aircraft. It also
performed other duties as well in support of No. 45 Group.

Two other Royal Air Force units that operated the Martin Marauder we
No. 301 Ferry Training Unit - Marauder Mk. I
No. 304 Ferry Training Unit - Marauder Mk. I and Mk. III


Cheers...Chris

Moose wrote:

Hi Dave

While at Dorval, No. 231 (T) Squadron operated at least one Marauder Mk. I
as a high-speed V.I.P. transport and diplomatic courier aircraft. It also
performed other duties as well in support of No. 45 Group.

Two other Royal Air Force units that operated the Martin Marauder we
No. 301 Ferry Training Unit - Marauder Mk. I
No. 304 Ferry Training Unit - Marauder Mk. I and Mk. III

Cheers...Chris


Thanks,

Dave