Invader

Air Classics, Oct 2002 by O'Leary, Michael

MEXICO

Mexico has the curious tradition of using civilian-owned aircraft to haul military and government officials, thus giving the aircraft a quasi-military identity. Knowing that B-26s were modified into fast executive aircraft which carried a certain prestige, officials felt that such a machine would enhance their importance. Accordingly, B-26B N65121 was purchased in Los Angeles and became XB-PEK with some form of passenger interior, although it is not known if this was done in the US or Mexico. Assigned to haul the president of Mexico, the plane also wore the Fuerza Aerea Mexicana serial 1300 but was never completely the property of the FAM. In the early 1950s, a wealthy businessman obtained another three Invaders and put them at the disposal of military and government officials - almost appearing to be some form of bribe. These three aircraft were El Fantasma 2001, El Indio 2002, and Jarocho 2003. By 1953, 2001 and 2002 had been sold in France. Oddly, it appears that the French utilized these non-standard serials and then added a few more in that sequence with other Invader purchases.

NICARAGUA

Dictator General Somoza kept a tight control on his country and viewed the Fuerza Aerea de Nicaragua as his own personal force. Well-paid, FAN pilots flew P-Sls, P-47s, A-20s, P-38s, and B-24s a rather astounding mixture for an extremely poor country. Somoza, a West Point graduate, fully complied with the CIA to let Nicaraguan bases be used to launch B-26s used in the unsuccessful invasion of Cuba. With the collapse of the invasion, Somoza basically inherited the surviving B-26s, some of which were damaged. The four best airframes were flown to Managua where they became property of the FAN. All nameplates and identity had been removed from these aircraft and the USAF Mission concluded that the planes were not MAP-supplied and could not be supported with US-supplied spare parts! This supreme bit of bureaucracy was sidestepped by FAN personnel buying parts and engines in the US surplus market. Eventually some US support was forthcoming. In the early 1960s, FAN swapped surviving P-51s and P-47s to MACO Corp. in the US for three Invaders and seven T-28As. These were all civil aircraft and in a variety of configurations. At least four FAN Invaders went through Project Wing Spar and FAN pilots received USAF instruction in B-26 COIN operations. Civil unrest grew and B-26s were used to attack rebels and civilians. In 1976, four surviving 13,26s were grounded and obtained by David Tallichet. However, due to various problems only two aircraft were flown out. In 1979, the Somoza government collapsed and Fuerza Aerea Sandinista took over the surviving aircraft but the B-26s never flew again.

PERU

The British aviation industry was certainly well-aware the US's Mutual Defense Assistance Program was supplying Latin American countries with a wide variety of surplus WWII aircraft at give-away prices. However, the US was not particularly willing to commit newer aircraft and the British were soon selling aircraft like the Canberra to some of the nations. In order to thwart a possible Canberra sale to Peru, the US quickly agreed to supply eight Invaders - the first real group of combat Invaders for Latin America. In late 1954, eight B-26Cs were flown directly from USAF units to Lima. These planes were in full USAF markings and fully armed. Repainted in Fuerza Aerea del Peru markings, the planes were taken on strength in November 1954 - even so, Peru would buy Canberras. As time went on, more B-26s were transferred to the FAP and by 1960 they had received 20. Operations went quite smoothly until spar cracks began to show up and the 14 best survivors went through the spar program from 1962 to 1965 which meant that B-26 operations ceased. USAF pilots gave FAP pilots COIN training but by this time the Canberras were used against rebels. In 1968, 14 Invaders were basically airworthy and there were attempts to upgrade avionics but these were met with many delays and it was decided to modernize with new aircraft. By the time the last B-26 retired in 1975, the type had been replaced by Cessna A-37s.