The Invader was a fast and powerful aircraft that served the USAF in three wars. During World War II, it was used for bombing and low-level ground attack. In 1948, the Invader became the B-26 after the Martin B-26 Marauder was retired and the USAF dropped the “Attack” designation. During the Korean War, Invaders were used at night to harass North Korean supply lines. During the Vietnam War, B-26s were used to interdict or deny the enemy’s movement along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
The Museum’s VB-26B (“V” for VIP transport) was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces in August 1945 as a standard A-26B. It served at various air bases, including Turner AFB, GA, before arriving for conversion to a TA-26B at Warner Robins Air Material Center at Robins in November 1946. It served with various units until 1951 when it was assigned to support the Air National Guard Headquarters as a VB-26B at Andrews AFB, MD. When the aircraft was retired in 1972, it was the last Invader in USAF service. It was transferred to the museum in May 2017 from the Smithsonian where it had been in storage.
