Invader - Aircraft Details - Aviation Directory

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Invader - Aircraft Details - Aviation Directory

Invader

Name : Invader

A-26

Pilots and Aircrew for : Invader

A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name.

Name

Info

Bell, J Frank
Click the name above to see a profile of Bell, J Frank

Bell, J Frank

409th B G. A-26 pilot, flew his first combat mission Dec 15th 1944. Shot down and taken POW April 16th 1945.

Conte, Ralph F.
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Conte, Ralph F.

Navigator / Bombardier, Ralph flew 65 combat missions in the A-20 & A-26

Davis, Narval F
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Davis, Narval F

Pilot with the 647th Sqn. 72 combat missions on both the A-20 & A-26, the first on D-Day June 1944.

Denison, Richard Dick
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Denison, Richard Dick

Navigator Dick Denison's first combat missions were flown during the D-Day invasion, flying C47s towing gliders into the Normandy bridgehead, and making casualty evacuations. He transferred to the 552nd Squadron, 386th Bomb Group flying the Martin B26 Marauder, before converting over to the Douglas A26 Invader. Dick completed a total of 40 combat missions during his tour.

Downing, Wayne E
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Downing, Wayne E

A pilot, Wayne Downing flew Douglas A20 Havoc light bombers with the 416th Bomb Group, the first Group to fly the A20 in Europe. On D-Day the 416th BG targeted Argentan, a major German troop crossroads, and later in the day a second mission to hit a major marshalling yard. Moving to France in September 1944, in October he converted over to flying the more advanced a26 Invader. Wayne Downing flew a total of 86 combat missions.

Izycki, John Peter
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Died : 13 / 4 / 1958

Izycki, John Peter

Killed on 13th April 1958 while navigating an A-26 Invader fighting with rebel forces in Indonesia. The Mk.B aircraft, with wing number 34375 suffered engine difficulties during take off and crashed. Pilot Jozef Jeka and an Indonesian radio operator were also killed.

Jeka, Jozef
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Died : 13 / 4 / 1958

Jeka, Jozef

Sergeant JÃ¶zeph Jeka from Poland was with No 238 Squadron during the Battle of Britain flying Hurricane's. In less than a month he had become an Ace with 5 victories, before being shot down himself on 5th November 1940. He baled out and after a short stay in hospital joined No.306 Sqn flying Spitfire. Through the war years he also flew with No.316 Sqn and No.308 Sqn. It was with the latter unit that on 21st May 1944 his aircraft was hit by flak and he was forced to land near Buchy, flying Spitfire Mk.IX ML254. Some references say he was captured, but it appears he evaded capture with the help of the French Resistance and was serving with No.306 Sqn once again by 8th September 1944. Post war he was the first Polish pilot to fly at more than Mach 2. On 13th April 1958, fighting with rebel mercenaries in Indonesia, his A-26 Invader Mk.B 34375 suffered engine difficulties on take off and crashed, killing him and his navigator John Peter Izycki, along with an Indonesian radio operator.

McBride, Leonard R
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McBride, Leonard R

416th B G A-20 & A-26 pilot on 65 combat missions

Milow, Arthur R
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Milow, Arthur R

Arthur Milow was Commanding Officer of the 643rd Squadron, 409th Bomb Group, and commanded a total of 66 combat missions flying the Douglas A20 Havoc, and A26 Invader. He flew combat missions during the D-Day operations, and later took part in the Battle of the Bulge.

Oates, Carl
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Oates, Carl

Carl Oates joined the 386th Bomb Group at Great Dunmow, England in September 1944. Piloting first the B-26 and later the A-26, he flew 22 combat missions from England, and later from bases in France and Belgium. Carl was appointed Operations Officer of the 554th Squadron during the last six months of World War II.

Russo, Michael T
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Died : 2006

Russo, Michael T

Michael T. Russo was born in Cleveland, Ohio on September 4, 1920. Mike was attending Ohio University when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Like many patriotic Americans, he immediately enlisted in the US Army, and requested pilot training. Mike received his primary training at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, advanced training at Randolph Field, Texas, and finally earned his wings at Moore Field, near Mission, Texas. He was then sent to Meridian, Mississippi for training in the new A-36 Invader, the dive bomber version of the P-51A Mustang. Following sixteen hours of flight time in the A-36 Russo was assigned to the 16 th Bomb Squadron (later redesignated as the 522'd Fighter-Bomber Squadron) of the 27 h Bomb Group (Light.) Flying out of North Africa, then Lt. Russo would score his first confirmed aerial victory on September 13, 1943, when his flight executed a diving attack on twelve Fw-190s which were attacking Allied shipping off the coast of Italy. In October Russo's flight attacked Ju-88s on the ground at an airfield near Rome. They were attacked by seven Bf-109s, and although his comrades downed three of the German fighters, Russo did not get one. Later that day, on a second sweep over that area, Russo downed a small biplane which unluckily came into the range of his guns. That aircraft was believed to be a Fiesler Storche 167. In December a flight of twelve A-36s were directed to the airfield at Aversano to strafe Ju-52s. Russo bagged one of the German transports after it had taken off, thereby attaining a third aerial victory. On one mission Russo strafed a column of German troops with devastating results. His crew chief surprised the young pilot by painting "Killer Russo" on the tail of his A-36. Not wanting to make himself a target for the enemy, or risk hostile treatment, if were downed in combat, Mike had the nickname removed from his aircraft. On December 30, 1943 Russo's flight of twelve A-36s was bounced by sixteen Bf-109s near Rome. In the ensuing battle, Russo downed two of the German fighters. With those two victories Russo became the only A-36 ace of the War, and the first Mustang ace. Russo participated in a number of War Bond drives in the States, and he was promoted to Captain in 1944. Mike left military service with the end of the War with 169 points. He established a very successful business in Troy Michigan, MR Products, Inc. Among one of Mike Russo's patents was that for "Mr. Chain," a plastic chain used for crowd control worldwide. Russo's decorations include the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, The Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Air Medal with fourteen Oak Leaf Clusters. Mike attributes his success with the A-36 to his engineering oriented way of thinking. He knew that the Allison engine in the A-36 would only perform at optimal levels close to sea level. At any altitude the German fighters would have far superior performance advantages. Knowing the limitations of his aircraft helped save his life on a number of occasions. There were very high casualties in Mike's squadron, and the Allison powered version of the Mustang would prove a relatively unimpressive aircraft until the Merlin engine was fitted to the airframe and the P-51B was born. Michael Russo passed away in 2006.

Schuler, Arthur J
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Schuler, Arthur J

409th B. G. 37 mission A-26 pilot, buzzed Paris with other Group planes on VE Day, and told us 'we blew the dust off the Arc de Triomphe!'

Shea, Daniel F
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Shea, Daniel F

46th B G. Graduate of West Point. 65 missions as A-20 & A-26 pilot.

Slanker, Earl
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Slanker, Earl

Joining the USAAF in October 1942, Earl was posted to Europe flying the new B-26F Marauder, assigned to the 386th Bomb Group based at Great Dunmow, in Essex. He flew combat operations in the build up to D-Day, later moving to Beaumont, France in October 1944. Promoted flight leader, Earl converted to the A-26 Invader in February 1945, completing 62 combat missions.

Wheeler, Dick
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Wheeler, Dick

416th B. G. Graduate of West Point. A-20 & A-26 combat pilot in the ETO from Jan 1944 to Aug 1945.

Pilots or Aircrew :
Jozef Jeka
John Peter Izycki

Historical Notes :
13-04-1958 - Suffered engine failure during take off while fighting with rebel mercenaries in Indonesia. Pilot Jozef Jeka and navigator John Peter Izycki along with an Indonesian radio operator were killed.

Known Individual Aircraft : Invader :
Type	Serial	Codes	First Flew	Squadron History	Aircrew History	History Notes	Engine	Factory
Invader B	34375		-	*no information*	*details*	*details*

Squadrons for : Invader
A list of all squadrons known to have flown the Invader. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
Squadron	Info
386th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 386th Bomb Group	386th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available.
409th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 409th Bomb Group	409th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available.
410th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 410th Bomb Group	410th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available.
416th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 416th Bomb Group	416th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available.
552nd Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 552nd Bomb Squadron	552nd Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available.
643rd Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 643rd Bomb Group	643rd Bomb Group Full profile not yet available.
647th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 647th Bomb Squadron	647th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available.

Last edited : 12:52, December 18, 2012
Last editor : kc

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