B-26 Invader Units over Korea (Osprey Frontline Colour 4) [Paperback]

Warren Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Frontline Colour | Publication Date: September 25, 2000

Although a hangover from World War II, the seemingly antiquated B-26 Invader proved to be one of the hardest-worked assets employed by the UN forces in Korea for the duration of the conflict. Indeed, B-26s of the 3rd Bomber Group had the distinction of being the first aircraft to drop ordnance on the North Koreans within hours of the communist invasion of the south. Capable of dropping bombs and napalm, firing off unguided rockets or simply strafing targets with its battery of .50-cal Browning guns, the B-26 was equally as effective during the day or at night. Over 200 bomber and reconnaissance variants saw action in Korea, and many were adorned with some of the most colourful nose art ever carried by American combat aircraft in any war. This volume includes a gallery of this artwork, with text outlining the exploits of the pilots featured, and appendices listing the units involved.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

These histories of classic military aircraft showcase the best in privately owned contemporary photography, supported by scale drawings, cutaways, comprehensive text and a wealth of first hand accounts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; 1 edition (September 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841760803
• ISBN-13: 978-1841760803
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,253,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars B-26 Invaders Prowl the Skies of Korea!, May 31, 2008

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: B-26 Invader Units over Korea (Osprey Frontline Colour 4) (Paperback)

Many of the Korean air war sorties flown were made by WWII vets flying similarly 'retreaded' aircraft like the P-51, B-29, T-6 and B-26. The Douglas B-26, which had seen WWII service as the A-26, proved to be a potent ground-attack platform for day or night missions. Armed with 10 or more .50-caliber machine guns and toting 4,000-6,000 pounds of bombs, rockets and naplam, the Invader proved to be the bane of Communist forces in Korea. The Invader's outstanding combat record is told in this Osprey 'Frontline Colour' volume by Warren Thompson.

B-26s flew the first and last bombing strikes of the Korean War. Between those two missions, three Invader units - the 3rd, 17th and 452nd Bomb Wings - killed hundreds of thousands of enemy troops and destroyed thousands of trucks, tanks, artillery pieces, trains, bridges and other materials. Over 150 B-26Bs, -Cs and photo recce models were lost in return.

As with his other 'Frontline colour' titles, author Thompson's B-26 book is an interesting blend of numerous first-person narratives from various aircrew and over 120 nicely reproduced color photographs of aircrew, aircraft, weapons, targets under attack and so on. Thirty-two pages are given over the the striking nose art carried by Invaders.

Despite the significant role the B-26 played in the Korean War, few books have been written detailing the exploits of this formidable warplane. Thompson's book fills that gap with this exciting, well-researched and well-illustrated tribute to the B-26 and its intrepid crews. Recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference Book, August 23, 2009

By 

Rainman_JP (San Jose, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: B-26 Invader Units over Korea (Osprey Frontline Colour 4) (Paperback)

Purchased this book for 14 pounds at the Duxford Imperial War Museum in Cambridge (2008) - a great book, but not worth the market prices being charged