In 1941 Douglas Aircraft Company began work on their twin-engine medium-bomber A-26 Invader. By the end of production there were 2,452 aircraft produced for all variants. The A- 26/B-26 was the only U.S. bomber to take part in three wars, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The confusion with the use of the designation B-26 began when the Martin B-26 Marauder was retired and in 1948 the USAF dropped the “A” (Attack) designator so the Douglas A-26 Invader became the B-26 Invader. The A-26 made its first European appearance in late 1944.
The Congo achieved independence in June 1960 and a Civil War took place between 1960 and 1965. Mutinies soon broke out by Congolese soldiers wanting better pay and advancement. Some provinces broke away and rebel armies formed. In 1964 in an attempt to back Colonel Joseph Mobutu the CIA sent 4 B-26s and in January 1965 two B-26Ks Counter Invaders were delivered. These aircraft were meant to destroy the rebel forces and end the unrest. One of the B-26Ks was 64-17649 built as an A-26C and upgraded by On-mark to a B-26K. The aircraft wore FR-649 in the Congo.
