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Question about a WW2 A-26 squadron


Vincennes
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Recently I acquired 17 photos belonging to a soldier who was apparently a ground crew member for WW2 A-26's. I also got his draft registration and classification forms. His name was Clarence Sanders from Arizona. He enlisted on May 25, 1944. The aircraft in the photos all have checkerboard tails. Does anyone know what squadron these belonged to? Here are a couple of the photos. Notice that in the Flight Line photo there are 5 A-26's and a B-25 at the end of the line.

Paul

post-2319-0-25165500-1469919776_thumb.jpg

post-2319-0-21309400-1469919811_thumb.jpg

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northcoastaero

Could be a stateside squadron or one of the following in the ETO:

 

9th AF

386th BG- 552, 553, 554, 555th BS

391st BG- 572, 573, 574, 575th BS

409th BG- 640, 641, 642, 643rd BS

410th BG- 644, 645, 646, 647th BS

416th BG- 668, 669, 670, 671st BS

 

12th AF

47th BG- 84, 85, 86, 97th BS

 

 

PTO:

17th AF

319th BG- 437, 438, 439, 440th BS

 

10th AF

12th BG- 81, 82, 83rd BS

 

 

Information from wikipedia.org and some reference materials. I will have to take a look at some of my Squadron/Signal A-26 Invader In Action books for images, etc. Hope this helps.

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northcoastaero,

Based on you lead I found the wiki page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/363d_Expeditionary_Operations_Group

 

IT says: "The 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was reactivated on 29 July 1946 at Brooks Army Air Field, Texas. Equipped initially with two squadrons (161st & 162d Reconnaissance Squadron) flying Lockheed FP-80A Shooting Stars for daylight (161st RS) and Douglas FA-26C Invaders (162d RS) for night reconnaissance."

 

It even shows a picture of an A-26 with a checkerboard tail. So I think this is the best fit. Since Sanders enlisted in May, 1944 he could have still been in the service in July, 1946.

 

Thanks,

Paul

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  • 2 years later...
InvaderHistoricalFoundatio

Northcoastaero is correct. The 363rd was the only unit to use checkerboard tails during WW2.

 

Vincennes, I'm establishing a museum to the A-26 Invader. If you are willing to share your pictures, I would love to host them as part of the collection, giving proper credit of course.

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