- If you have an Invader or CounterInvader stories or photos to share, send them to me HERE and I’ll include them on this page.
This page is dedicated to all Invader and CounterInvader aircrew and the ground crews that kept ’em flying.
Our fellow modeler Gary Lutnesky was kind enough to share the photos below of his father, Marvin Lutnesky, in Korea during the Korean War. He served as in the 452 BG/728 BS as a weapons technician, arriving June 1951 and leaving a year later. His favorite plane was “Nev’a Hoppen” (there are a few more pics below the break, further down the page).
Here’s Marvin next to his favorite Invader.
Marvin adjusts the firing controls for the port wing internal .50 machine guns.
This is a remarkable photo, and one modelers should carefully note! The 500 lb bomb is mounted to the normal shackle, but the shackle itself is mounted directly to the mounting stanchions, but WITHOUT the usual bomb pylon. Let the IPMS judges scratch their heads over this one! Also note the flares (used for the Invaders’ night interdiction missions) mounted to the rocket pylons, another configuration most have never seen.
These are cool pics taken in the Korean combat area. I really appreciate it when guys send me pics of planes their dads (or other relatives) flew or worked on, especially in combat. Thanks, Gary, and we thank your Dad for his service to our country!
Although I’ll add more data here in the future, thought you might enjoy seeing these other pics of a couple of Invaders with cool nose art.
A-26B-51-DL 44-34287 13th Bomb Squadron “Versatile Lady”
A-26C-45-DT 44-35767 452nd Bomb Wing/728th Bomb Squadron “Nev’a Hopp’en”
Still have a few of these Invader PYN-up Decals sets:
PYN-up Decals A-26 Babe Invaders #1. This set includes two Korean War Invaders, one overall black and one overall aluminum paint (NOT natural metal!). First is the silver glass-nosed A-26C-45-DT, 44-35767, “Nev’a Hoppen,” flown by Lt Dennis Boyle of the 452 BW/728 BS. The second bird is an overall black A-26B-51-DL, 44-34287/A, with huge “Versatile Lady” nose art painted on the left side nose, flown by Capt Tony Curto, 3 BW/13 BS. It also has the large “running skeleton carrying a scythe” artwork of the 13th BS on the right side of the nose.
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PYN-up A-26 Invader Babes #2. A-26B-56-DL, 44-34364/Y, 6th Chadwick, Lt Col Robert Fortney, 3 BW/13 BS commander; A-26B-61-DL (had A-26C nose fitted at time of these markings), 44-34587/K, Miss Minooki, 17 BW/95 BS (earlier in 452 BW as Lady Nan).