The B-26K Counter Invader aircraft began entering service with the US Air Force in the spring of 1964. Until
April 1965, the USAF received all ordered copies. By this time, the American armed forces in Vietnam were in
dire need of an anti-guerrilla aircraft, and in the spring of 1966 it was decided to deploy the B-26K in Southeast
Asia. Based on airfields in Thailand, they flew combat missions to Laos. Since Thailand did not allow the basing
of bombers on its territory, from May 1966, these aircraft were temporarily designated as attack aircraft - with
the designation A-26A. And since the actions in Laos were considered unofficial, the Counter Invaders based in
Southeast Asia did not carry national insignia. Most of their combat missions, these attack aircraft made in the
dark. The reason for this was the means of Vietnamese air defense, which posed a serious danger to piston
aircraft at low speeds.
