416th Bombardment Group (L) Aircraft Identifiers Douglas Fuselage Number

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Douglas Fuselage Number (DFN)

A number of photographs of Douglas A-26 Invader Aircraft display a one, two or three digit number positioned on one or both sides of the aircraft, on or near the nose.

I refer to these numbers as a "Douglas Fuselage Number" (DFN) (Thompson, P.34), but they have also been referred to as:
"Production Number", "Douglas Tulsa Fuselage Number", "Douglas Nose Number", "Douglas A-26 Nose Number", "Nose Number", "Build Number", "Line Numbers" and "Cockpit Number".



The following information is based on empirical evidence using photographs, personal communications and
Scott Thompson's "Douglas A-26 and B-26 Invader" book, Appendix: 1 "A-26 Production List", Pages 172-176.

A-26 Aircraft from the Douglas Long Beach, California (DL) Plant show the DFN number painted on the interchangeable aircraft nose.

       
L-R:
DFN: 25, S/N: 41-39124, MSN: 6837, A-26B-10-DL, Photo Source: (Clayborn)
DFN: 37, S/N: 41-39136, MSN: 6849, A-26B-10-DL, Photo Source: (Doyle, 2016, p 17)
DFN: 223, S/N: 41-39322, MSN: 7035, A-26B-25-DL, Photo Source: (Doyle, 2016, p 26)

A-26 Aircraft from the Douglas Tulsa, Oklahoma (DT) Plant show the DFN number located between the
vertical red stripe (which is immediatly in front of the cockpit) and the interchangeable aircraft nose.

   
Left: DFN: 92, S/N: 43-22343, MSN: 18490, A-26B-15-DT, 386th BG, 553rd BS, AN-J, Photo Source: (Ethell, 2003, p 156)
Right: DFN: 354, S/N: 43-22605, MSN: 18752, A-26C-25-DT, 386th BG, 553rd BS, AN-O?, Photo Source: (Ethell, 2003, p 155)

Johnathan Clayborn's "Nose Numbers" web page notes: "The Douglas Long Beach plant painted the numbers forward of
Station 0, on the nose itself, while Douglas Tulsa painted the numbers aft of Station 0 on the fuselage."
Note "Station 0" is the bulkhead where the nose joins the fuselage.



See the Aircraft Identifiers webpage for more details and other Aircraft Idenfitication types.
For USAAF S/N - MSN - DFN Cross Reference lists, see:
A-26 Invader USAAF S/N - MSN - DFN Cross Reference Douglas Long Beach (DL) Production, First 500 A/C
A-26 Invader USAAF S/N - MSN - DFN Cross Reference Douglas Tulsa (DT) Production, First 500 A/C

Below are photos of A-26 aircraft which display a Douglas Fuselage Number, along with associated information.
Abbreviations include:
DFN - Douglas Fuselage Number; S/N - USAAF Serial Number; MSN - Manufacturer Serial Number

Douglas Long Beach, California Plant

DFN: 25, S/N: 41-39124, MSN: 6837 A-26B-10-DL Website Caption: 41-39124, outside of the Douglas Long Beach factory, awaiting delivery to the Air Force. Note that this plane has dual 37mm cannons, which is not standard armament for this production block. Photo from the Boeing Archives. Photo Source: (Clayborn)	DFN: 37, S/N: 41-39136, MSN: 6849 A-26B-10-DL Photo Source: (Doyle, 2016, p 17)
DFN: 37, S/N: 41-39136, MSN: 6849 A-26B-10-DL Photo Source: (Doyle, 2016, p 20)	DFN: 37, S/N: 41-39136, MSN: 6849 A-26B-10-DL Photo Source: (Mesko, 1993, p 7)
DFN: 37, S/N: 41-39136, MSN: 6849 A-26B-10-DL Photo Source: (AFHRA)	DFN: 84, S/N: 41-39183, MSN: 6896 A-26B-15-DL 386th BG, 553rd BS, AN-B Website Caption: Oct 15, 1944 A-26B-15-DL, 41-39183, AN-B A-26 ETO Combat Evaluation A/C (attached to the 386 BG, 553 BS) used for A-20 to A-26 transition training of the 416th. "([416]th BG) nosegear collapsed Oct [15], 1944." (Baugher). AAR 45-10-15-536 Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 223, S/N: 41-39322, MSN: 7035 A-26B-25-DL Photo Source: (Doyle, 2016, p 26)

Douglas Tulsa, Oklahoma Plant

DFN: 43, S/N: 43-22294, MSN: 18441 A-26B-10-DT 409th BG, ? BS, ??-G Photo Source: (Doyle, 2016, p 49)	DFN: 45, S/N: 43-22296, MSN: 18443 A-26B-10-DT 416th BG, 670th BS, F6-D Website Caption: A-26 crews of 670th Bomb Sq. at Melun-Villaroche, France, winter 1944/45. From left to right: Robert L. Kirk (BN), Robert J. Rooney (P), uncertain Johnson, Hugh A. Monroe (P), Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. (photo courtesy of Wayne Downing) Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 53, S/N: 43-22304, MSN: 18451 A-26C-16-DT 416th BG, 669th BS, 2A-T Website Caption: Apr 2, 1945, A-26, Flying Control Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)	DFN: 56, S/N: 43-22307, MSN: 18454 A-26B-15-DT, "Denver Darling" 416th BG, 670th BS, F6-N Website Caption: Feb 23, 1945. A-26B. "Denver Men". A/C is "Denver Darling" Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 61, S/N: 43-22312, MSN: 18459 A-26C-16-DT, "Rat Poison Jr." 386th BG, 553rd BS, AN-? Photo Source: (Freeman, 1996, p 102)	DFN: 62, S/N: 43-22313, MSN: 18460 A-26B-15-DT, "Phoenix Thunderbird" 416th BG, 671st BS, 5C-B Photo Source: (Hill, 2018)
DFN: 62, S/N: 43-22313, MSN: 18460 A-26B-15-DT, "Phoenix Thunderbird" 416th BG, 671st BS, 5C-B Photo Source: (Hill, 2018)	DFN: 62, S/N: 43-22313, MSN: 18460 A-26B-15-DT, "Phoenix Thunderbird" 416th BG, 671st BS, 5C-B Photo Source: (Hill, 2018)
DFN: 62, S/N: 43-22313, MSN: 18460 A-26B-15-DT, "Phoenix Thunderbird" 416th BG, 671st BS, 5C-B Photo Source: (Hill, 2018)	DFN: 64, S/N: 43-22315, MSN: 18462 A-26B-15-DT 416th BG, 670th BS, F6-L Photo Source: (AFHRA)
DFN: 70, S/N: 43-22321, MSN: 18468 A-26B-15-DT, "Eva Mae" 416th BG, 668th BS, 5H-T Early, 1945 Laon, France L-to-R: Lt. Lumir J. "Lou" Prucha, SSgt. Leland "Lee" Ferguson Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)	DFN: 76, S/N: 43-22327, MSN: 18474 A-26B-15-DT ? BG, ? BS, ??-D ? Photo Source: (Doyle, 2016, p 43)
DFN: 79, S/N: 43-22330, MSN: 18477 A-26B-15-DT, "For Pete's Sake" 416th BG, 670th BS, F6-P Spring 1945 Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)	DFN: 83, S/N: 43-22334, MSN: 18481 A-26B-15-DT, "Maryland Mary" 416th BG, 670th BS, F6-G Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 92, S/N: 43-22343, MSN: 18490 A-26B-15-DT 386th BG, 553rd BS, AN-J Photo Source: (Ethell, 2003, p 156)	DFN: 104, S/N: 43-22354, MSN: 18502 A-26B-15-DT, "Tom Swift's Flying Machine" 416th BG, 669th BS, 2A-S Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 104, S/N: 43-22354, MSN: 18502 A-26B-15-DT, "Tom Swift's Flying Machine" 416th BG, 669th BS, 2A-S Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)	DFN: 107, S/N: 43-22356, MSN: 18505 A-26B-15-DT, "Buddy" 416th BG, 671st BS, 5C-C Website Caption: Mar 20, 1945, A-26B-15-DT, 43-22356, 5C-C, A-26 A/C Ready for Take-Off. Lead A/C is "Buddy" Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 112, S/N: 43-22360, MSN: 18510 A-26B-15-DT Photo Source: (Mesko, 1993, p 13)	DFN: 117, S/N: 43-22363, MSN: 18515 A-26B-15-DT, "Lady Marc" 386th BG, 553rd BS, AN-? Photo Caption: Wreck of the Douglas A-26 'Lady Marc' of the 386th Bomb Group which made a crash landing at its base in St. Trond, Belgium on 14 June 1945. Fold3 Comments: 14 June 1945: No Purple Heart for "Lady Marc." The remnants of fog attest to this bad weather landing-gone-wrong for A-26B serial 43-22363 of the 553rd Bomb Sq, 386th BG at St. Trond, Belgium - five weeks after the end of hostilities in Europe. Photo Source: (Fold3, 2018)
DFN: 125, S/N: 43-22368, MSN: 18523 A-26B-15-DT 386th BG, 553rd BS, AN-? Photo Caption: Wreck of a Douglas A-26 (A/C 322368) of the 386th Bomb Group which made a crash landing at its base in Beaumont, France on 11 March 1945. Fold3 Comments: 11 May 1945: A-26B serial 43-22368 of the 553rd Bomb Sq, 386th BG makes a belly-landing near Remycourt, as a result of engine failure. Photo Source: (Fold3, 2018)	DFN: 126, S/N: 43-22369, MSN: 18524 A-26B-15-DT, "Stinky" 386th BG, 552nd BS, RG-A Photo Caption: The Douglas A-26 'Stinky' Of The 386Th Bomb Group Parked At Its Base In Beaumont, France On 20 April 1945. Fold3 Comments: A-26B serial 43-22369 "Stinky" (coded RG-A) of the 552nd Bomb Sq, 386th BG. Photo Source: (Fold3, 2018)
DFN: 133, S/N: 43-22373, MSN: 18531 A-26B-15-DT 386th BG, ? BS, ??-H Photo Source: (Mesko, 1984, p 13)	DFN: 142, S/N: 43-22379, MSN: 18540 A-26B-15-DT Website Caption: Dec 9, 1944, A-26B-15-DT, 43-22379, "(409th BG) crashed during wheels-up belly landing at Melun Villaroche Airfield A-55 Seine-et-Marne, France Dec 9, 1944. All 3 crew survived. Aircraft badly damaged, unknown if repaired." (Baugher). Date and Serial Number confirmed by Craig Fuller, AAIR, Report AAR 45-12-09-524. Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 142, S/N: 43-22379, MSN: 18540 A-26B-15-DT Website Caption: Dec 9, 1944, A-26B-15-DT, 43-22379, "(409th BG) crashed during wheels-up belly landing at Melun Villaroche Airfield A-55 Seine-et-Marne, France Dec 9, 1944. All 3 crew survived. Aircraft badly damaged, unknown if repaired." (Baugher). Date and Serial Number confirmed by Craig Fuller, AAIR, Report AAR 45-12-09-524. Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)	DFN: 145, S/N: 43-22381, MSN: 18543 A-26B-15-DT, "Doris Ann" 416th BG, 669th BS, 2A-Q Photo Source: (Hill, 2018)
DFN: 178, S/N: 43-22495, MSN: 18576 A-26C-20-DT 416th BG NOTE: This is obviously an A-26B Model nose, but the Aircraft was originally manufactured as an A-26C Model, and the nose was changed to a "B" Model after manufacturing. Website Caption: Mar 13, 1945. A-26B. "Milwaukee Men" Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)	DFN: 184, S/N: 43-22498, MSN: 18582 A-26C-20-DT, "Rickey Tick II / Dinah Might" 416th BG, 671st BS, 5C-R 2-Apr-1945 Laon, France Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 184, S/N: 43-22498, MSN: 18582 A-26C-20-DT, "Rickey Tick II / Dinah Might" 416th BG, 671st BS, 5C-R 2-Apr-1945 Laon, France Photo Source: (Hill, 2018)	DFN: 184, S/N: 43-22498, MSN: 18582 A-26C-20-DT, "Rickey Tick II / Dinah Might" 416th BG, 671st BS, 5C-R Photo Source: (Hill, 2018)
DFN: 186, S/N: 43-22499, MSN: 18584 A-26C-20-DT, "Reida Rae" 416th BG, 671st BS, 5C-G Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)	DFN: 190, S/N: 43-22501, MSN: 18588 A-26C-20-DT, "Winamac Werewolf" 416th BG, 670th BS, F6-W April, 1945 Laon, France Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 190, S/N: 43-22501, MSN: 18588 A-26C-20-DT, "Winamac Werewolf" 416th BG, 670th BS, F6-W April, 1945 Laon, France Photo Source: (Rust, 1982, p 56)	DFN: 204, S/N: 43-22508, MSN: 18602 A-26C-20-DT 416th BG, 668th BS, 5H-Z Website Caption: A-26 Invader #204, flown by Capt. Carl S. Stanley (photo courtesy of Phil Stanley) Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)
DFN: 204, S/N: 43-22508, MSN: 18602 A-26C-20-DT 416th BG, 668th BS, 5H-Z Website Caption: TSgt. James A. Brabham, Crew Chief A-26 #204, France 1945 (photo courtesy of Phil Stanley) Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)	DFN: 206, S/N: 43-22509, MSN: 18604 A-26C-20-DT 386th BG, 555th BS, YA-K Photo Caption: Wreck of a Douglas A-26 (A/C 322509) of the 386th Bomb Group which made a crash landing at its base in Beaumont, France On 10 April 1945. Fold3 Comments: 555th BS, YA-K, St. Trond Belgium. Photo Source: (Fold3, 2018)
DFN: 208, S/N: 43-22510, MSN: 18606 A-26C-20-DT 47th BG Website Caption: Maj. Vance Turns Over 85th Sqdn. to New C.O. Maj. Page. Photo Source: (47th BG, 2018)	DFN: 208, S/N: 43-22510, MSN: 18606 A-26C-20-DT 47th BG Website Caption: Mission Bustle. Photo Source: (47th BG, 2018)
DFN: 234, S/N: 43-22523, MSN: 18632 A-26C-20-DT 416th BG Website Caption: May 15, 1945. A-26. "Crews". Photo Source: (416th BG Archive, 2018)	DFN: 274, S/N: 43-22547, MSN: 18672 A-26C-20-DT 47th BG Website Caption: Mission Bustle. Photo Source: (47th BG, 2018)
DFN: 279, S/N: 43-22550, MSN: 18677 A-26C-20-DT 47th BG, 97th BS March, 1945 Grosseto, Italy Photo Source: (Asher, 2018)	DFN: 279, S/N: 43-22550, MSN: 18677 A-26C-20-DT 47th BG, 97th BS March, 1945 Grosseto, Italy Photo Source: (Asher, 2018)
DFN: 353, S/N: 43-22604, MSN: 18751 A-26C-25-DT Photo Source: (Hagedorn, 1994, p 13)	DFN: 354, S/N: 43-22605, MSN: 18752 A-26C-25-DT 386th BG, 553rd BS, AN-O? Photo Source: (Ethell, 2003, p 155)
DFN: 358, S/N: 43-22609, MSN: 18756 A-26C-25-DT, "Pagliacci" 416th BG, 669th BS, 2A-N Photo Source: (Hill, 2018)	DFN: 365, S/N: 43-22616, MSN: 18763 A-26C-25-DT 391st BG, 573rd BS, T6-N Photo Source: (Doyle, 2016, p 47)

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