Warbird Information Exchange

B-26 Folks:

Among the many stories of the B-26 Invaders involved in the Bay of Pigs conflict is the one of a famous FAR B-26 #933 who landed at Miami airport c. April '61. According to new accounts of some declassified docs c. 1980s & the story of a Chilean pilot (name Ukn for now), hopefully still alive somewhere in Chile is the likely fact that FAR indeed possessed one solid nose sample of a B-26 Invader.

Unlike the sample that landed at Miami c. April 1961, (pic below) this one came fm the Santiago de Cuba area, a spare a/c that somehow was made airworthy during April '61. It was noted to be a FAR 937. It later crashed at the hands of a young Cuban pilot during take-off. I'm sure some more details will be emerging in the near future as to the true ID of this particular aircraft. 2 B Cont.. Photo via AEC.

Very interesting! Bay of Pigs is one of my (many) particular interests.

Soon you can visit the place...
In the meantime now that we're friends with Fidel, I'm sure US history books will be rewritten to say the participants were reactionary war criminals or "Yankee Air Pirates" or some such.

Major Anderson...I'm sure he's forgotten in D.C.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

J.B:

Hi! On the contrary, there 're a few folks still looking for pieces of the puzzle for the MIA/KIA B-26 crews. I think there is a Memorial site either in S.Alabama or S. Fla in memory of those brave souls. SOF mag had an article c.2002 or so, regarding the wreck of a long time missing B-26 found in the jungles of Northern Nicaragua & the recovery of some remains in the area.

BTW, if anyone ever runs across any photos of the Essex A-4s with the markings painted out, I'd love to see them. There's a good verbal description in the Bay of Pigs book, but I don't think any photos exist. I'd love to do a model of one.

S45:

Hi I'll ck. Seen the photos of some white scheme A-4s. I think there is a report that about some 12-15 NM off of Cuba of a poss engagement with a FAR T-33 or a Fury but the FAR aircraft decided not to engage. BTW the Essex A-4s did show up according to a later declassified doc but they were about 60 mikes late..which another source blames on a poss conflict about time zones in the area.

p.s Stick around.. I'll be posting some black scheme B-26s of the Alabama ANG recently found in my files.

B-26 Invader Folks:

Does anyone know the details/story of this bird located in S. Fla?? S/n?? Tks in advance. Photo via AEC.

This is 44-35440, at the Bay of Pigs Memorial at Tamiami Airport. It was last C-FMSB.
Andy Marden

USAMOOS

Andy:

Tks for the info & data!

p.s ..anyone remembers a set of pics uploaded by Mark about these Cuban (3) bound B-26s seized at Miami c. 1957?? Photo LIFE Mag via Mark.

C.R:

Hi! Tks for the info & data about this pic. Pretty close info!!

I wish I could know who took it or the time frame of it. There is a little Spanish plaque at the front with bit of its history. c. 2009-2012 the rebuilt FAR Cuban B-26 at their Museum also appeared with reg #s FAR 937 & FAR 933 & no markings at the tail. The B-26C nose shown on this thread is a poss Cuban FAR B-26C model. We'll keep digging!

Did it come from Angola as well?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Chris:

Hi I do not think so. It would not have been cost effective to bring a fuselage fm across the pond. Hangar talk!!