Douglas A26 Invader #44-35326

[cooper9411]

Just wanted to update everyone about Douglas A26c Invader that had been sitting derelict at the Rockford Illinois Airport for many years. The aircraft has been saved from being scrapped. I located the owner who said he was going to remove the props and some instruments for sentimental reasons and then scrap the rest. I contacted the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes Indiana to see if they would be interested in the aircraft, I passed along the owners information to the museum director Jim and within a couple of days Jim contacted me and said the museum was the new owner and would I like the task of disassembling, transporting and then reassembling the plane. I eagerly jumped at the chance. The plane was disassembled from Sept. 26 thru Oct. 2 2011 and moved to the museum. Reassembly of the plane will take place in March 2012 this will give the museum a chance to clean the old girl up a bit. I'll gladly post photos as soon as I figure out how!

[The Inspector]

GREAT DETECTIVE WORK!!!! What a great save to keep it away from the can factory!! And now, the how's;
How complete is the airframe, how much corrosion, how much time will be involved re erecting it if it isn't restored?
Any plans for a significant or special set of numbers/markings? Do you know her original s/n?
Any photos?

OH, yeah, Welcome to the WIX

[Fouga23]

What a great first post! So great to hear you were able to save the old girl

[cooper9411]

As of right now I am awaiting the military aircraft history card, then the museum will be able to determine paint scheme and numbers. There is some minor corrosion in the wings under the tanks but nothingn that would render it unable to be a static display. The museum will clean as much out and apply some type of protectant on it. With the amount of pigeon droppings on the and in the plane was a double egded sword, one way it helped protect some parts and in other ways it hurt some parts. This aircraft is going to be a static display, but even so, it's better to be a static display then no display at all! I am trying to figure out how to upload pictures on here for people to see. The disassembly was due to start on Sept. 26th 2011 but it rained non stop the 26th and 27th. We were able to start the disassembly on the 28th and worked about 12 hours that day to try and make up for lost time, then on the 29th guess what? rain again. on the 30th we were back at it. When I estimated the project I budgeted 1 week disassembly and 1 week reassembly, after 3 days of non stop pouring rain we were way behind schedule. By Monday Oct. 2nd the cowling on both engines, both props, both engines, complete tail section, was removed and the fuselage was resting on the trailer awaiting the removal of the wings. The crew consisted of 3 people, myself, my eldest son Patrick(who has worked with me before but this was his first bomber), and Mike. There were a lot of people from shops around the airport who stopped by to talk and were amazed at how much we accomplished in such a short time. All rigging cables were disconnected, electrical unplugged, hydraulic lines uncoupled, even though this plane will never fly again, I take extreme pride and care in disassembling aircraft. I know if it were my aircraft I would want it done that way. The reassembly will take place in March 2012 and should take only a week, if that long, every bolt, nut screw,cover plate access panel was bagged & tagged, the museum is closed for the year now and are moving to a newer bigger location and they have the fuselage indoors cleaning it, believe me when I say it needed a very intense cleaning. Every we lloked on or in the plane there was pigeon nests and we waited for the pigeon guarding the nest to leave and we removed the nest and placed it inside another derelict/abandoned aircraft that was nearby.

[The Inspector]

Nice planning and way to think ahead, I don't know how long you've been poking around the WIX but you can learn tons of stuff, tricks, techniques, and 'no jive!' stuff by checking the ongoing projects postings here.
You can get some basics (and some times even more) by hitting Joe Baughers lists http://www.jBaugher.com and looking up the serial #, as you reveal more here you'll be amazed at the info that will pour in if you keep current posts.
A,B,or C model? High canopy or flat? glass nose or guns? if Guns nose, how many? 6 or 8? look for three faired over gun positions in the wings on each side as some Korean models carried up to 14 .50's between an 8 gun nose and 3 in each wing.

Here's some info I got off ABCDlist-you've got a rare one there-
l/n 28605 4435326 B-26C-30-DT
to Navy as JD-1 BUAERO #'s 140326 thru 140377
civil N#'s N 2889D N40Y N401Y

[cooper9411]

This was/is a "c" model. The nose is neither glass or guns as this is the prototype OnMark Marketeer, yes thats right the first one. I believe the museum is going to reconfigure her to military days. The glass is flat. I"ve visited this site numerous times over the years and after browsing the internet and reading all the "knowitalls" information that was posted on other sites I decided to join this one to set the record straight. The reason I joined this one is that after reading many a posts on here over the years, the people who post on here know what they are talking about and not guessing or speculating. Anyways on to the next project, I've been researching P-40's and will be heading out within the next couple of weeks to start the journey to recover one, or two. Joe Baughers page is awesome. I've used it many times for research. If anybody knows the location of warbirds that are derelict or just sitting somewhere could they pass it on so we can save more of our history.

[The Inspector]

Then, how about some Glossy Sea Blue and Yellow wings as a change up?

[CAPFlyer]

As it was the prototype Marketeer, that part of its life is more important that its service as a JD-1 in my opinion. I think the museum should make a tribute to OnMark and the planes that followed because of that one airframe. Without the Marketeer, there may not have ever been a B-26K as many of the modifications for the B-26K were proven by the Marketeer.

If they must return it to its military configuration, then I think they should do so as a JD-1 as I'm not aware of any that are displayed as one either.

[RickH]

Pensacola's used to be marked as a JD-1.

[CAPFlyer]

Pensacola's used to be marked as a JD-1.

I rest my case....

[Tulio]

Kudos, cooper9411!!!!

Thank you for your intervention, and thus, helping to save this Invader.

Welcome to the madhouse!!!

Saludos,


Tulio

[Sgt13Echo]

Are you referencing the A(B)-26 Mike Kellner owned? The same gentleman who is restoring The Desert Rat?

He is just east of Rockford, Illinois and here are some pictures I took when I stopped by on my way to Oshkosh 2011, A(B)-26 included
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=41986

[cooper9411]

No this is not the same A26. The A26 I am reffering to was at the Rockford International Airport, and had been there since mid-1990's. Thanks to all of your for welcoming me. I hope to share and learn more with all of you.

[cooper9411]

Edited because I figured out how to post pictures (thanks Mark)

Last edited by cooper9411 on Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[The Inspector]

Not bad at all! Seen less and shabbier brought back to pristine, just takes time, sweat, lots of friends, generous amounts of Norwegian steam, a bit of blood, and oh, yeah, money, you're lucky it wasn't one that had the buddtuggli quasi DC-6 cockpit grafted onto it.