A-26 N26WB

[T J Johansen]

I just found a photo of N26WB on airliners.net, shot in April this year. It seems as though this plane has been stored at Las Cruces for many years, said to be owned by an airline pilot. Does anyone have a clue as to what the owner plans to do with this On-Mark?

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1033141/L/

T J

[John Kerr]

Correct N number is N706ME. N26WB was previous N number and still shows on the aircraft during restoration.

[SpaceRanger1]

For some excellent footage of this airplane in a previous guise (N36B), rent the film "Cash McCall," starring James Garner and Natalie Wood, in which it appears as the airplane owned by the Garner character (McCall).

[T J Johansen]

Not the same airplane. Just the same N#. Willis Bailard had several A-26s over the years.

T J

[Lon Moer]

Not the same airplane. Just the same N#. Willis Bailard had several A-26s over the years.

T J

It is also the same construction number. c/n 27992 ex-44-34713

third one down;
http://napoleon130.tripod.com/id740.html

[A26 Special K]

I just found a photo of N26WB on airliners.net, shot in April this year. It seems as though this plane has been stored at Las Cruces for many years, said to be owned by an airline pilot. Does anyone have a clue as to what the owner plans to do with this On-Mark?

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1033141/L/

T J

Yes, I know the owner & he is actively working to get the airplane to where it can be restored. When he is ready, he will make the announcement.

[T J Johansen]

I think you will find that the info on Martin's site regarding c/n 27992 ex-44-34713 is wrong.

This is the info from Geoff Goodall's site (which both Martins and the WIX registry originates from).

27992 A-26B 44-34713 (to Armee de l'Air as 44-34713): BOC 26.1.54/55
B-26B based Indochina: ret. to USAF 10.11.55
B-26C (open storage Clark AFB, Philippines 55/58)
N5538V reg.
(CofA issued 11.12.59)
N706ME Star Flite Inc: Initiator V 61
On Mark On Mark Engineering Co, Van Nuys CA 63/64
Marketeer N36BB (2 W. R. Bailard, Ventura CA Coastal Luck IV 66/72
N26MR Micky Rupp, Mansfield OH 74
Sherman Aircraft Sales, West Palm Beach FL 1.75
N26WB Don Whittington, Fort Lauderdale FL .75
A. S. Barber Inc, Kirksville MO 77
Don Whittington, Fort Lauderdale FL 84
sale rep., Danville IL 84/86
Mid South Aircraft Sales Inc, Memphis TN 3.87
Wayne County Sheriff Dept, Detroit MI 7.88
National Warplane Museum, Geneseo NY 88/92
N706ME Lane Ethridge/ Nostalgia Inc,
Denton-Hidden Valley Airpark TX: USCR 25.11.92/14
(open storage Las Cruces NM 02/06, still painted as
N26WB, fitted with 8 gun nose)

As you can see Goodall notes that the aircraft got its CofA in Dec. 1959. Note also that 'Cash McCall' was released in the US on Jan. 27, 1960. Another point is that c/n 27992 went to Bailard much later in the 60s. That can only mean that there was another A-26 regd. N36B at the time, which was used for the movie.

Bailard had c/n 28035 N67157 which was the first "Coastal Luck" between 1947-51. Martin has a photo of it here:
http://www.a-26invader.co.uk/sitebuilde ... x_0015.jpg

Does that mean that there were both a "Coastal Luck II" and "III"? No idea so far, but I guess it is about time to get the relevant FAA files.

To A26 Special K.
Thanks for the info. I started this thread 9 years ago, and after being brought back from the dead by SpaceRanger1 last night I finally got some info from someone who know the owner.

T J

[SpaceRanger1]

Well, now I'm confused. Which A-26 was the one actually used in "Cash McCall"? It was clearly marked "N36B."

[T J Johansen]

Well, aren't we all... This is still the big question. At least two A-26s have worn this N#, possibly three! As I mentioned earlier c/n 28035 N67157 was the first Bailard A-26 named "Coastal Luck". Then we have the airplane which appeared in the movie. The movie would for all intents and purposes have been filmed in late 1958 and/ or early 1959. At that point c/n 27992 was not even regd. in the US. I note on Goodall's list that he has another A-26 using the reg N36B, but judging from the one photo I have of that airframe it doesn't match the movie 26 at all.

18405 • A-26C 43-22258 N1469V reg
N36B rereg
On Mark N36BB (1 B. B. Ranch, Ventura CA Big Grunt 63/64
Marketeer N94445 Hughes Aircraft Corp, Culver City CA 66/70
c/n 7 Ascher Ward, Van Nuys CA .79
(ferried Culver City-Van Nuys .79 ex storage)
A. Wally McDonnell, Mojave CA .79
USAFM, Grand Forks AFB ND 85/08
(USAFM quotes id. 44-35493, displ. as "434220")
(USCR quotes id."7", USAFM quotes Grand Forks A-26
id."28722" viz 44-35493/N2852G: que se.
Previous owner states N2852G was sold to a new owner at
Reno NV in c80 who switched id's with another A26 for a
drug run, and N2852G was still dism. in Reno area in 92! )

I also see that Goodall list these aircraft as N36BB. However, I have never seen photographic evidence that this reg. has ever been applied to either A-26. Is it possibly 'finger trouble' on the keyboard or a smudge on the paper when the registry file was written?

I am writing to the FAA trying to obtain whatever files they have in their archives pertaining to Douglas aircraft regd. N36B. Maybe then the mystery will be solved.

T J

[whistlingdeath77]

All I know is that if I didn't have a mortgage I would try my hardest to option a a-26/b-26. Even if you could secure the plane and keep it hangered for restoration, I could never afford the fuel for those r-2800s! Interesting question tho- has there been a flying club involving a a-26?

[K5DH]

has there been a flying club involving a a-26?

Commemorative Air Force!

[bdk]

As with any of these things, fuel expense is the least of your problems.

[Lynn Allen]

Anybody know who owns the silver and blue A-26 at Houston Hobby on the south ramp as you land on 12R? We were there yesterday afternoon and caught sight of it on short final...

[LadyO2Pilot]

Anybody know who owns the silver and blue A-26 at Houston Hobby on the south ramp as you land on 12R? We were there yesterday afternoon and caught sight of it on short final...

Lynn......probably Rick Sharpe's "Million-airess"

[SpaceRanger1]

Anybody know who owns the silver and blue A-26 at Houston Hobby on the south ramp as you land on 12R? We were there yesterday afternoon and caught sight of it on short final...

I have an acquaintance who works at the museum there; he may know. I'll ask him.