B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

[A26 Special K]

It was a good day for the team. JR reported that Louie & Miguel are going to fabricate the missing retaining strip for the right windshield. An exhaustive search failed to turn it up. Big Ed and Tim reinstalled the number one fuel selector valve in the left nacelle. It took some coordination with the cockpit crew to make sure the valve settings matched the cockpit selectors. There is still the matter of completing some metal work in the aft nose wheel well, the engine fire extinguishing system and the windshield retainer strip. Testing will continue on the fuel system for leaks and calibration. As Larry says, all we lack is finishing up. Sitting in the rain in Camp Parsippany tonight!! The Other JR

[A26 Special K]

We have located a potential fabricator for our replica .50 cals and ordnance for the wing pylons. We are looking for the length of the EXTENDED fuse on the Mark 82 bombs from the VN era. These fuses triggered the explosion while the bomb was still above ground which spread the fragments farther instead of dissipating most of its energy into the ground. Some of these were called "Daisy Cutters"! Judging from a picture of the fuses on the A-26A in the Air Force Museum in Dayton they appear to be about 36 inches long. Anybody know for sure?? The Other JR

[rdennard]

Yes indeed... 36" was the length of the "daisy cutter" fuse extension. For those that don't know, it was called a "daisy cutter" because it was said that when the ordinance exploded it cut everything off at ground level including the daisies. Us bomb loader types always smiled at the thought.

Although I wasn't involved, they used C130s to drop 10,000 lb bombs with a "daisy cutter" on it. The exact same "daisy cutter" was used on everything from 250 lb to 10,000 lb bombs. It still makes me smile when I think of a 10,000 pounder with a "daisy cutter" on it.

[A26 Special K]

Bob, thanks for the confirmation on the length of the Daisy Cutter fuze. That would be real interesting to see explode in slow motion. We passed it along to our newly found fabricator and will see how it comes out. Well this w/e should be a good one for the team. JR was talking about testing the tip tanks. We had thought about doing that next winter but might as well see what shape they are in while we have the fluid. Meanwhile, I will be flying the CAF A-26 to the Kingsville NAS airshow this w/e to get a share of sunburn, burgers and fun. If you are in that area, be sure to drop by for a visit!! We love to talk about airplanes and A-26's in particular!! The Other JR

[Ken]

The first daisy cutters used in Vietnam were Skyraiders using worn 20mm cannon barrels as the extender, as documented in other sources.

Ken

[therealJR]

We finally got the No 1 fuel selector valve issue resolved. Each nacelle has a valve, located at the bottom of the nacelle just forward of the main gear. Not the hardest job to change one out, but not the most comfortable place to work. Its criticality goes without saying. They have to work and draw fuel from the main or aux tanks. Power up with battery power, select the applicable tank to pull from, and direct to, open the cross-feed valve, turn on the boost pump. Pretty easy, huh? The team spent some time before lunch testing the fuel system by sending calibrating fluid from tank to tank. A few weeks ago we pumped 300 gallons of calibrating fluid into Kay. At $18 a gallon its the safe way to test inside a hangar full of aircraft. Remember we are sitting about 10 feet away from the FIFI.

So the Left Main & Aux fuel system is in good shape. Still have some indication issues on the Right Main & Aux. Just for grins we pumped some fluid out to the left tip tank. Got a little leak. Will look into that one Sunday morning.

Night shift took over and started on the No 1 cowl flaps support repairs along with the windscreen retainer.

Come see us, all we lack is finishing up!

[A26 Special K]

Several months ago, we were contacted by a high school student from Austin, TX, requesting more information about an A-26A pilot lost over Laos by the name of Captain Dwight Stanley Campbell, USAF. After some discussion with Nimrod Tim Black, we figured out that Captain Campbell was involved in the incident where Lee McClesky and his navigator were being escorted back to NKP with a badly shot up airplane and an engine on fire. Captain Campbell remained on his wing and advised them that the fire was spreading and it was time to bail out. They were almost home when this happened. Captain Campbell probably did not see the crew bail out in the dark of night. He continued flying close to the crippled A-26 when it exploded and took his airplane with it. It all happened within a few seconds from the bailout to the explosion. Lilly Rodgers has researched and produced a video of Captain Campbell's life and loss in the Vietnam war. The Westlake High School has an ongoing project to document all of the names of those listed on the Vietnam Wall. Lilly chose Captain Campbell to present as part of her English course requirements and did a great job with the story. She interviewed Lee McClesky and watched the video that our own Hawkeye Poole did of Lee's interview at the Nimrod Reunion in 2011. We are very pleased that this school has chosen to honor these veterans in this manner. Please watch Lilly's video at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLonPhE ... e=youtu.be

For an overview of the entire project and the more than 1800 videos produced so far go to this Westlake High School link:

http://virtualvietnam.eanesisd.net/

This is the epitome of why we are restoring Kay to flying condition once again. To continue the effort to honor the Vietnam Veteran and tell their stories is the highest goal of this team.

[A26 Special K]

And now, here is the rest of the story. Fast forward 48 years from 1967. When an airman is lost in a war, we sometimes forget about the individual story and the direct impact it has on his family who doesn't forget, who lives with the loss for the rest of their lives and feels the impact of the actions of our country's enemies. When Captain Dwight Campbell was shot down in 1967, his wife Patty, waited until it was certain he was gone. She raised their three sons alone in her small town in Oklahoma. She passed away last November and finally got to be with Dwight again after 48 years. If one looks at the family in this light, perhaps it will help us to better remember those who have served and those who are being lost even today. Our mission in restoring Kay has always been about remembering the Vietnam Vets and welcoming them home. It is about time.... fifty years is a long time to wait.
Please read this obituary of Mrs. Campbell and think about the over two million service men and women who were involved in Vietnam. Over 58,000 were killed in the war in Southeast Asia. We are losing these vets today at a rate that started at 300 per day and is now approaching 1000 per day. Say thanks to a veteran before it is too late. And come visit with us when we take Kay out to airshows and city tours in remembrance.

http://www.miamiok.com/article/20151130 ... /151139979

[A26 Special K]

Well, it was found that the left tip tank leaks so it will have to be replaced if we ever want to carry fuel in them. Meanwhile, a leak of some kind associated with the left aux tank is being chased down. While we could fly with just main tanks, it would make for relatively short hops. Plans for Saturday include finding the source of the leak. If it is a hose or fitting, might be an easy fix. If the tank has to be replaced, this could several months. We will press on prepping for engine runs regardless! Keep checking back here for the latest. JR

[Zac Yates]

Good luck with the leak hunt! Hopefully it can be found and fixed in short order.

[rdennard]

I have sent a message to Lilly Rogers' teachers thanking them and Lilly for their ongoing project. I hope other Nimrods will send them a thank you note too.

I wrote my books in the hope that students in the future can read and get a glimpse into our lives during our time at "Naked Fanny." On their website they list four teachers and a librarian, so I will be sending each of them copies of both books for their classrooms & library.

[A26 Special K]

Bob, Zac.... Thanks for your comments. And I'm sure Lilly will appreciate your book. Btw, her school, Westlake High in Austin, was just rated number two in the nation for academic achievement. They really have something going there! I'm in the sandbox this week but the Real JR will keep us posted on Kay events. The right aux fuel tank has a leak and will have to come out. That is going to be similar to a root canal while getting a vasectomy at the same time. Not going to be pleasant. JR

[A26 Special K]

The team got a visit from our old friend, Joe Maynard today. Joe was among the AF pilots who ferried the first group of K models to NKP and began operations there. Joe had been coming out to help work on Kay until recently when health issues slowed him down a bit. So we were very happy to see Joe and catch up on how he is doing. He used to inspire us with his stories of what it was like to fly the A-26 across the Pacific.
In other news, our hangar mate A-26B from the CAF invader Squadron flew in the Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth Airshow this weekend. We have posted pics of Joe and some of the team plus the Airshow on these links. You do not have to be a Facebook member to view them. JR

http://www.facebook.com/a26specialkay http://www.facebook.com/invadersquadron

[A26 Special K]

Greetings from the sandbox. It was a good weekend for the team. Our second assistant Crew Chief celebrated his 6th birthday. His wish was for Kay to make it outside in April. We might miss that a few weeks. One of the hold ups is a metal retainer strip needed to install the right windscreen and thus the eyebrow windows. We have to get Ray or somebody to make that strip. The fuel system is nearly figured out and ready for full scale testing with fuel. We would like to do a gear swing before towing outside. But the guys have started installing spark plugs after removing the desiccant plugs. Oil smoke and rumbling engines just can't be too far away. Eeeehawwww! Keep your fingers crossed! JR

[A26 Special K]

We are very happy to report that we have a good pair of tip tanks coming from the Lynch family in Billings. Big Ed has volunteered to take the truck up there for the pick up. This is a big help because the left tip is leaking rather badly. While we hadn't planned to make these operational until next year, we may have to reconsider with the leak that was found on the right aux tank. To pull this tank means the wing has to be opened up and spar cap lifted for several feet. Neither project will be easy. Our focus remains to get the airplane flying in order to make the Air Commando Assiciation reunion at Ft Walton Beach in mid October. It has been our goal to make the flyover of the memorial service on Sunday morning at Hurlburt ever since we attended the first reunion in 2011. To honor the A-26 vets in this way is a real privilege and we humbly want to thank the Lynch family and the Nimrods for their help in making this restoration possible.