Mystery A-26, Uvalde, TX

[mrhenniger]

Recently Andrew West uploaded this photo of an A-26...


It is actually located near the F9F mentioned in the other thread. Just so you do not need to go looking for the other thred you can find the A-26 hulk located here...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Marengo Metal Works

I have tried to document the history of this airframe here...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas B-26B Invader, s/n 44-35696 ALA, c/n 28975, c/r N8036E

As you can see this airframe is VERY static. Apparently the ID of this airframe has been used to register another still under restoration in Uvalde, TX. Here is the one I am talking about...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-26 Invader

As you can see, I know very little about the airframe undergoing restoration. Does anyone know where it came from? Does anyone know the ID of the airframe?

If anyone has a picture of this airframe undergoing restoration please consider uploading a few photos via this link...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframePho ... rameSN=580

I now turn it over to the WIX knowlege base. Hopefully WIX can live up to it's name once again.

Mike

[mustanglover]

There is an A-26 here in Uvalde owned by the Collings Foundation.

A restoration was started but has been static and untouched for many years. Just in storage here now.

RickH should be able to fill the rest in.

[Chunks]

That has to be the A-26 owned by Tommy G before he owned the F-4

Chunks

[John Dupre]

Here is what I know. About 15 years ago when I volunteered for the Collings Foundation we were told the aircraft is a genuine combat veteran of the Korean War. As is often the case while they had researched as far as Bomb Wing assignment they couldn't find any information on the squadron assignment much less any individual codes or insignia. So CF picked a particular plane from one of the squadrons to duplicate. Then in a fascinating coincidence the aircraft was on display in Kentucky or Tennessee when a former A-26 crew chief came by and started examining the plane while recounting his work on the type. The chief remembered a particularly complex flak repair in the bomb bay and lo and behold there was the repair. That cinched it for CF and at its next winter maintenance visit the aircraft was repainted as My Mary Lou. Even more interesting there wasn't a very clear picture of the female figure on the aircraft and the artist wanted photos of a human model to duplicate. The old chief had a very beautiful blonde daughter about 28 years old who willingly posed in short shorts and halter top in order to replicate the nose art.

A few years later came the crash. The decision was made to swap the data plate from the original My Mary Lou to an anomynous fuselage along with the undamaged and repairable components. At that time CF was going to restore the aircraft as My Mary Lou.

So if someone restores the original My Mary Lou which one is the genuine article?

[RyanShort1]

So if someone restores the original My Mary Lou which one is the genuine article?

The one with *more* original parts? Or *neither*, since the "original" would likely need an extensive rebuild?

Ryan

[T J Johansen]

A few years later came the crash. The decision was made to swap the data plate from the original My Mary Lou to an anomynous fuselage along with the undamaged and repairable components. At that time CF was going to restore the aircraft as My Mary Lou.

So if someone restores the original My Mary Lou which one is the genuine article?

How far into the restoration have they come?

T J

[mrhenniger]

Thanks for all the great info gents.

If anyone has pictures of the A-26 before the crash please considering uploading a few here...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframePho ... rameSN=558
...it would be great to build a pictorial history of the airframe.

If anyone has pictures of the A-26 previously being restored, or in storage in Uvalde, if you don't mind, please upload a shot or two here...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframePho ... rameSN=580
...as it would be great to see what work has been carried out so far.

Mike

[mustanglover]

Thanks for all the great info gents.

If anyone has pictures of the A-26 previously being restored, or in storage in Uvalde, if you don't mind, please upload a shot or two here...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframePho ... rameSN=580
...as it would be great to see what work has been carried out so far.

Mike

Not much to see here, as it is really just in storage. I will try to remember to take my camera and get a couple photos for you.

[RickH]

17th Bomb Group (L) 95th BS K-9 pusan, Korea. 100 + documented combat missions.