Warbird Information Exchange

WWII bomber flight to cap 11-year restoration

By MICHELLE GEORGE
The Eagle-Gazette Staff

LANCASTER — When one takes a look at the Douglas B-26B, a World War II bomber parked on the grounds of the Fairfield County Airport, it's hard to believe the gleaming silver plane arrived at the site 11 years ago in pieces.

But volunteers with the local Historical Aircraft Squadron were determined to put those pieces back together -- and someday return the plane to the skies.

Saturday will mark the day for the final test flight of the Douglas B-26B, which volunteers have been diligently restoring at the airport since 1998. The plane flew once before May -- but Saturday's flight will officially mark the culmination of the 11-year project.

For the men who clocked in more than 12,000 hours restoring the plane to its original state, Saturday will be a special day as they watch the plane they restored soar through the sky.

"This type of plane has flown in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Bay of Pigs," said Historical Aircraft Squadron Volunteer Tom Palmer.

"It's the only World War II plane of this size that we have here at the airport. You don't see many of them around anymore."

The massive bomber, whose wingspan measures 70 feet, was built in 1944 and showcased at an airplane museum in Forbes, Kansas, following World War II. It was later transferred to the Cuyahoga County Airport in 1992 in the hope that it could be flown at local air shows, said Historical Aircraft Squadron Volunteer Branson Rutherford.

But "the plane had engine problems and there were no qualified people there to fix it," Rutherford said.

In 1998, the plane was disassembled and shipped to the volunteers at the Fairfield County Airport who had the means to restore it. Thus, the process to bring the plane back to its original state began.

"For about two to three days a week, we'd have four to six people here, working on it," Rutherford said. "It was all volunteer."

Following its final test flight this weekend, the bomber will return to the Historical Aircraft Squadron's hanger at the airport.

But Saturday won't be the last time the plane hits the skies; the volunteers plan to bring it out again for future air shows.

Rutherford said he's looking forward to seeing the plane fly again -- and sharing that experience with local spectators.

"It was a big deal when we flew it in May," Rutherford said. "I'm hoping a lot of people will come out again this time."

Looks like a stock Invader. Man thats cool. Hope to see a golden age come for this underrated attack bomber.

And for that matter: What airshow had the largest gathering of A-26's?

Ummm... isn't that the one that is supposedly slated to be transferred to Geneseo?

I think so.

Tim

Tim, you aren't saying that just to add to my desire to get to Geneseo next year, are you?

looks a bit naked without any 50s in the nose. But better naked than rotting in some field.

Tim

Don't know about a airshow, but I saw about 16 of them in Red Deer several years ago..............