Warbird Information Exchange

I'm not sure but in the mid 50's many of the A-26C's were brought back to service and used in the Congo and Bay of Pigs areas. Are any of those aircraft with that "Combat History" still around?

I know On-Mark regenerated some C's and called them K's in the 60's but I was just curious if any Cuban/African survivors were out there.
Thanks
Greg Hawkins

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I would also be interested in hearing about these A-26's.

Does anyone have any detailed info or accounts of the air to air or air to ground actions during the Bay of Pigs? (Either Cuban or U.S.)

I am particularly curious about the "intimidation" flights U.S. Navy pilots made to draw attention away from the landing forces...

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I think I remember hearing once that N3222T might have flown in the Bay of Pigs. I DO know for a fact that it came back to the US from El Salvador with 50 cal. spent shells in the eight gun nose.

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Mike

Michael Haas is certainly one of the foremost researchers on post-war American air commando and special ops. Probably a good place as any to start reading on the Bahia de Cochinos affair is Haas's Apollo's Warriors.

The chapter entitled "They Had No Air Support" (covering the Alabama ANG B-26's and pilots' involvement) can be found on-line here (Just scroll down to page 147).

http://books.google.com/books?id=tEv4-5 ... as&f=false

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Very interesting and sobering account.

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Many moons ago I was a member of the local EAA chapter and there was a gentleman who had flown Alabama ANG B-26s at the Bay of Pigs. If I can figure out his name I'll pass it along.

Apparently none of the "Congo Warriors" are still around. Five K's were sent to the Congo in 1964, 64-17644, 645, 646, 649, and 662. All later went to SE Asia. 644 and 645 were given to the South Vietnamese AF when withdrawn from US service. It seems as though they were destroyed by the VNAF before Nha Thrang AB fell in 1975. Remains might have been left as late as 1986. A recent Google Earth scan failed to detect anything. 646 was destroyed in a crash in July 68, 649 want to Davis Monthan in AZ where it was scrapped in 1972, and 662 went missing over Laos in Aug. 67. Add to that a lone B-26B which flew recon in the Congo, but that a/c was later scrapped in Kinshasa.

T J

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