Warbird Information Exchange

I have been following this A-26 (44-35643 (N626SH))restoration for years over on Team Chevelle, a member posted new threads pretty consistently in the off-topic section about their progress. I check in less often these days for Chevelle things and more often for A-26 updates

I checked the forums today and see the aircraft is being reassigned to another squadron and the group has been disbanded by the CAF. I know the aircraft was always within title of the CAF so its within their legal right to do as they please but it does not seem right such a restoration could be reassigned to another group once airworthy. Is there two sides to this story? The Sierra Hotel squadron section on the CAF website is already offline and the aircraft shows CAF HQ as homebase.

https://www.chevelles.com/threads/a26-p ... 6/#replies

So it's important to note the first 6 words in the body of the letter.

"At the request of the Unit,..."

This means the action was not originated at CAF HQ, but by the Sponsor Group. Likely, they've reached a situation where they can no longer continue to support the aircraft and have released it back to the CAF for reassignment. It sucks, but it happens.

I understand that Tom claims that HQ took it from them, but being that the letter from David is a legal document and certainly went through CAF Legal and likely independent legal review, for it to say those 6 is extremely telling. That the last flight of the aircraft was *last year* is also telling. CAF requires its airworthy aircraft to be flown and operated. If it's not being flown, then it's not meeting CAF minimum standards. But HQ isn't in the habit of taking planes from units since prior to the HQ move to Dallas. Most of the people in the upper leadership positions and General Staff have been on the bad end of "the old ways" and remember it.

Also, the claim that the aircraft would go to the Gulf Coast Wing makes no sense as they have the AC-47 that they're restoring which they acquired *specifically* to replace Texas Raiders. Why would HQ take the A-26 and give it to them when they already have a replacement and are heavily fundraising for it?

For clarity, what's the difference between a CAF unit, and a CAF sponsorship group?

One and the same. Unit is the "legal" term for the sub-division of the CAF. They can call themselves a Flight, Squadron, Wing, Sponsor Group, whatever as long as it's approved by the appropriate HQ committee and the Charter approved by the General Staff via vote.