A-26 "Mighty Mouse"
Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:51 pm
I just ran across these pics and I figured for Rick H.'s sake I would post them.
Arriving in Elkhart, IN in June 1991
Sitting on the ramp, waiting to go to Kalamazoo, MI.
Me waiting patiently for everybody else to show up so I can fly in it to Kalamazoo, MI from Elkhart, IN. (By the way, it was well worth the couple of days I spent cleaning it to get that ride.)
Arriving in Elkhart, IN in June 1991
Sitting on the ramp, waiting to go to Kalamazoo, MI.
Me waiting patiently for everybody else to show up so I can fly in it to Kalamazoo, MI from Elkhart, IN. (By the way, it was well worth the couple of days I spent cleaning it to get that ride.)
Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:40 am
I shot this close up of MM's nose art work, during the Wings Over Houston show in October 1990.
Saludos,
Tulio
Saludos,
Tulio
Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:19 am
let's turn back time a bit....
Martin
Martin
Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:20 am
love those Invaders....
Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:23 am
You guys are making me all teary eyed ! 
Tulio, that was the only time that it appeared at WOH.
We found out shortly after it was with you, Craig , what her Korean history, with pictures was . Tommy wasn't ready to change her over but I had already started sanding the yellow.
The Mighty Mouse nose art was taken from a Viet Nam A-26 and the yellow that he put on her was 3rd BG, Korea. When we were finished putting her back to her Korean colors, evrything was completely photo documented to Pusan, Korea, K9, 1952.
Tulio, that was the only time that it appeared at WOH.
We found out shortly after it was with you, Craig , what her Korean history, with pictures was . Tommy wasn't ready to change her over but I had already started sanding the yellow.
The Mighty Mouse nose art was taken from a Viet Nam A-26 and the yellow that he put on her was 3rd BG, Korea. When we were finished putting her back to her Korean colors, evrything was completely photo documented to Pusan, Korea, K9, 1952.
Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:40 pm
Rick,
I remember Tommy talking about it being rebuilt/ overhauled by Mitsubishi, was that Korea or Vietnam? I think one of the best parts of her was that on the nacelles and fuselage the patches from bullet holes were still there.
I remember Tommy talking about it being rebuilt/ overhauled by Mitsubishi, was that Korea or Vietnam? I think one of the best parts of her was that on the nacelles and fuselage the patches from bullet holes were still there.
Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:56 pm
Craig, this airframe never went to Viet Nam.
Shin Mitsubishi overhauled all of the 17th BG aircraft well after Korea. 26 aircraft were flown back to CONUS. The remainder were flown to French Indochina and their crews returned to Japan via Gooney Bird.
696 was flown home over the Pacific where she went with the other 17th aircraft to Eglin Field #4 (IIRC ). She then went up to Washington DC, and finally finished up with the Louisiana Air National Guard who eventually took her to Tucson. Interestingly enough the final flight forms show that on that final flight she left New Orleans and overnighted at Ellington on her way to Arizona.
Shin Mitsubishi overhauled all of the 17th BG aircraft well after Korea. 26 aircraft were flown back to CONUS. The remainder were flown to French Indochina and their crews returned to Japan via Gooney Bird.
696 was flown home over the Pacific where she went with the other 17th aircraft to Eglin Field #4 (IIRC ). She then went up to Washington DC, and finally finished up with the Louisiana Air National Guard who eventually took her to Tucson. Interestingly enough the final flight forms show that on that final flight she left New Orleans and overnighted at Ellington on her way to Arizona.
Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:39 am
Ok now I am getting teary eyed, I got to sit in Mighty Mouse plenty of times when I used to live out by Clover Field (now Pearland Regional). I was a young lad who loved to hang out there and remember talking to Tommy alot. I missed that bird but loved the newest scheme. You guys at Collings Foundation should put the A-26 back at Pearland. There is some new Hanger space! And thank you for making me feel OLD!