B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

Neal Nurmi · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:51 pm

This got me curious, so I dug into the archives and found a couple more shots of the airplane I saw at the ex-Hamilton AFB in the Spring of 1987. The camo patterns are a bit different, but the tail numbers are the same as the airplane now in Texas. Lynch had several -26s of various sorts. Could he have switched propellers or even QECs to airshow the airplane?

51fixer · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:07 pm

Denny had several A-26 aircraft.
The Engine used in an A-26 is different than the K model.
Originally they used the R-2800-79
K had a R-2800 CB series engine.
In the earlier photo maybe Denny had QECs from the earlier engines off an A-26 on the K.
Rich

Pogmusic · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:29 pm

Kind of an aside, If Thailand band bombers from operating out of there, how did the B-52s stationed at U-Tapo get in? My dad was the Logistics Commander there in '69.

aerovin · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:15 pm

Pogmusic wrote:

Kind of an aside, If Thailand band bombers from operating out of there, how did the B-52s stationed at U-Tapo get in? My dad was the Logistics Commander there in '69.

So, you haven't heard of the A-52 Stratofort, I gather? Just kidding. After the mid-sixties the Thais relented to reality and allowed the USAF to base bombers in their country.

RickH · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:31 pm

Not all of the Ks retained their CB engines and reversing props. There were operational issues and some were reverted to the original engine and prop combinations.

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 1:51 am

The 64-17657 cockpit section now looks a lot worse and was sold on Ebay a few months ago

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 2:36 am

Here are a couple of photos I took of the A-26K a while ago. Awesome to see her so stock and original. Denny said that all of the original radios still worked.

He also told me that the gear had been torn out of it on a hard landing but that it had repaired it and no damage was done to the spar.

51fixer · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:10 am

RickH wrote:

Not all of the Ks retained their CB engines and reversing props. There were operational issues and some were reverted to the original engine and prop combinations.

As a High School kid of 17 I skipped a class and went out to Chino later in the afternoon the day the A-26K crashed.
I remember Al Reddick was acting strange and was told he had been on the A-26. He said, "Rich, that SOB tried to kill me".
I also remember they talked of a prop starting to go into reverse on short final and that was the cause.
IIRC it was a delivery flight to a new owner. Upon delivery Wally would get paid.
Rich

Craig59 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:19 am

Here's the afore mentioned Chino accident bird:

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:42 am

Steve invited Brad (who was on his way down to help out with the B-24) and I to come check out the B-26 after having the paint stripped, so who was I to pass up an opportunity! Unfortunatley I only had my Crackberry to take pictures with, so I apologize for the quality. Overall she looks great, we could not find any corrosion!

The only blemishes we found were some rough repairs that had been done over the years and some ramp rash probably caused by mowers. You can really see the spar straps with the paint removed!

The armor plating on the nose, just an extra thick layer of aluminum on top of the normal skin. They used strips of wood to blend the armor plating to the normal skin on the trailing edge.

I haven't figured out what the big circular patches with the big clevis bolt is for yet

Here are few that I shot the night she arrived in Texas

All the radios are there!

With 8 .50 cals, I guess you could "Smok'em"!

R2800 CB

Brad · **Joined:** Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:30 pm **Posts:** 1131

Here are some more pictures from our inspection at the paint shop. As Bill said, the old girl has a few rashes and some of the repairs made over the years were less than steller. Overall she looks to be in really nice shape. The bomb racks and much of the original skin on the wing looks absolutely brand new. Most of the top skin on the wing has the faint outline of markings made by the original installers. On the tail, Bill found what seems to be a "9" etched into the skin. You can see it in the 9th picture down. It looks like somebody cut out a stencil with a razor blade and it went into the skin. There are all sorts of interesting stencils and labels all over the airplane and the bomb bay is amazing. The spar strap looks to be in good shape and is a pretty beefy assembly. This is going to be a really cool project!

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:36 pm

Boy, she cleans up good! Cant wait to see the new scheme!

AKflier · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:21 pm

She's home! Al Maxwell and Pat Mahaffey flew 679 home to Ft. Worth Meacham field today. Time to make some room in the hangar and get to work! Pics to follow soon!

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:00 pm

One more example of "be careful what you ask for, you just might get it"! It's gonna be fun making room for it :roll:

. Glad to hear Pat got a turn at the controls.

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:17 pm

I just got word that there are plans to do some engine runs on the B-26 prior to pulling it in the hangar this weekend (assuming we get room cleared for it) so.... if anyone is around Meacham Airport in Fort Worth this weekend stop by the Vintage Flying Museum and check out the worlds last remaining flyable B-26K with the props turning! I'll try to post specific day and a rough time when I know more.

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B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

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