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

hawkeyepoole · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:50 pm

Today I was RTFM and on page 4-16 of the Dash 1 Flight manual (previously owned by Captain Joe Maynard) found the description of the 'pipper' gunsight for the pilot. It's a Mark 20 MOD 4. I've Googled for that part number and looked at a few places.

Anyone know where to find one? Ours has been removed.

RickH · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:10 pm

The original gunsight was an N9 if you can't find a 20.

hawkeyepoole · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:20 pm

yes, we have 'part' of an M9. The projector. We need the rest of the M9 if someone has one of those!

RickH · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:41 pm

Franklin, the original A-26 gunsight from WWII thru the non modded VietNam aircraft was an N9. Same gunsight as the WWII fighters. Those are fairly easy to find.

NImrodA26 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:19 am

keep checking ebay for the gun sight, one's bound to show up on there sometime. I've seen several Norden bombsights on there over the years. I have a complete (but inert) 2.75" rocket I got there.
Randy

Jack Frost · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:20 pm

I'm maybe a little late jumping in but back in the late 50's-early 60's there were about 10 B-26B and C(?) aircraft mostly in black paint parked in the weeds on the northeast side of the Hutchinson KS Municipal airport. They disappeared over a couple of months after some maintenence work at the local FBO. Anybody know where they went?

bluehawk15 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:28 pm

NImrodA26 wrote:

It may not have gone to Viet Nam, but it is the last operational type of its kind.

This airframe might not have gone to Viet Nam, but it trained a bunch of pilots, like Tim Black, who did go over there and flew -26's!

hawkeyepoole · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:54 pm

So far I've put three people in Special K who have her tail number in their logbook. It will be exciting to see how many more pilots/co-pilot-navigators we can find!

Still need those gunsights!

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 4:23 pm

Jack Frost wrote:

I'm maybe a little late jumping in but back in the late 50's-early 60's there were about 10 B-26B and C(?) aircraft mostly in black paint parked in the weeds on the northeast side of the Hutchinson KS Municipal airport. They disappeared over a couple of months after some maintenence work at the local FBO. Anybody know where they went?

That would probably be the airframes bought by Rock Island Oil & Refining Co for their Monarch 26 programme. After Rock Island terminated said programme the airframes were sold off, the majority ended up reduced to parts although some kept on flying as tankers.

T J

hawkeyepoole · **Posted:** Tue Jun 15, 2010 12:25 am

Just in case someone happens to have a copy of an A-26A manual....

In our Manual T.O. 1A-267A-2-1 Figure 4-8 is of extremely poor quality even as an original print. It's change 6 of the "Bomb Arming and Dropping Circuit Diagram". I'd hate to buy another whole manual to get one page. LMK if anyone has these pages clearly printed. It's a double set of 11x17" pages.

Jack Frost · **Posted:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:20 pm

Thanks T.J.

Old SAR pilot · **Posted:** Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:18 pm

Ref the N-9 sight. There's one listed at:
http://www.warbird-parts.com/invent/bomb.html
Item No. A-189

Dunno if that'll help....

Nailcreek · **Posted:** Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:01 pm

According to the text from the Corona Harvest project I received from Maxwell, the Modification Requirement 1203 confirms the Mark 20 Modification 4 gunsight as the right one for the K.

I really hope that you can bring her up to Oshkosh next year!

BTW ... I'm trying to build a model of a K in 1/32 scale using a very basic vacform kit ... does anyone have access to plans/measurements of the pylons, tip tanks, rudder and main gear? Also, interior color references to the cockpit, bomb bay, rear radio/observer compartment, together with wheel wells. It'd be a huge help! Thanks!

Kerry Brunner
nailcreek@hotmail.com

Ken · **Posted:** Tue Sep 07, 2010 5:14 am

Regarding equipment and configuration, how complete are the B-26Ks at Pima and NMUSAF when compared to Special K? Are you guys partnering with them to share info, etc? You may be able to help them improve their airplane(s) and vice versa.

I guess the gunsight conversation stirred my thoughts. Let's sat you can't find the model you're looking for. Seeing the what's installed in a museum bird might help construct a replica (or modify a suitable substitute) to look as much like the genuine article as possible ...

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:44 am

If there is anything you need in the way of photos, just ask. Between myself and Jerry who works in that hangar I am sure we can get you what you need.

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

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