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

[hawkeyepoole]

Ding Ding Ding "pjpahs" has the right answer. The modification is the "Congo Mod" done because the engines were injesting their own heated air.

There's another mod that belongs to Mr. Galuzzi that JR can save for later<G>....

[A26 Special K]

Aha, the Congo mod... good answer, but not quite there yet. For the rest of story, and this comes directly from Jim Galluzzi who was the Director of Maintenance on the A26's at Eglin and NKP, the first problem they had was pilot complaints with low manifold pressure readings at Takeoff Power. Wasn't due to the heat, but rather the partial collapse of the flexible channel that ran between the carb intake and the back exit from the front intake on the old style cowling. The things were just wearing out. About 1967, he had some metal supports fashioned to keep the flexible channel from flexing inward. This worked, but was still a problem. The depot finally said to heck with it and moved the intake to the top of the cowling. The increase in engine performance was gravy even though it increased drag slightly. And now you know the rest of the story!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Here is what we are talking about. Notice this shot supplied by an A-26A/B-26K pilot made between July and Oct 1966 at NKP. The air intake for the carb is at the top leading edge of the cowling in the pre-mod version. Notice also that props have not been painted black yet. 1966 was a year of learning as things got more active over the HCM Trail in Laos. Incidentally, again, the airplane is officially an A-26A after the Thai govt forced the change from B as in B-26K for political reasons which were soon forgotten. There were a few WWII A-26A's built, but the bulk began life as the gun nose A-26B as our airplane did or the glass nosed C version which could carry a bombardier or recon cameras. The K models were delivered from OnMark with both noses so they could be adapted to either the attack or recon missions. Enjoy!! JR

[A26 Special K]

The new trunnion support is nearly installed in the left wheel well. For comparison, look at the existing one in the right wheel well. The right side is going to get a general cleanup, new paint in the well, and the gear will be overhauled as soon as we finish the left side. Outwardly, it doesn't appear that it will take near the effort the other side has. Famous last words, eh? JR

[NImrodA26]

JR, in the picture two posts back, Is Joe Maynard shaking hands with Col. Curto, or is he coming down the ladder? I think he's the one shaking hands. Anybody know who the other one is? (did you notice the Beer in the other hand?) That picture was taken June 18, the day the 8 aircraft arrived. It was a joyous celebration on the flight line. Col. Curto knew how to throw a welcoming party! Below is a pic of the "Beer wagon" that was awaiting the arriving aircrews.

[Obergrafeter]

Can't make it out........Schlitz or Falstaff?

[A26 Special K]

Randy, Joe M is shaking hands with the meet and greet crowd. His Nav is coming down the ladder. That was quite a reception. It was a heck of a long way to ferry those airplanes across the Pacific to NKP. Don'tcha know those seat bottoms and parachutes on the back felt so very... uh uh... like please, somebody just shoot me down now. And hope you don't miss the relief tube. BTW, reminds of a funny story in the B25. A lady was coming thru on a tour of the airplane and noticed the funnel shaped thingee on the end of a tube. She picked it up and asked if this was a radio while putting her mouth up to it like a microphone and yelling, "can you hear me now?". After I told her what it was, she was just yelling... and spitting. Well, it was funny to me. Guess you had to be there!! JR PS to OBGF, I will get the intel on the flavor and get back to you asap.

[phil65]

Can't make it out........Schlitz or Falstaff?

I think its Shiner......

Phil

[A26 Special K]

Seems the Mystery of the Week is now the brand of beer the Nims were drinking back in 66. Also wanted to note that this thread has now gone over 42,000 views and still going up at a fast rate. Want to thank everybody for their continuing interest in our project and the history of the folks who were involved in the K during the Unpleasantness. I will poll the pilots and gunplumbers we know and see if I can get an answer to their favorite brands that they had available back in the day. JR

[NImrodA26]

And hope you don't miss the relief tube..................
================
Don't even get me started on that relief tube. I shouldn't be telling this, but I'm way beyond being embarassed anymore!!

When this Big Eagle thing got going, we went TDY back to Hurlbur for a firepower demo. We left England AFB one Saturday morning, as I remember, on two C-123's. Keep in mind, I had been in the Air Force Just over a year, and had never flown on anything but an airliner-and they had bathrooms.
While we were milling around on the flight line that morning, waiting to board, I got "the urge". Just as I was about to find a bathroom, they loaded us up. I thought, "Well, can't take that long to get to Hurlburt, I'll just go there. Had no idea it would take 2 HOURS! Anyway, I was sitting in the front end of the cargo bay in the 123, and finally couldn't wait any longer. I asked the guy next to me where the "bathroom" was. He just pointed to the rear of the plane. I didn't see anything back there that looked remotely like a bathroom, but I went back anyway. That's when I was introduced to the "Relief tube"-not in a room, or behind a curtain, but right there, in front of God and everybody else! At that point, I just froze up, couldn't do a thing, and went back and sat down. Somehow, I managed to wait until we landed. Thankfully, we pulled up right in front of base ops, and by the scramble getting off the plane and to the bathrooms, I wasn't the only one affected!! Know how some things, because of the time, place, etc that you just don't forget, well, that time was forever etched in my memory (or my bladder), not sure which!!
Trust me, I learned then the meaning of the saying, "Try to begin your flight with your fuel tanks full and your bladder empty."
Outta here,

[A26 Special K]

Hey Randy... that is a funny story. Kinda like when I asked about the bathroom aboard a C-130 and was shown the honey bucket along with the caveat that anybody who used it, had to empty it. Destroyed my urge instantly!! Say, back in the day, just why didn't you like San Miguel beer? My intel report has it that you were one of the young beer "connysewers" at NKP??? Just how is Thai made Singha all that much better? How does it compare to the some of the rest of the crowd available then: Ballentine, Black Label, Falstaff and Schlitz? I will ask Joe tonight if he remembers what brand he was presented upon landing at NKP. Hawkeye and I are doing a presentation at the Daedalians dinner in Arlington..... the city that inspired Hank Hill's Arlen, TX, where he "sells propane and propane accessories at Strickland Propane". We are going to surprise Joe with some of these pictures. JR

[A26 Special K]

Before I forget it, there is another Galluzzi mod that Hawkeye alluded to earlier. It has to do with a complaint by pilots of fluctating fuel flow indications. So the "Question of the Week" is how did he mod the system to stop this from freakin ever happenin again?? I will give you a hint. This gauge is located at the top right of the engine instrument cluster. Game on!!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Here is a shot of the top our nacelle while it is sitting on the pallet. It can be seen how it was modified to direct the air flow to the carb air scoop at the back and top of the engine. BTW, Hawkeye and I had a very nice dinner with the Daedalians Flight here in the DFW area tonight. Nothing better than getting a chance to talk to those former military pilots and show them how we are coming on the restoration. There were even some of my brother Texas Aggies in the crowd so we had a very good time... at the expense of the Longhorns, of course. Until next time, keep those cards and letters coming... we appreciate em!! JR

[A26 Special K]

OBGF, sorry man, but Joe M wasn't able to make the Daedalians meeting tonight, so couldn't ask about the beverage in his left hand in the picture of the "welcome to NKP" greeting. Will maybe see him this weekend if he comes out to work on the K. Hang in there. JR

[NImrodA26]

Darn, I was really hopin' to find out that brand of beer-maybe Ballentines or Hamms? Or was that even out then?
One last beer story for the night:
Project Big Eagle was kind of a test and evaluation thing to get the bugs worked out, and bugs we had! Early on, as mentioned in previous posts, we had several problems with the guns, not one attributed to anyone in particular, just those types of things that "fall through the cracks", so to speak.
In the beginning, there were numerous problems, guns jamming, rounds cooking off, etc., all which would eventually be solved. Apparently some of the pilots felt some responsibility for jammed guns. Those problems added to the work load we already had. When they had jammed guns, they would buy us beer-by the case! Conversely, when they had good guns and had a good night of hunting, they would buy us beer. It was a win-win situation for us. As these individual problems were addressed and corrected, the guns got better, fire out rates improved, and everyone was happy- and the beer kept flowing.
One morning I was on the way to check my mail at the mail room and I met Major Welch. He asked me if I drank beer. I replied that I did indeed drink beer. He reached into his wallet and produced a $10.00 bill and said, "Here-have a ball. My guns were working good last night- I got 5 or 6 trucks." (can't remember the exact number, but it was in that range) At one time, we had about 6 or 7 cases of Black Label stacked in our hooch. problem was, we had no refrigeration, so we were relegated to drinking it warm sometimes when we couldn't obtain ice. (or a Co2 extinguisher) It was one thing that they would buy us beer, but it sure made us feel good that we were doing was appreciated. That was typical of the camaradarie that existed in our small group between the officers/pilots and enlisted troops. I never experienced anything like it for the rest of my enlistment.