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

[rdennard]

Hey Randy... that pic of the wrench showing how big it is may have jogged my memory. It may have been something we used when we downloaded bombs. I only downloaded bombs once or twice the whole year I was there... the rest were delivered to Uncle Ho's boys. There were a couple of times that we had frag changes because we were diverted to support the Royal Laotians battling the bad guys up in the Plain of Jars. So we downloaded the stuff being "delivered" to "The Trail" and loaded stuff to be "delivered" to the Pathet Lao and NVA armies. Wow... we really humped out those days.

Anyway... the wrench may have been part of a contraption used to unlock the bomb racks. I would not have used it myself because I was a "jammer" driver during loading operations. (The load "crew chief" and #2 man did the locking/unlocking of the bomb racks.) I'm talking about the wing racks here... the bomb bay racks are entirely different. Does that ring any bells with anyone? You guys there in Texas probably know how you unlock the bomb racks, so does this make any sense? Or am I thinking about something else?

[NImrodA26]

............ the wrench may have been part of a contraption used to unlock the bomb racks...... I'm talking about the wing racks here... the bomb bay racks are entirely different

Bob, like you mentioned, while I was there, "downloading" munitions after a mission was not a very common ocurrence, as very little ever came back. I remember one case where we were using old, time-delay, AWD fuzes, and the pilots had orders NOT to bring them back for any reason-they were to be dropped. I don't remember how the wing racks were unlocked, but the bomb bay releases were triggered with a screwdriver. There is a flush, spring loaded screw on the actuator, and about a quarter turn with a screwdriver would cause it to trip. I thought the wing racks used the same method, but, while I was loading prior to going full time on the gun systems, I don't remember downloading anything.

[A26 Special K]

Randy... Bob.. I'll have to check the wrench possibilities later. Heading to the Warbird Gathering at Topeka with the B25 for the rest of the week!! Aw shucks, somebody has to do it!! Chicks dig warbirds I heard somebody say. What the heck does that mean, anyway?? Enjoyed talking on EAA Radio tonight with Matt Jolly, Kevin, Steve S and the future Mrs. Steve S. about the A26. Congratulations to the Warbird Couple of the Year. He proposed in front of a B25. How classy is that!!! Way to go Steve. Of course, it was after dark in the Warbird secured parking area so they got busted by Security and detained. After a brief explanation, Security lightened up, broke out some cake and celebrated with them. All of this after the big "Chicago" concert. Stevo couldn't have picked a better time to pop the question and get a great big "YES". That is just so "romantic" ... almost brings tears to this ol warbird pilot's eyes. See ya in Topeka. JR

[A26 Special K]

Wow, the Topeka Warbirds and Legends folks know how to throw a party for the participants! Good food and live music!! Here some of the A26 guys who hitched a ride on the DC-3 are enjoying the grub and fun. That's the good news! The bad news is that the B25 is not going to make it up there this year. Had some issues with the nose gear indications and some gauge problems. Not too surprising since the airplane has been sitting for awhile during her makeover. Number one radio decided it didn't want to transmit. All in all, I am guessing the ol gal decided it was too danged hot to go outside of the hangar and make the trek to Kansas. We were greatly disappointed because we planned to ambush the DC-3 gaggle headed up to Topeka. We'll get em next year!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Yesterday was press day and practice runs for Topeka. Here is a link to TV Channel 13's coverage of the mass paratrooper jump from C-47's and several other fly bys. Will post some pics later this evening. Ck out the Topeka website: http://www.warbirdsandlegends.org JR

http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/Warb ... 86152.html

[A26 Special K]

Live and direct from Topeka, Miss Virginia poses on the ramp for her admiring public. My first airplane ride was in a DC3 and my first military airplane ride was in a C-47 marked just about like this one. Takes a feller back to the day! The reports being sent from the Topeka front are just glowing with good things. Will see how it all goes tomorrow, but it looks like Topeka could be the next big thing for Warbirds. The sponsors show know how to take care of the crews for sure. Everybody is having a great time. JR PS, I think Randy may be partial to this airplane for some reason???

[A26 Special K]

Crew briefing for the day. The mass paratroop jump and the big formation flights were the main topics but not all. The A26 guys got put to work setting up our DC3 rides and some other training flights. Then besides lots of great food, they also got rides on the Lodestar and the B-17. Way cool. Sorry I had to miss. Worked on B25 instead. Need to get it going. JR

[A26 Special K]

Paratroops getting ready for loading and last minute briefings. Then hurry up and wait. These guys are doing it just like the guys in WWII. If you ever wondered... this is it. JR

[A26 Special K]

Then the green light goes on and out they go. The three ship jump finally happened today. The practice run yesterday was a two ship I hear. Hawkeye got some great video from some small cameras he mounted on the horizontal stabilizer of a DC-3. JR

[A26 Special K]

More jump shots.... must be a blast taking that big step out the door at a fairly low altitude. You reckon these guys do it this way because they are scared of heights? JR

[A26 Special K]

"Pecos Bill" gave quite a few rides today. Cowden tries to take vets every chance he gets. Beautiful P-51. JR

[A26 Special K]

I think I figured out why these guys were all in a hurry to get to the ground. See next. JR

[A26 Special K]

One of the things different about the sponsors of this warbird gathering is that they plainly intend to take care of the aircraft owners, pilots and crews as best they can and to have fun while doing it. This is a different approach to most shows where some sponsors don't seem to respect warbirds and certainly don't supply food, drink and entertainment for free. Not a slam on them, but it is nice to see a different approach. This may make a big difference in turning this event into a yearly gathering. Will see what the public thinks of the chance to get up close and personal with the airplanes and talk to the crews or take a ride in a warbird. JR

[A26 Special K]

Not a gathering without the rattle of 985's from Twin Beeches and prop noise of T-6's! Right? JR

Last edited by A26 Special K on Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

[A26 Special K]

The sponsors made sure this was a family event as well. The little guys were welcome with the crews to eat and enjoy the camaraderie of people who speak airplane. They had their toy airplanes and airplane T shirts on. BTW, the other JR reports that our new A-26 T shirts are a hit with the kids, big and small. That's good. Like to sell some of those. JR