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

[Mark Allen M]

Fantastic story JR, mucho appreciated.


Early A-26 at Langley Research Center.


MX-799 Early on A-26 Invader


MX-799 on A-26 Invader


Ryan Firebee under an A-26?


A-26 Vietnam, possibly at Bien Hoa Air Base.


A-26 139108

[airnutz]

The Firebee drones were larger than what I had imagined from photos as evidenced in the shot above. We were running on the surface near San Clemente Island catching some sun and charging our batteries where we found the front half of a Firebee floating in the water. It looked like a large shotgun had decimated the empennage and peppered the remaining bits.

[A26 Special K]

Mark, the picture of the A-26 in VN is quite interesting. It shows the transition from B model to K in a way. If you look at the wing pylons, the inboard pylon is exactly like the K, but the outer three have sway braces. Nape is being loaded. The gun nose is the same. What is different is that the engines and props are still B and the wings do not have spar straps. Also the rudder is still fabric and that became metalized in the K. These props are 23E50's where the K has 43E60's. So this is an evolutionary example and an early example of how the A-26 was used in VN. The K's were primarily used in Laos though while based at NKP in Thailand for nighttime interdiction of the HCM Trail. There were some day missions when troops were in close contact and called for the cavalry. There was also some involvement with Khe Sanh during that big battle, but in the daytime, the A-26 was very vulnerable to ground fire so tended to stick to the primary mission of night interdiction. Thanks for finding that picture in particular! JR

[A26 Special K]

JR found a combat action loss report in some of the research he has been doing. These are two excerpts from that report. FARMGATE was the name given to the A-26 project in VN during the early 60's. Before K became K, she was used to train these crews at Hurlburt AFB, FL. After some structural problems in the wings, the surviving combat aircraft in VN were grounded. Then the K models were designed to remedy the problems and add to the capabilities of the A-26. Randy's Project Big Eagle was the first of the K models to be tried out in the mid 60's at NKP in Thailand as mentioned several times before. There is a FARMGATE crew member who lives near Ft Worth who survived a bailout from an A-26 and comes to see our progress from time to time. Will try to get some more loss reports posted when time permits. Come see us at Meacham tomorrow. Should be some good action from the team. The other JR

[airnutz]

Ryan Firebee under an A-26?

This first generation XQ-2 Firebee, somewhat like the later model we found and reported, is slung from 43-22494 JDB-26C (special test/temp, drone controller, B-26C) which currently resides indoors on display at Pima...if the prevailing web info is correct.

Mark, I assume this batch is from San Diego Air And Space collection. Some of these are shown on an A-26 website in a drone controller page but unfortunately 43-22494 is used more as a stock drone controller photo with no history or date context. Thanks for the goodies!

(photo at Ryan in San Diego??)

[Mark Allen M]

To be honest I've had most of these photos in a folder for so long I can't remember where I pilfered them from (yah I know, that's probably bad as I should always give the proper credit) I have many more to post if you guys Like them. Again this is not my thread so I certainly don't want to disrupt anything.

[airnutz]

Post 'em if ya got 'em! My comment wasn't a request for proper credit...I was just curious about a date.

[A26 Special K]

Mark, the more we can see A-26 pics, the more we can understand just what a beautiful airplane it is and get some idea of it's performance. It is unfortunate it took so long to arrive on the scene in WWII but it was definitely a success when it did. The airplanes just do not get the recognition and credit they deserve. So the more the merrier. I am still waiting on you to find the Holy Grail of a pic of K in her old make up as 44-34198 or BC 198. Incidentally, she did spend some time towing targets for several fighter outfits including one at Luke AFB, one at New Castle, DE, and one at Lockbourne AFB in Ohio. There was even a stint in Puerto Rica. Anyway, here is a video of some ditching tests on the A-26 model done at Langley in 1944. There are varying degrees of flap settings and airspeeds used to show the best angle to hit the water. It appears to me that letting the tail hit first makes the nose take a dive and everything comes to a screeching halt. There is one best setting which allowed for more of skipping action and less of an abrupt stop. Check this out. Thanks, JR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcor_hEKm4Q

[A26 Special K]

Good news! This left hand outboard main gear door has been bothering us for nearly three years as to how to get it fixed. At some time in the past, it had been cracked and then welded up. This cause the rearward portion to curve in a bit much and make a bad fit when the doors were closed. Well, we finally found a replacement door that was still in the shipping container from the factory. It has never been installed on an airplane so even though built in 1945, it is still nearly brand new. Sometimes we get lucky! Will post some pictures when it arrives! Now if we could just find a small pan of gold to pay for it! JR

[A26 Special K]

A new Mystery Item of the week!! About the center of the picture, looking up into the top of the nacelle inside the left gear well, is a small circular object with some wires running out of it into a wire bundle. Any idea what this is?? No ponies promised, but, get it right and I have it on good authority that you will be granted immunity from being voted off the island by the Duck Drivin Lady! JR

[Cubs2jets]

I think in modern lexicon it's called a "Light"?

C2j

[A26 Special K]

I think in modern lexicon it's called a "Light"?

C2j

C2J: Close but not quite! It is a light but it not facing inward toward the wheel well so what kind of special light might it be?? JR

[NImrodA26]

............It is a light but it not facing inward toward the wheel well so what kind of special light might it be??

--Maybe a leading edge light to check for icing???????

[fwnelson]

Amazing you guys were able to locate that gear door. How many ounces of gold will it require for the purchase?

[A26 Special K]

............It is a light but it not facing inward toward the wheel well so what kind of special light might it be??

--Maybe a leading edge light to check for icing???????

Gettin colder. Hint: They were used in WWII but not used in Korea or VN. We have made them operational anyway. One more try?? JR