Warbird Information Exchange

Here is another little puzzle that K has revealed. The data plate on the carb air scoop is dated April 69 by OnMark. So when did the airplane get this tropical mod instead of the thru the cowling air intake? By the condition of the Dzus fasteners, it appears to have been original equipment once installed and not added post boneyard days. But there are pictures of her without the mod that may have been taken after being obtained by Lynch. Will have to go back and re-examine those. If the AF did the mod sometime after April 69 along with the full camo paint job, this would point to a plan to send her to NKP. Somewhere along the way, it was decided to pull the A-26's out of NKP by Oct or Nov of 69 so K didn't make the journey. ORRRRRRRR, the Lynch's obtained the air scoops/nacelles and installed them after the Macon crash landing. Need to look at Rob's photos of the wreck again to solve the mystery probably. JR

Greetings JR, can't quite make out the detail in this photo. Any thoughts?

Photo states: Carswell AFB c 1966

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

............ can't quite make out the detail in this photo. Any thoughts?

If it was 1966, I'd guess it was one that was sent over from England AFB for what appears to be an Air Show/Open House event. Interesting it has been camo'd but still has the white belly.

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Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Here is the backside of the carb air scoop, tropical mod. One of the guys who helped ferry the airplane from MT said he was told that Denny Lynch put -79 engines and 23E50 props like the stock B's had on the airplane to get it home and flew it that way until he was able to obtain two CB-3's. Will continue the comparing of pics until we get the mystery figured out. Thanks Steve!! JR

I have to agree this is a most interesting picture Mark. And Randy is correct that the initial paint was green and white, then camo on top but still white on the bottom for the trainers. The part that puzzles me is the non standard camo pattern on the vertical stablizer. The tan portion was not that prominent on all the TA airplanes at NKP. The airplane could certainly have come from England AFB as they were training there I think in 66, right, Randy? Anyway, later, the semi gloss black was added to all of the bottom sides. Again, I suspect in preparation for rotation of the airplanes to NKP. Wish we could see the tail numbers clearer. That would help solve the mystery. Could be K or one of the other nine that stayed behind for training. IF was the tail code for England AFB back then and when the airplane was repainted with standard camo and black, the tail code was in white. Only the trainers had the stars and bars on the side of the fuselage. The TA airplanes at NKP did not display any national insignia due to the secret nature of the operations..... as if it could really be denied it was a US airplane. Duh! Anybody else have any insight into this Carswell sighting? JR

Say Bob, are these signed copies? If not, is it possible to get one signed from you?? JR

Fellas I shall see if I can clear up this photo so as to see the tail #'s. As always with you experts it's fascinating reading and viewing of your progress photos. Great thread.

BTW is it just me or do others who are following this thread start to feel a sort of connection to 'K'?.
What I find fascinating as well is that some day I'll probably run into this airplane somewhere (hopefully not literally lol) and it will be quite ironic just how much I'll know about her. I think that sort of connection will have a much more meaningful and enjoyable experience than to visit a warbird minus this valuable insight. Thanks much JR for this most outstanding tour.

These types of threads require so much time and dedication and I'm not sure you could possibly realize just how valuable, informative and entertaining your thread has become. It's become a daily visit that is so very much worth the time. The information and knowledge gained here is something that simply cannot have a price tag attached to it for it's nothing short of priceless.

Much thanks for your outstanding contributions here JR, you certainly have much to be proud of and I'm quite convinced WIX has become an even more valuable destination for true and serious warbird followers.

Bravo sir and keep up the great work please.

M

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

For a little while you can buy books directly from:

http://www.memoriesofnakedfanny.com.

It will take you to paypal to pay for the books. Be sure to leave a note (or instructions) that tells me who you are so I will know to write an inscription.

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Bob
Memories of Naked Fanny
More Memories of Naked Fanny (Nov 2013)
609th Nimrod, Bomb loader, Gun Plumber, '68 - '69

I have a question on the air scoop. Is the piping around it part of the ADI system?

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Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Just ordered both.......really looking forward to reading them and having autographed copies. Thanks for doing that.

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Randy, we believe that the piping is related to the ADI system, however, the Illustrated Parts Manual we have is dated 1965 and the tropical mod occurred after this time. It doesn't show them. We are checking the tech orders to see for sure, but in the set of lines coming from the ADI tank out near the wingtip in the old IPM, it looks like they delivered to the old style air scoop so it would be reasonable to think they would have been routed a little bit differently to the new style. So we are 99% sure they are. We are not going to hook the system up though. We are missing too many parts and don't really have a need for it. 115/145 octane fuel went away a long time ago. We don't intend to operate the engines near the highest power setting either. It was different when Uncle Sam was overhauling engines, but now we have to baby them to get the longest life out of those 2800's. JR

We want to thank Mark and Bob for their recent posts. Mark, we appreciate your thoughts and kind words. This is encouraging if somebody likes what we do and takes the time to express it. We also appreciate the pictures you post here about the A-26's and all of the others you have researched and posted. I'm definitely a junkie for historic pictures! Bob, several on our team have said they will order your book(s) as they want to know a lot more about A-26 guys and NKP. Thanks! Regards, JR

The team made a tremendous amount of progress today. David A and Arnold got Ichabod back fully operational. It will be used to start the left engine pull next weekend and to lift the tail of the DC-3 which will be getting a new weighing after the installation of the radio room and other equipment is finished this week. JR and David also spent a lot of elbow grease on getting the hydraulic fluid that leaked down on the right main tire off. The airplane was taken off the jacks and so far, all of the tires and struts are holding just like they are supposed to do. YaY!!! Then JR and company installed the glass on both sides of the doghouse canopy and put on the metal trim that holds them in place all the way around. So we can say the doghouse is just about done. There are some canvas covers that we need to make that close off the compartment from the bomb bay and the avionics bay. The other JR

Here is the top view which shows the doghouse canopy with all glass installed. Ed is attaching some of the metal trim on the left side. The canopy is a real milestone as it has taken months to repair and reassemble. Ain't it pretty?? There were several other projects that got big licks today, but they will be reported on later when the pics are uploaded. Stay tuned because this has been one of our best weekends in awhile. JR

This is Larry's new office! All of the military avionics are back here. He is wiring in the antennas etc for the new avionics and jacks for the headphones. We will have some up front in the cockpit, of course and some in the rear compartment, but we also want an external one for the crew chief so he can communicate on the ground with the front office. It will be placed inside of the avionics compartment so that it is protected, but accessible thru the avionics bay door on the belly. The external power plug is on the outboard side of the left rear nacelle so this will make it easier to coordinate that and engine starting. The day is getting closer when we can try out all of the new wiring, etc. Can hardly wait!! JR