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

rdennard · **Posted:** Fri Aug 08, 2014 8:28 pm

Yeah Randy... the aluminum mat is one of the things I find curious. There was some of this put down on the flightline some time before I got there, but that's not where the Nimrods normally parked. I also don't know what that stuff is in the right side background.

I'll be posting a few pics in a day or so to show how it was in Oct, '69.

fwnelson · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2014 12:10 am

Note to Randy and Bob about the ramp material. There was an area with the planks in the June/July 1968 time frame. I have several group photos of the Nimrods
and one of them was taken on the new stuff. If you have a copy of Roger Graham's book "The Nimrods" look on page 89. Most of the ramp area was still PSP.
JR, getting back to you on the HF radio. I did make use of it on the trans Pacific ferry flight and it seemed to work quite well. I reported our position every hour or
it would be more accurate to say estimated position since we did not have any way to really establish a fix. I remember using it sometimes on the Barrel Roll
missions just to let the folks back at NKP know that we were still in the air! Those could be some dark and lonely nights over Northern Laos.

Frank Nelson

rdennard · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2014 1:54 pm

I dug up some pics that were used for my book. They have never been posted anywhere else before.

JR asked me how we reacted when bombs from the 40 footer started going thump... thump... thump on the ramp. Well, it all kinda happened so fast that by the time we realized exactly what was happening it was all over. Yes there was some "pucker factor", but since we were still alive, we just went back to work and did what needed to be done. That was the Air Commando way... do what needs to be done.

This first pic shows the way ordinance was delivered to us soon after that. By that time the bomb dump had enough people that they didn't have to use the 40 footers any more. Instead, the load needed for each A/C was delivered. In this case we loaded 2 750 lb napalm on the inboards, and 500 pounder Mk82 "Iron bombs" on the rest of the wing stations.

This pic shows a lot. First, you can see the type of "PSP" we had at the Nimrod parking ramp at the time. Also, Notice the two loaded A/C in the background. One is '666 and the other is '660. I took this pic in October '69. This would have been at the end of the rainy season. This would most likely been a load for going up north to Barrel Roll (Plane of Jars region.)

(You will note that they were developed in Nov '69. All the pics at NKP were taken on the same day)

[img]I dug up some pics that were used for my book. They have never been posted anywhere else before.

JR asked me how we reacted when bombs from the 40 footer started going thump... thump... thump on the ramp. Well, it all kinda happened so fast that by the time we realized exactly what was happening it was all over. Yes there was some "pucker factor", but since we were still alive, we just went back to work and did what needed to be done. That was the Air Commando way... do what needs to be done.

This first pic shows the way ordinance was delivered to us soon after that. By that time the bomb dump had enough people that they didn't have to use the 40 footers any more. Instead, the load needed for each A/C was delivered. In this case we loaded 2 750 lb napalm on the inboards, and 500 pounder Mk82 "Iron bombs" on the rest of the wing stations.

This pic shows a lot. First, you can see the type of "PSP" we had at the Nimrod parking ramp at the time. Also, Notice the two loaded A/C in the background. One is '666 and the other is '660. I took this pic in October '69. This would have been at the end of the rainy season. This would most likely been a load for going up north to Barrel Roll (Plane of Jars region.)

(You will note that they were developed in Nov '69. All the pics at NKP were taken on the same day)

rdennard · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2014 1:59 pm

Here's the pic of 660 that was in the background of the previous pic. Note the little trailer behind the A/C. This was the fuze trailer and also had paint buckets, ladders and other stuff.

rdennard · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:02 pm

Here is A/C 666 now standing guard at the front gate of Hurlburt Field.

rdennard · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:16 pm

Here's a close up of the fuse trailer... like the one that was in the earlier pic.

The M904s go in the nose and the M965s go in the tail of the "iron bombs".

The Willie Pete go in the nose and tail of the Napalm. The little fuses to the right of the Willie Pete are the burstors that screw into the Willie Pete... they explode on impact and burst the Willie Pete canisters open.

The little fuses in the black tin cans are for the M1A4 cluster bombs (next pic).

Look close at the ladder in the background. That's not dirt or grease... that's flat black/OD green paint that splattered on the legs as it dripped on the ramp..

rdennard · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:28 pm

Here is a load of M1A4 fragmentation cluster bombs. Each cluster has 6 bombs. When a cluster is dropped, the six bombs are released from the backbone and spread out. The pilots told me that they would often drop a cluster along with the napalm when they were working the trail... because believe it or not, there were a lot of napalm duds otherwise. (I'm sure Frank can add to this... or correct me if I got it wrong.)

In this case there are 12 clusters and that filled up all the bomb bay stations... no "Funny Bombs". As I mentioned earlier, this would have been the bomb-bay load for a mission to Barrel Roll. To load the M1A4s, the trailer was rolled under the bomb bay and two guys picked up a cluster... one guy at the front and the other by the rear. They picked it up and the rear guy used one hand to "click" it into the rack. Each cluster weighed about 140 pounds. I humped way too many of these.

NImrodA26 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2014 7:46 pm

I remember the frag clusters very well, and the trailer they are on looks familiar also. You could also cut yourself on those suckers if you didn't handle them carefully. A load of those frag clusters is what got dumped on the ramp one day, quite by accident of course. I "heard" that a crew chief was working on the instrument panel and shorted out the bomb bay jettison switch with a wrench or something. Don't know if someone left the ground override on or if his actions bypassed it. After that, we had to disconnect the batteries when the plane was parked.
Funny story about the yellow MHU-12 bomb trailers. We were familiarized with them at Munitions School in Denver. I took leave to come home after school. Imagine my surprise one day when I was riding through a small town here and saw a truck pulling about 3 nice, new MHU-12's. Turns out that they were manufactured right here in a small town about 5 miles from where I live. And I don't think most people had any idea what they were.

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

Mark A... great shot over the panhandle of Laos in daylight. I suspect, since it wasn't a night mission, they were on their way to the PDJ like Frank N was talking about earlier. Bob D and Randy... great shots and comments about the weapons and fuzes. We will eventually find some replicas or fabricate fuzes for our Mk 83's. Will keep on the look out for other types of ordnance too. We will load this sucker up for bear... well, er, maybe wild hogs?? :-)

JR

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

The team had a great day. JR decided we needed to remove the QEC before the engine gets picked up for the long trip to Idaho for overhaul this week. So everybody turned to and started loosening wires, hoses and anything else that got in the way. We thought it might take an hour. Wrongo... took the better part of the day so everybody is worn out including me. It was a great time for Big Mike to visit since we needed his strength to help lift it. He is home from FL for awhile. He has been missed on the team. Will post some more pics tomorrow. We had a great BBQ luncheon today in the briefing room with the CAF A-26 guys and some from the Navy A-3 crew. Viewed a grand video put out by EAA Warbirds about OSH and why folks continue to restore great old airplanes, tell the stories of those involved originally and preserve our history. It is narrated by David Hartman and very well done. Can find it on youtube. Look for 2014 Warbirds in Review. A good time was had by all. The other JR PS If anybody is interested, the CAF is planning to pull Buba out in the morning about 9 am and see if the carb adjustments worked with some engine runs. Good 2800 noise! :-)

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

In the process of pulling the right oil cooler yesterday to send off for overhaul, the bracket suffered an owwwwie. Luckily, Metal Man flew to the rescue. Ck out the difference Ray makes in the next two shots.

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

The bracket tore out when the oil cooler was pulled. Doesn't appear to have been out in ages. Good thing we decided to get the oil cooler overhauled. This area had all sorts of gunk built up around the compartment. A good clean start of all components for the new engine is something JR thinks will save some trouble down the line and we couldn't agree more on it. The other JR

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

Here is the after shot. Ray did a bang up good job fitting the new bracket in a very confined area. As usual, we have come to expect miracles from our Metal Man!!! He always delivers! Thanks Ray!! You da man!! JR

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

Here is where the trouble all began while Tim and Frank were trying to remove the oil cooler. There was a big buildup of gunk, dirt and oil inside the compartment. Frank cleaned on it for hours. The steps and floor beneath looked like a dirt pile when he was done. The airplane is probably ten pounds lighter now. :supz:

Thanks guys! JR

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

Title of the shot: Man eaten by airplaneanado! JR inspecting the good work done by the crew. BTW, it only got to 102 deg in the hangar yesterday with humidity at 100 percent as well. Went thru water and Gatorade in copious quantities. "Copious" being Larry's new favorite word since it was used in the 1945 overhaul manual for fuel/oil pressure transmitters!! :-)

The other JR

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

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