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The Marksman build sequence and also the
photo sequence is as detailed below.
Clarification by: Richard E. Fulwiler
Marksman
#1 - N100Y ( " A " model )
Serial Number : 43-22416
Marksman B #2 - N827W
Serial Number : 44-34526
Marksman C #3 - N400E
( first of, and all subsequent were " C " models )
Serial Number : 44-34761
Marksman C #4 - N320
Serial Number : 44-35870
Marksman C #5 - ZS-CVD
Serial Number : 44-34567
Marksman C #6 - N3035S
Serial Number : 41-39221
Finally, the Special Purpose Marksman "twins"
Marksman #7 – N900V
( Operational as N46598 "BLUE GOOSE " )
Serial Number : 44-34415
Marksman #8 - N800V
( Operational as N67623 )
Serial Number : 44-35698
( Sister-ship - Identical except
for Reg. # )
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Serial #: 43-22416 Construction #: 18563 Civil
Registration: N1394N N100Y N140Y N190Y N40XY Model(s):
A-26B B-26B On Mark Marksman Name: None Status: Unknown Last info: 1970
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History: Registered as N1394N On Mark Engineering
Co., Van Nuys, CA, - Registered as N100Y. - Used as demonstrator for pressurized Marksman. Purolator Products Inc,
New York, NY, 1961. Transelco Inc, Rahway, NJ, 1963-1964. - Registered as N140Y. Occidental Leasing Corp, Los Angeles,
CA, 1966. - Registered as N190Y. Occidental Oil of Libya Inc, Los Angeles, CA, 1968-1970. Occidental Oil, Los Angeles,
CA, 1970. - Registered as N40XY. - Emergency landing, engine fire, Beirut, Lebanon, Dec. 19, 1970.
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Serial #: 44-34526 Construction #: 27805 Civil
Registration: N9178Z N827W N551EH N400V CF-OFO
N7977 N26AB Model(s): A-26B
B-26B On Mark Marksman Name: Intimate Invader Status: For Sale Last info: 2002
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History: Registered as N9178Z by ???, 19??. A.M.
Wheaton Glass Corp, 19??. - Registered as N827W. E.T.S. Hokin Corp, San Francisco, CA, 1961-1966. - Registered as
N551EH. - Converted to On Mark Marksman, Van Nuys, circa 1962. CWC Air Inc, Flushing, MI, 1969. - Registered as N400V. Certified
Check & Title Corp, Wilkesboro, NY, 1970. - Registered as N7977. Twin Cities Aviation, Inc, Edina, MN, 1972. Dennis
M. Sherman, West Palm Beach, FL, 1976-1978. - Registered as N26AB. - Flew in quasi USAF scheme, "Intimate Invader". Oklahoma
Aircraft Sales, Yukon, OK, Apr. 1981-1986. Continental Jet Inc, Clarksville, TN, Mar. 1987. Charles Bella, El
Paso, TX, Chaparral, NM, 1988-2002. - Open Storage, santa Teresa, NM, 1990-2002. - Still marked as "Intimate Invader".
Reported for sale, 2002. |
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Serial #: 44-34761 Construction #: 28040 Civil
Registration: N67158 N400E N60XY N60XX Model(s): A-26B
On Mark Marksman Name: None Status: Unknown Last info: 2002
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History: Delivered to Reconstruction Finance Corp as
44-34761, 19??. - Immediately put up for dispossal, 1945-1946. Superior Oil Co, Lafayette, LA, 1954. - Registered
as N67158. Colorado Interstate Gas, Colorado Springs, CO, 1961-1964. - Registered as N400E. Occidental Leasing Corp,
Los Angeles, CA, 1966-1969. - Operated by Occidental Petroleum, Las Angeles, CA, 1966-1970. - Operated by Holiday Inns
Of America, 1968. Occidental Chemical Corp, Los Angeles, CA, 1970-1972. - Registered as N60XY. - Ferried from Beirut
to USA, Feb. 13, 1974. Registered as N60XX, Fort Lauderdale, FL
1976-2002. - Sale Reported.
Thought to have been lost during smuggling operations. |
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Serial #: 44-35870 Construction #: 29149 Civil
Registration: N1471V N320 N99426 Model(s): A-26C B-26C
On Mark Marketeer On Mark Marksman C Name: The Hustler Status:
Stored Last info: 2002 |
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History: Converted to On Mark Marketeer and Registered
as N1471V L.B. Maytag Aircraft Corp, Miami, FL, 1962-1964 - Registered as N320. - Rebuilt as On Mark Marksman C,
Van Nuys, 1963. National Bank, Tulsa, OK, 1966-1969. Trinity Industries, Inc, 1969 Confederate Air Force, Harlingen,
TX, 1970-1972 Struck off US Civil Register, Circa 1975 - Reported
sold to South America. Noted in ferry markings N99426, Opa Locka, FL, July 1981. F. J. Luytjes, Dalton, PA, 1984 T.
K. Edenfield, Albuquerque, NM, May 1985. C. H. Midkiff, San Antonio, TX, Sep. 1986. Outlaw Aircraft Sales, Inc, Clarksville,
TN, Apr. 1987 Wayne County Sheriff Dept, Detroit, MI, July 1988-1990 Reported sold in Brooksville, FL, 1992-1995. - Damaged by Hurricane Andrew, Tamiami, FL, Aug. 24, 1992. - Open Storage, still
damaged, Tamiami, FL, 1992-1995. Patrick M. Murphy, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1998-2000. - Shipped to Brisbane,
1998. - Assembled at Caboolture, Queensland, Apr. 1999. - Planned restoration to airworthy. Matt Jackson &
Howard Keck, Thermal, CA, 2000-2002. - Shipped from Australia. - Arrived dismantled, Van Nuys, Dec. 2000. - Still
in container, Van Nuys, 2002. - Under restoration, the rumour being that she is
being fully restored to possibly race at Reno with her power plants being Wright R-3350's |
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Serial #: 44-34567 Construction #: 27846 Civil
Registration: N9412Z, ZS-CVD Model(s): A-26B On Mark Marksman Name:
None Status: Stored Last info: 1992
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History: On Mark Engineering Co, Van Nuys, CA, 19?? -
Registered as N9412Z. South African Iron & Steel Industrial Corp, Wonderboom, South Africa, Feb. 27 1962-1971 -
Registered as ZS-CVD. - Damaged in belly landing, Omaruru, Jan 13, 1971. - Repaired. - Withdrawn from use, 1976-1977. Vern
McWilliams, Durban, South Africa, 1977. - Acquired for engines. SAAF Museum, Snake Valley AB, South Africa, Aug. 9,
1977-1992. - Stored in Museum storage Hanger, Feb. 1982.
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On Mark Marksman – ZS-CVD
My intent has been to bring to the
forefront the background and history of the executive conversions based on the
Douglas Invader. Following
is an aircraft's history written as a tribute to one of the eight On Mark Marksman
conversions, and is the only Marksman that I have a personal connection with.
This writing has been inspired by a group of photographs recently provided by
Wayne Allen-Smith, step-son of Carl Reck who was one of the pilots flying her
during her service with South African Iron & Steel Industrial Corp ( ISCOR
). The series of photos were
taken at the On Mark facility at Van Nuys in late February, 1962. A few days
prior, I was privileged to see and board this particular example while she was
being prepared for customer delivery
Because
On Mark Engineering was 10-miles away from my home, the most
successful of these Invader conversion companies was practically at my doorstep.
Building a display model for the On Mark sales manager gave me open access into
their facility. A school holiday celebrating George Washington’s birthday had
me out at the Van Nuys airport, finding ZS-CVD on the north side of the On Mark
hangar. I followed a workman out to the aeroplane, watching in awe as the
beautifully engineered Airstair opened before me, then was invited aboard to
tour the interior. I sat in the jump seat behind the pilot’s chair as the
technician made some final adjustments in the cockpit. The memories of that
event are still as fresh as if it were yesterday. The photos of ZS-CVD must
have been taken within days of my visit as she was gone by the time I was able
to return with a fresh roll of film. I was 16 at the time.
The drawings
included are mine showing the ZS-CVD's profile as well as the ISCOR logo.
Richard E. Fulwiler
August, 2015
On Mark Marksman – ZS-CVD
( conversion of A-26B-61-DL Invader, Serial # 44-34567,
Construction # 27846 )
Only eight full
Marksman conversions were completed by the On Mark Engineering Company based in
Van Nuys, California, and ZS-CVD was one of them as a " C " model
Marksman.
The On Mark
" MARKSMAN " series were all built as pressurized business aircraft,
converted from surplus WWII Douglas A-26 Invader attack bombers. With
restructured fuselages, they could be identified by the modified cockpit
glazing that incorporated Douglas ( " off - the - shelf " ) DC-6 / -7
flat panel windshields, and side windows. This was done because these
components were already certified for use on Douglas aircraft, and On Mark was
licensed by Douglas to install them on the Marksman using approved installation
methods. The cockpit forward side windows opened as on the DC-6 ( inward, and
sliding back on tracks ), while the rear cockpit side window was the same unit
as the forward one only fixed, inverted and reversed ( unique to the Marksman
). The cabin side windows, including one installed in the Airstair door, and
the starboard side foot-well ( two under the wing ) were symmetrically square
with rounded corners, again as standard to the DC's that were pressurized.
From the completely new fabricated cockpit over-head structure, the fuselage
top tapered down, diminishing in height back to the vertical stabilizer spine
on the first two Marksman conversions ( registered as N100Y and N827W completed
in 1961).
With the Marksman " C " , the fuselage was further modified to
provide for a full height, 6' 1", walk-through interior with a constant
cross section from the cockpit overhead back to the aft cabin pressure
bulkhead. Marksman N400E was the first " C " model, completed before
I began my visits inside On Mark starting early in 1962.
The Marksman “ C “ conversions had R-2800 CB17 engines rated at 2,500 hp with
ADI, and Hamilton Standard fully reversible broad chord ( High-activity ) 43E60
propellers with auto-feather. Other identifying features on the Marksman series
were the vortex generator tabs lined up the starboard vertical tail, as well as
the all-metal rudder extended 6" in chord and the addition of a booster /
servo tab installed above the standard trim tab. The other noticeable
difference in the Marksman was the cabin supercharger scoop mounted on top of
the port engine nacelle, the 165-gallon wing tip tanks, and the aerodynamically
refined, elongated “ 103-inch “ nose for 1,000-pounds of baggage and weather
radar.
The airframe that
became ZS-CVD was originally built for USAAF by Douglas Aircraft Co. as an
A-26B-61-DL Invader, Serial #: 44-34567 / Construction #: 27846. To the civil
market, registered N9412Z , she
was converted by On Mark as a Marksman C executive aircraft for South African
Iron & Steel Industrial Corp ( ISCOR ). Registered as ZS-CVD on completion
in February, 1962, she was flown to South Africa, arriving at the Wonderboom
Aerodrome ( Pretoria ), 27 February. The ISCOR pilots flying ZS-CVD were Co.
Chairman Col. Bob
Preller and Carl Reck, seen flying her in and out of Wonderboom regularly
through the Sixties and into the Seventies. Wayne Allen-Smith writes :
“ I can remember with fondness Carl Reck (
my step dad ) and Bob Preller coming back from a business trip and hearing those
familiar
engines flying over our home in Waterkloof. They would wiggle the wings of the
Marksman and head of to Wonderboom airport. I knew dad was home. “
Another pilot shown to
have flown ZS-CVD later
on was Stan van Niekerk. Col. Bob Preller was once asked what motivated ISCOR
to buy their Marksman; the short answer was that “ it was within a stipulated
budget amount whilst giving the speed / range for their missions “.
A
reported wheels
up landing incident damaged ZS-CVD at the UIS mine ( part of ISCOR for mining
tin ) 13 January, 1971.The airplane lay on the runway for months before it was
jacked up, new propellers fitted and flown back to Wonderboom. She also caught
fire at UIS on start up.
ZS-CVD was seen
in Port Elizabeth in 1975 delivering 1974 Miss World Anneline Kriel for some
function there.
Withdrawn from
use with ISCOR, she was first sold to a Mr. Jordaan, then sold to Mr. Vern
McWilliams for engine spares, and offered to SAAF Museum 9 August, 1977. Collected
from Wonderboom after the engines were removed, she was dissembled and taken to
South African Air Force Museum and remained in open storage compounds at Swartkop
for decades, listed as “ Stored (
Derelict ) “.
Representing a
small group of aviation history hobbyists, I sent a letter of appeal to Captain
Leon Steyn, Research Officer Air Force Museum in January of 2010, notifying the
museum of the rarity and importance of the Marksman. Capt. Steyn responded :
“ We acknowledge receipt of your enquiry.
While the aircraft is of immense
value for it’s rarity, the South African Air Force Museum has
chosen to focus its limited resources for restoration and preservation
efforts on aircraft that served with the SAAF.
Unfortunately the On Mark
Marksman has been left derelict and deteriorated since it arrived at the museum due to other
restoration and maintenance priorities.
Its restoration or refurbishment
is largely dependent on the intervention and involvement of private entrepreneurs for funding and technical knowhow to save this
historic aircraft. “
Sometime in 2010,
the dissembled ZS-CVD was acquired by the two
business partners and
avid collectors Mr. Witold Walus and Mr. Willie Muntingh, and moved to their
operations at
Drakensberg Truck Manufacturers, NE of Pretoria (on D327 / Wallmansthal
Rd. between R101 and N1 ) where the Douglas DC-6 Empress of Suva (
ZS-MUL ) is now on display. In the YouTube video showing the arrival of
the Empress of Suva on the dirt strip adjacent to the Drakensberg facility ( 4
December, 2010 ), the fuselage of the Marksman ZS-CVD can be seen inside the
boundary fence line. Satellite map imagery verified her location. A satellite
view in 2012 shows the remains moved to the north end of the property. As of
this writing in 2015, no restoration work appears to have been accomplished.
On Mark Marksman
enthusiast,
Richard E.
Fulwiler
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Above, N256H at Miami International in June 78
Serial #: 41-39221 Construction #: 6934 Civil
Registration: N9636C N3035S N256H N25GT Model(s): A-26B
B-26B Marksman Name: None Status: Display Last info: 2002
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History: Farrah Manufacturing Co Inc. - Registered
as N9636C. Southern Natural Gas Co, Birmingham, AL, 1963-1966. - Registered as N3035S (1). Mapco Inc, Tulsa, OK,
1969. - Registered as N256H (2). Bancroft Manufacturing Co., McComb, MS, 1970-1972. Park Meadow Inc/Ligon Air Inc,
Ligonier, In. Garret Corp, Phoenix, AZ, Circa 1979. - Modified for testing turbine engine in nose. Garret AiResearch
Corp, Phoenix, AZ, Apr. 1983-1988. - Registered as N25GT. - Used for engine testing. Allied Signal Inc, Phoenix,
AZ, Dec. 1988-1992. Struck-off USCR, Jan. 10, 1992. South Mountain High School, Phoenix, AZ, 1992-2002. -
Donated to Aviation Technology program. - Displayed.
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Serial #: 44-34415 Construction #: 27693 Civil
Registration: N60042, N60043, N5002X,
N46598 , N900V
Model(s): A-26C B-26C On Mark Marksman Name: None Status: Unknown
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History: Reg'd 12th July 1962 N500X gulf Air Inc, Miami,
30th Jan 63 Intermountain Aviation
1964 On Mark Eng Corp for conversion to on Mark Marksman and
re-registered N900V
15th Feb 64 sold to Intermountain Aviation as N900V
Aug 64 Sold to Atlantic General Enterprises Inc
29th March 65 Sold back to Intermountain Aviation
3rd Feb 67 sold to Pan Aero Invest, Reno
5th Feb 67 Sold to Air America as N46598
Officially reregistered as N46598 on 11 April 67 it was ferried
to South-East Asia in mid-April 67, then used for training at Udorn from the second half of April to June 67; seen at Udorn
April 67 and July 67; between 31 May 67 and 11 June 67. the plane was then ferried from Savannakhet to Udorn and back to Savannakhet,
and used for nightly low-level supply drops over Laos, but proved unsuitable for the task, because the aircraft was too fast
and too similar to a B-26 bomber.The plane continued to fly for Air America, but just doing transportation flights.
N46598 was then sold to Overseas Aeromarine Inc, Seattle, on 30
March 68, and registered to them as N46598 on 4 April 68, flown to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in mid-April 68; damaged
on take-off from Takhli on the ferry flight to the USA in mid-April 68 and burned. The crash was caused by a anti-shimmy poppet
valve in the nose strut. The plane had been parked in Laos for several months and had deteriorated badly.
In April 1967, two On Mark Marksman were transferred from Intermountain
Aviation, an air service related the US Central Intelligence Agency, to Air America, another air service connected to the
Agency. The official role of these aircraft as stated in the specifications provided to Air America from Intermountain in
March 1967 was "Aerial resupply, [and] low-level penetration." Both aircraft had been highly modified with a variety of navigation
and other electronic equipment for this role.
Between June and October 1967, the first aircraft, re-registered
from N900V to N46598, conducted low-level night time supply drops to CIA related forces in Laos during the so-called "Secret
War". The program was discontinued because the aircraft was too fast for accurate drops even with the special onboard equipment,
and looked too much like a type of strike aircraft known to operate in the theatre. This was cited as often causing forces
on the ground to be wary of turning on their marking lamps. The aircraft was damaged on takeoff at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force
Base after being transferred to Overseas Aeromarine, Inc.
The second aircraft, officially re-registered from N800V to N67623,
was intended for the same role but never used. Both aircraft were initially painted in Insignia Blue, plus white trim areas
outlined with black pinstripe that led the type to be nicknamed "The Blue Goose."
In the end, both aircraft were handed over to the 1198th Operational
Evaluation and Training (OT&E) Squadron at Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, California, a unit known for alleged
participation in agent dropping and other clandestine missions in Southeast Asia (Project Heavy Chain).
The Squadron evaluated the two Marksman, but apparently found no use for them and scrapped both aircraft, which suffered from
a chronic Invader issue of nose gear failure.
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Sister ship of N46598
Serial No. - 44-35698
Construction No. - 28987
Douglas A-26C-45-DT Invader
Participated in Bay of Pigs invasion.
To civil registry as N5001X.
Converted to On Mark Marksman N800V, N58071, N67623. “Blue Goose” sister
ship.
N67623,
was intended for the same role as N46598, but never used.
In the end, both aircraft were handed over to the 1198th Operational Evaluation and Training
(OT&E) Squadron at Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, California, a unit known for alleged participation in
agent dropping and other clandestine missions in Southeast Asia (Project Heavy Chain). The Squadron evaluated the two Marksman,
but apparently found no use for them and scrapped both aircraft, which suffered from a chronic Invader issue of nose gear
failure.
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