Film Star

Douglas A/B-26 Invader

Film Stars

For history and data on individual Invaders throughout the site, I would like to credit the Warbirds Worldwide Directory by John Chapman, thank you John.

The airframes listed below, can also be found in the executive transport section here.

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The above photo was kindly donated by Gary Lewis

Always is a 1989 romantic drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, John Goodman and Brad Johnson. This is also Audrey Hepburn's final film appearance. The film was distributed by Universal Studios and United Artists.

The premise is based on the 1943 movie A Guy Named Joe and follows the same basic plot line. with basic plot similarities in that one of the pilots dies and returns as a ghost to mentor a new pilot, only to find the new pilot falling in love with his former girlfriend. Spielberg did not treat the film as a direct homage to the earlier World War II melodrama.

The two Douglas A-26C's Invaders from Lynch Air Tankers: A-26C/TB-26C (N4818E) and A-26C (N9425Z). were prominently featured in the film, the flying for the movie being performed by well-known movie pilot Steve Hinton and Dennis Lynch, the owner of the A-26

Serial #: 44-35371
Construction #: 28650
Civil Registration:
N4818E
Model(s):
A-26C
TB-26C
STOL 26
Name: None
Status: Airworthy
Last info: 2002

History:
Rock Island Oil & Refining Co, Wichita, KS, 1960-1966.
- Registered as N4818E.
- Planned conversion to Monarch 26 not completed.
- Stored, unrestored, Hutchinson, KS.
Consolidated Air Parts Corp, Los Angeles, CA, 1967.
Denny Lynch/Lynch Air Tankers, Billings, MT, 1967-2002.
- Converted to Lynch STOL 26 tanker.
- Flew as tanker #A28 (later #59).
- Damaged when nose gear collapsed on landing, Billings, MT, June 28, 1975.
-- repaired.

Serial #: 44-34121
Construction #: 27400
Civ. Registration:
N4805E
C-GHZM
Model(s):
A-26B
Consort 26
STOL 26
Name: None
Status: Stored
Last info: 2007

History:
Delivered to USAAF as 44-34121
- Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ, Mar. 6, 1958.
- Surplused, June 11, 1958.
Rock Island Oil & Refining Co, Wichita, KS, 1960-1969.
- Registered as N4085E.
- Converted to Rock Island Consort 26 configuration, Hutchinson, KS.
Koch Industries Inc, Wichita, KS, 1972
Reeder Flying Service, Twin Falls, ID
- Converted to tanker but not used.
Lynch Air Tankers, Billings, MT, 1975-1992.
- Flown as tanker #58.
- Converted to Lynch STOL 26 configuration by Lynch.
Jerry Slater, Seattle, WA, Sept. 25, 1992.
Tony N. Grout, Spanaway, WA, Aug. 10, 1993-2000.
Air Spray Ltd, Red Deer, Alberta, Jan. 18, 2001-2007.
- Registered as C-GHZM.
- Stored Red Deer, 2001-2002.
- Engines and control services removed.
- Marked as tanker #58.

Badlands is a 1973 film written and directed by Terrence Malick, starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek. Warren Oates and Ramon Bieri are also featured. Malick has a small speaking part although he does not receive an acting credit.

The story, though fictional, is loosely based on the real-life murder spree of Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, in 1957.

In the Film of 1973 Badlands, an A-26 is used as a VIP transport.

Serial #: 43-22523
Construction #: 18670
Civil Registration:
N4050A
Model(s):
A-26C
B-26C

On Mark Marketeer
Name: None
Status: Displayed
Last info: 2002

History:
Korda Leasing Corp, New York, NY, 1963-1964.
- Registered as M4050A.
- Gear collapsed during landing, Madison, WI, Aug. 20, 1964.
DEC Aviation Corp, Madison, WI, 1966.
May Air Inc, Boulder, CO, 1969-1970.
I.N. "Junior" Burchinall, Paris, TX, 1976.
Ronald Bryant, Springfield, MO, 1977.
Reported derelict at Fort Lauderdale, FL, Oct. 1979-1981.
Hill Air Company Inc, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Oct. 4, 1984-1987.
Jim ricketts/Aero Nostalgia, Stockton, CA, 1987-1990.
- Trucked from FL to CA.
- Static restoration for USAFM.
- Parts from 44-34156 used.
USAFM, Vance AFB, IK, 1990-2002.
- Displayed as 434156/BC-156.

Note

NTSB Identification: Unknown
14 CFR Part 91 General Aviation
Event occurred Thursday, August 20, 1964 in MADISON, WI
Aircraft: DOUGLAS A-26B, registration: N4050A

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0621  64/8/20    MADISON WIS         DOUGLAS A-26B       CR-  0  0  2  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 25, 3000
        TIME - 2133                    N4050A              PX-  0  0  3  DEMONSTRATION             TOTAL HOURS, 100 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MADISON MUNICIPAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           OVERSHOOT                                                LANDING: ROLL
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF BRAKES AND/OR FLIGHT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - HYDROPLANING ON WET RUNWAY

Cash McCall is a 1960 movie starring James Garner and Natalie Wood, based upon the novel of the same name by Cameron Hawley about a man who buys businesses in order to sell them at a profit. Recognized by critics as decades ahead of its time in numerous ways,especially its hardcore depiction of business dealings, the innovative film was directed by Joseph Pevney from a screenplay by Lenore J. Coffee and Marion Hargrove.

Serial #: 44-34713
Construction #: 27992
Civil Registration:
N5538V
N706ME
N36B
N26MR
N26WB
Model(s):
A-26B
B-26C
On Mark Marketeer
Name: None
Status: Unknown
Last info: 2002

History:
Delivered to USAAF as 44-34713
- Loaned to France for service in Indochina, Jan. 1954.
- Returned to USAF Nov 1955.
- Open storage, Clark AFB, Philippines, 1955-1958.
Registered as N5538V
Star Flite Inc, 1961.
- Registered as N706ME.
- Flew as Initiator V.
On Mark Engineering Co, Van Nuys, CA, 1963-1964.
- Converted to On Mark Marketeer Executive configuration.
W.R. Bailard, Ventura, CA, 1966-1972.
- Registered as N36B Starred in the film "Cash McCall" with James Garner
- Flew as Coastal Luck IV.
Micky Rupp, Mansfield, OH, 1974.
- Registered as N26MR.
Sherman Aircraft Sales, West Palm Beach, FL, Jan. 1975.
Don Whittington, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1975.
- Registered as N26WB.
A.S. Barber Inc, Kirksville, MO, 1977.
Don Whittington, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1984.
Sale Reported, Danville, IL, 1984-1986.
Mid South Aircraft Sales Inc, Memphis, TN, Mar. 1987.
Wayne County Sheriff Department, Detroit, MI, July 1988.
National Warplane Museum, Geneseo, NY, 1988-1992.
Lane Ethridge/Nostalgia Inc., Denton, TX, 1992-2002.
- Registered as N706ME.
- At Las Cruces, NM, Oct. 2002.
- Still marked at N26WB with 8-gun nose.

Article and photo courtesy of Aerovintage

Tallmantz pilot Frank Pine in the cockpit of A-26C s/n 41-39401, then operating from Van Nuys as N3457G. At this point the airplane was owned by John R. Moore, and it was named, obviously, Whistler's Mother. This A-26 later went on to Challenge Publications for a brief period, and is now owned by Kermit Weeks. The circumstances of this photo are unknown, but the uniform worn by Pine would suggest it was during a filming session. Anyone out there with further information?

Update: Chris Brame provided the following: "...the A-26 was probably shot during the filming of the uncompleted Whistler's Mother movie. The way I heard it, there was a lot of second-unit footage of the plane shot before the project was abandoned."

Article and photo courtesy of Aerovintage

Serial #: 44-35505
Construction #: 28784
Civil Registration:
N4815E
Model(s):
A-26C
B-26C
Name: None
Status: Stored
Last info: 2001

History:
Rock Island Oil & Refining Co, Wichita, KS, 1960
- Registered as N4815E.
- Planned conversion to Monarch 26 not completed.
Tallmantz Aviation Inc, Orange County, CA, 1963-1976.
- Modified with lengthened nose for Cinerama Cameras.
Albert Redick, Chino, CA, 1977
On Mark Aviation, Knoxville, TN, 1978.
Rose Diehl, Chino, CA, 19??.
Sold, reported flown on drug run to South america, impounded on return to USA.
John MacGuire/War Eagles Air Museum, Santa Teresa, NM, 1990-2001.

A long Cinerama camera nose was custom built for the Invader, shown here in this early 1960s view. Otherwise, the airplane was pretty much stock. The paint scheme was similar but did not match the Tallmantz B-25s. (Al Hansen)

The Tallmantz A-26 was under-utilized, as it lacked the versatile waist and tail camera positions. The airplane was "urged" on Tallmantz by Douglas Aircraft, which wanted a Douglas product used to photograph its new DC-8s and DC-9s for advertising and customers. Unfortunately, without a camera position in the tail, it was rarely used. (Norman P. Thompson)

Tallmantz wisely got rid of the Invader in 1976, and here it seen at Chino in June 1977. The airplane remains on the U.S. civil registry, shown as "registration pending." At one point, it was registered to "OnMark Aviation" of Knoxville, Tennessee. One report shows the airplane siezed after a drug run south of the border, and ending up with the War Eagles Air Museum at Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

One Six Right: The Romance of Flying is an independent film about the general aviation industry as seen through a local airport. Within a short period of time, it has achieved a passionate following and presence among pilots and aviation enthusiasts worldwide who see the film as being able to communicate their passion for aviation. Concurrently, the film has garnered both local and national political attention in the United States as an accurate depiction of general aviation and its important contributions to all aviation industries worldwide. Within the entertainment industry, the film has attracted the sponsorship and support of many large media companies, including Apple Inc.,Sony Electronics, Toshiba, Technicolor, Bose, and Dolby, as pioneering new standards in high definition (HD) film making and distribution.

Serial #: 44-34766
Construction #: 28045
Civ. Registration:
N67807
N1243
N910G
N9150
N26BK
Model(s):
A-26B
On Mark Marketeer
Name: Wild Thang
Status: Airworthy
Last info: 2002

History:
Delivered to Reconstruction Finance Corp as 44-34766
- Immediately put up for dispossal, 1945.
Dianna Converse Cyrus Bixby, 1947-1949.
- Registered as N67807.
- Flown as Bendix Racer #91/Huntress.
- Fitted with bomb bay fuel tank for Bendix cross-country race, 1947.
Stanolind Oil & Gas Co, Tulsa, OK, 1954
- Registered as N67807.
Pan American Petroleum Corp, Tulsa, OK, 1961-1964
- Registered as N1243.
Standard Oil Co (Indiana), Chicago, IL, May 31, 1965.
Nine Ten Corp, Chicago, IL, Aug. 4, 1965-1966.
- Registered as N910G.
Paramount Trading Co., Vero Beach, CA 1968-1969
- Registered as N9150.
Miami Aircraft Ventures Inc., Miami, FL, 19701972.
Vicky Miller, Burbank, CA, 1977
USAF Museum, Castle AFB, CA, 1983
- Displayed as USN JD-1 "34766" port side.
- Displayed as USAF 34766/Mary Jo starboard side.
V. Mark Johnson, Lakewood, CO, Dec. 1984-1987
Donald Douglas Museum, Santa Monica, CA, 1987-1990
- Displayed as 434766/Pretty Patti/J
Larry Leaf, Willston, FL, 1990-1991.
David Brady, Cartersville, GA, 1991-1992
- Damage in mid-air collision with Brady's T-37.
- A-26 landed safetly, Cartersville, GA, June 7, 1991.
Reva J. Brady, Cartersville, GA, Feb. 1992.
Museum Of Flying, Santa Monica, CA, 1993.
- Restored to executive configuration, Mojave, CA, 1993-1995.
Howard B. Keck/Thermco Aviation, Thermal, CA & Coachella, CA, May 25, 1994-2002.
- Registered as N26BK.

Havana is an independent 1990 drama starring Robert Redford, Lena Olin and Raúl Juliá, directed by Sydney Pollack and with music by Dave Grusin. In the film, an American professional gambler named Jack Weil (Redford) decides to visit Havana, Cuba to gamble. On the boat to Havana, he meets Roberta Duran (Olin), the wife of a revolutionary, Arturo (Julia). Shortly after their arrival, Arturo is taken away by the secret police, and Roberta is captured and tortured. Jack frees her, but she continues to support the revolution.

Serial #: 44-34766
Construction #: 28045
Civ. Registration:
N67807
N1243
N910G
N9150
N26BK
Model(s):
A-26B
On Mark Marketeer
Name: Wild Thang
Status: Airworthy
Last info: 2002

History:
Delivered to Reconstruction Finance Corp as 44-34766
- Immediately put up for dispossal, 1945.
Dianna Converse Cyrus Bixby, 1947-1949.
- Registered as N67807.
- Flown as Bendix Racer #91/Huntress.
- Fitted with bomb bay fuel tank for Bendix cross-country race, 1947.
Stanolind Oil & Gas Co, Tulsa, OK, 1954
- Registered as N67807.
Pan American Petroleum Corp, Tulsa, OK, 1961-1964
- Registered as N1243.
Standard Oil Co (Indiana), Chicago, IL, May 31, 1965.
Nine Ten Corp, Chicago, IL, Aug. 4, 1965-1966.
- Registered as N910G.
Paramount Trading Co., Vero Beach, CA 1968-1969
- Registered as N9150.
Miami Aircraft Ventures Inc., Miami, FL, 19701972.
Vicky Miller, Burbank, CA, 1977
USAF Museum, Castle AFB, CA, 1983
- Displayed as USN JD-1 "34766" port side.
- Displayed as USAF 34766/Mary Jo starboard side.
V. Mark Johnson, Lakewood, CO, Dec. 1984-1987
Donald Douglas Museum, Santa Monica, CA, 1987-1990
- Displayed as 434766/Pretty Patti/J
Larry Leaf, Willston, FL, 1990-1991.
David Brady, Cartersville, GA, 1991-1992
- Damage in mid-air collision with Brady's T-37.
- A-26 landed safetly, Cartersville, GA, June 7, 1991.
Reva J. Brady, Cartersville, GA, Feb. 1992.
Museum Of Flying, Santa Monica, CA, 1993.
- Restored to executive configuration, Mojave, CA, 1993-1995.
Howard B. Keck/Thermco Aviation, Thermal, CA & Coachella, CA, May 25, 1994-2002.
- Registered as N26BK.

Appeared in the movie with N26BK, above

Havana is an independent 1990 drama starring Robert Redford, Lena Olin and Raúl Juliá, directed by Sydney Pollack and with music by Dave Grusin. In the film, an American professional gambler named Jack Weil (Redford) decides to visit Havana, Cuba to gamble. On the boat to Havana, he meets Roberta Duran (Olin), the wife of a revolutionary, Arturo (Julia). Shortly after their arrival, Arturo is taken away by the secret police, and Roberta is captured and tortured. Jack frees her, but she continues to support the revolution.

Serial #: 44-35643
Construction #: 28922
Civil Registration:
N6841D
C-GCES
N8015H
N226RW
N626SH
Model(s):
A-26C
RB-26C
Monarch 26
Name: Lil Twister, ( formerly Daisy Mae )
Status: Restoration
Last info: 2003

History:
Delivered to French AF as 44-35643.
- BOC: Apr. 10 1954.
- Based Indochina.
- Returned to USAF, Oct. 22, 1955.
Open Storage, Clark AFB, Philipines, 1955-1958.
Rock Island Oil & Refining Co, Wichita, KS, 1959-1969.
- Registered as N6841D.
- Converted to Monarch 26, Hutchinson, KS.
Hodge Laboratories Inc, Wichita, KS, 1970.
- Landed with gear up, Hutchinson, KS, Oct. 20, 1971.
William K. Mayfield, Halstead, KS, 1972.
Robert Diemet, Carmen, Manitoba, Oct. 14, 1973-1979.
- Registered as C-GCES, Oct. 1974.
Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX, June 1979-1984.
- Registered as N8015H.
Confederate Air Force, Pine Bluff, AR, Feb. 1984-1991.
- Registered as N226RW.
CAF/Commemorative Air Force, Midland, TX, Sept. 1991-2003.
- Flew as 4435643/Daisy Mae/A.
- Registered as N626SH, Jan. 1999.
- Currently undergoing complete rebuild to be re named "Lil Twister"

The Train is a 1964 war movie directed by John Frankenheimer from a story and screenplay by Franklin Coen and Frank Davis, based on the non-fiction book and Le front de l'art by Rose Valland. It stars Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield and Jeanne Moreau.

Set in August 1944, the film sets Resistance-member Labiche (Burt Lancaster) against Col. von Waldheim (Paul Scofield), who is attempting to ship art masterpieces from a French museum to Germany.

French Armée de l'Air A-26 Invaders were the aircraft that bombed the railroad yard.

The Right Stuff is a 1983 American film adapted from Tom Wolfe's 1979 book The Right Stuff about the test pilots who were involved in high-speed aeronautical research at Edwards Air Force Base as well as those selected to be astronauts for Project Mercury, the United States' first attempt at manned spaceflight. The story contrasts the "Mercury Seven" and their families with pilots like Chuck Yeager, who was considered by many test pilots to be the best of them all, but was never selected as an astronaut. The Mercury Seven were Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. In some aspects of the film its makers undertook great efforts to make it historically accurate. In others, they took some artistic license, downplaying and sometimes even ridiculing the collective scientific and technical effort of the Mercury program, emphasizing instead the individual adventure and heroism of the test pilots and astronauts.

A large number of film models were assembled for the production; for the more than 80 aircraft appearing in the film, static mock-ups and models were used as well as authentic aircraft of the period. Lt. Col. Duncan Wilmore (ret.) acted as the United States Air Force liaison to the production, beginning his role as a technical consultant in 1980 when the pre-production planning had begun. The first draft of the script in 1980 had concentrated only on the Mercury 7 but as subsequent revisions developed the treatment into more of the original story that Wolfe had envisioned, the aircraft of late-1940s that would have been seen at Edwards AFB were required.

Wilmore gathered World War II era "prop" aircraft including an A-26 Invader

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