The above shot was supplied by John L. Dienst, Ohio when she was "Panhandles Pride" in September 1981, Harlingen, Texas Serial #: 41-39230 Construction #: 6943 Civil Registration:   N9682C Model(s):   A-26B   B-26B Name: Lady Liberty Status: Airworthy Last info: 2007   History: H. R. Wells, 19?? - Registered as N9682C. Flight Inc, Dallas TX, 1963-1966. D & D Aero Spraying Inc., Rantoul, KS, 1969-1980. - Flew as Tanker #105. Harley Wilke/Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX, 1980-1982. CAF/Commemorative Air Force, Harlingen (later Midland), TX, Aug.21, 1982-2007. - Flew as 13930/P/Panhandler's Pride. - Long term restoration, North Vegas, NV, 1988-1996. - Fitted with A-26C nose. - First Flight, June 10, 1996. - Flew as 139230/N/Vegas Vixen. - Renamed Lady Liberty, 2003.

41-39230 is the oldest flying Invader. It was the 130th one produced, being accepted on 18 Aug, 1944, at Long Beach, California. It was flown to Great Dunmow, England on 20 Sep, 1944. It was immediately assigned to the 9th Air Force. The USAF Historical Squadron at Maxwell AFB does not have specific unit history of the aircraft. We have a letter written by a Colonel that says this aircraft was assigned to the 410th Bomb Group and began combat operations in early 1945. The 410th was initially assigned 4 A-26's. Each squadron was given one aircraft. They were painted completely black and initially used as night interdiction aircraft ranging all over Germany.

Today the plane still has patches in the tail that were attributed to encounters with German night fighters.

After WWII it was flown to Hobbs, NM and stored. After some refurbishment it was assigned to an Air Force Reserve unit in Georgia for three years. The aircraft was declared surplus and sold in 1958. After serving as a radio research aircraft for Texas Instruments in Dallas it was sold to Bill Dempsey in Rantoul, Kansas and used as a fire bomber. Tanker 8 was rarely flown and was eventually sold. It was seized by DEA for drug running. The aircraft was purchased at auction and donated to the CAF. After some time with the Panhandle (Texas) Wing it was transferred to the Nevada wing in Las Vegas. After some restoration it was transferred to the A-26 Sponsorship Group and returned to flight status. In 1999 it was relocated to Oklahoma City. After additional maintenance it has been a regular on the airshow circuit.

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