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Executive and Civilian Invaders - Main page
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The shots below were kindly supplied by Larry Green,
Via the Web site - Air-Britain Photographic Images Collection.. http://www.abpic.co.uk/ thanks Larry
The above shot is an interesting photo taken by Brendan McCartney
of N190Y in Tripoli, Libya in the late 1960s where it was operated by the Occidental Oil Company. Brendon
was an air traffic controller at the airport and had many dealings with the aircraft.
The above shot was taken at Gatwick possibly in 1975
and was supplied by John Davidson
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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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Note
NTSB Identification: EU170DYZ02
14 CFR Part 91 General
Aviation
Event occurred Saturday, December 19, 1970 in BEIRUT, Lebanon
Aircraft: DOUGLAS A-26, registration: N40XY
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FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA
F S M/N PURPOSE
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5-0038 70/12/19 BEIRUT,LEBANON DOUGLAS A-26 CR- 0 0 3 MISCELLANEOUS ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
TIME - 1508 N40XY PX- 0 0 0 TEST 35, 7000 TOTAL HOURS, 890
DAMAGE-MINOR OT- 0 0 0 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
RATED.
CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
NAME OF AIRPORT - BEIRUT
DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION
BEIRUT,LEBANON LOCAL
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
REMARKS- INVESTIGATION UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE GOVT OF LEBANON.
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N103C seen here above, in Sept 61
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Serial #: 41-39555
Construction #:
Civil
Registration:
N103C
Model(s):
A-26B-40-DL
A-26B
B-26B
On Mark Marketeer
Name: None
Status:
Unknown
Last info: 39555 to civil registry as N103C with Pinellas Central Bank
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Above, N4973N in front of the LeTourneau hangar
Above, the LeTourneau hangar
The above four personal shots donated by Tom Kirn at Airliners.net,
show "114" at Rochester - NY in 1960 with the pilot lying under the plane reading a book and waiting for his boss
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Serial #: 43-22275
Construction #: 18422
Civil
Registration:
N4973N
N114RG
Model(s):
A-26B
B-26B
Le Tourneau
B-26
Name: None
Status: Unknown
Last info: 1972
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History:
Registered as N4973N
R.G. Le Tourneau Inc,
Lonview, TX, 1959-1969.
- Registered as N114RG.
- Flew as "Pappy".
- Converted to Executive"Le Tourneau B-26" configuration.
Sale
Reported, 1972.
It is thought that N114RG was eventually canabalized to keep R.G.
Le Tourneau's last A-26, N115RG flying.
RG originally purchased some 29 of these aircraft. He had 4 or 5 flying between
his factories on a regular schedule for many years. He had a side business of converting and selling the rest. The last of
his 26s was sold to a guy about in 1965 who then lost it to the Brazilian government for smuggling. The airplane
was in a museum in Sao Paulo when last heard of. RG sold his last 26, to purchase one of the first Lear 23s.
Bill Lear delivered it personally!" |
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Serial #: 44-34134
Construction #: 27413
Civil
Registration:
N4974N
N115RG
Model(s):
A-26B
B-26B
C-26B
Le Tourneau
Name: None
Status: Display
Last info: 1985
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History:
Registered as N4974N
R.G. Letourneau Inc,
Longview, TX, 1954-1966.
- Registered as N115RG.
- Executive conversion to Le Tourneau B-26.
Sam Seaton, Fort Smith,
AR, June 24, 1969-1970.
- Still On US Civil Register.
- Impounded while Drug Smuggling, Brasilia, Brazil, June 21, 1966-1975.
Transferred
to FA Brasileira as FAB C-26B-5176.
Museu de Armes e Veiculos Motorizados Antigos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Jan. 1975-1985. |
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Serial #: 44-35240
Construction #: 28519
Civil Registration:
N122Y
N1221
Model(s):
A-26C
B-26C
On Mark Marketeer
Name: None
Status: Crashed
Last
info: 1972
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History:
Ayer Associates Automobile Inc.
- Registered as N122Y.
Trathan
Drilling, Shreveport, LA, 1963-1966.
- registered as N1221.
W. L. Bostwick, Palm Beach, FL. 1969.
Wilco Aviation,
Jacksonville, FL, 1970.
- Crashed into sea during emergency landing, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Aug. 27, 1970.
John P. Coate,
Miami, FL, Oct. 2, 1970-1972.
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Regarding the above two shots, I had a mail from Robert
Brown recently ( 21/05/2012 )
Attached are photos of an A-26 converted to executive configuration
by Spartan Aircraft in Tulsa, Oklahoma for Phillips Petroleum. Aircraft is N66661 and the Phillips ownership seems to fill
in a gap in the history of it shown on your website. Photos by my father,Art Brown, in 1951. He remembered that Spartan had
converted several A-26's for Phillips and that Phillips was scouring the country trying to buy more. There was an FAA inspector
in the Atlanta Regional Office who had been at Spartan after my father left in 1952 and he remembered more about their later
work on A-26's and PV-1's quoting how many he remembered being converted. It was common for students at Spartan School of
Aeronautics to get part time jobs at the mod division and my father worked on B-17's being overhauled for the Coast Guard.
Robert Brown
Marietta, Georgia
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Serial #: 44-34777
Construction #: 28056
Civil
Registration:
N66661
N1242
N910F
N919P
Model(s):
A-26B
On Mark Marketeer
Name: None
Status: Stored
Last info: 1987
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History:
Delivered to Reconstruction Finance Corp as
44-34761
- Immediately put up for dispossal, 1945.
Spartan Aircraft, Tulsa to executive config. Then Phillips Petroleum
1951
Standard Oil & Gas Co, Tulsa, OK, 1954. Converted
to a Marketeer by On Mark Engineering at Van Nuys, Califoria, USA. 1954
- Registered as N66661.
Pan American Petroleum Corp, Tulsa,
OK, 1961-1964.
- Registered as N1242.
Standard Oil Co of Indiana, chicago, IL, May 31, 1965.
Nine Ten Corp, Chicago,
IL, Aug. 4, 1965-1966.
- Registered as N910F.
Republic National Bank Of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, 1969-1970.
- Registered
as N919P.
- Overshot runway during landing at Chicago-Meigs Field, IL, ran into Lake Michigan and sank, Nov. 26, 1968.
Walter
Soplata Collection, Newbury, OH, 1975-1987.
- Salvaged and hulk trucked to Soplata Farm.
Note:
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Overshot while landing at Chicago-Meigs Field, Illinois, USA, ran into Lake
Michigan and sank on November 26, 1969. The salvaged airframe became a part of the Walter Soplata Collection, Newbury, Ohio,
where it still remained on February 11, 2007, albeit sans engines and landing gear. | |
Note
NTSB Identification: CHI69A0057
14 CFR Part
91 General Aviation
Event occurred Tuesday, November 26, 1968 in CHICAGO, IL
Aircraft: DOUGLAS A-26B, registration:
N919P
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FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA
F S M/N PURPOSE
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3-4791 68/11/26 CHICAGO,ILL DOUGLAS A-26B CR- 0 0 3 NONCOMMERCIAL AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
TIME - 1431 N919P PX- 0 0 2 CORP/EXEC 39, 6818 TOTAL HOURS,
DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL OT- 0 0 0 1108 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
RATED.
NAME OF AIRPORT - MEIGS
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
OVERSHOOT LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT LANDING: ROLL
PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO INITIATE GO-AROUND
FACTOR(S)
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
REMARKS- ACFT RAN INTO LAKE AND SANK. PLT CLAIMED BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED.
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The Nine shots below of 126HK were kindly donated by Eric Van
Gilder of http://www.vg-photo.com/airshow/qb36/a26.html..... Thanks Eric your photography is outstanding. I think this particular
aircraft must be one of the most outstanding of its kind in the world.
Howard Keck (A-26 Company Inc) now owns ex EAA A-26 44-35788, formerly
NL8058E, which is now NL126HK. Howard also owns the beautiful, highly polished bare metal executive conversion A-26 N26BK
44-34766 which he flies and also owns the derelict A-26 N99426 44-35780 which flew in Florida as "The Hustler" before it went
to Australia for awhile.
Three A-26s! Lucky guy.
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Serial #: 44-35788
Construction #: 29067
Civil
Registration:
N8058E
N126HK
Model(s):
A-26C
B-26C
Name: None
Status:
Unknown
Last info: 2002
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History:
L.B. Smith Aircraft Corp, Miami, FL
- Open
storage, Charlotte, SC, 1962-1972
John J. Stokes, San Marcos, TX, 1977-1978.
Joe Mabee, Midland, TX, 1981-1982.
EAA
Aviation Foundation, Oshkosh, WI, Nov. 1982-2000.
- Restored, Troy, AL, 1987-1994.
- Delivered to Oshkosh, 1994.
Howard
Keck/A-26 Company Inc, Van Nuys, CA, Apr. 19, 2001.
A-26 Company Inc, Van Nuys, Ca, Nov. 2001-2002.
- Registered
as N126HK. |
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Abovw, N4000M, photographed at Watsonville CA in 1966
The three shots above were taken at Chino between June
78 and July 80
The above photo was supplied by Sandra More via her father Dick "Sarge"
Rawlings
The above photo sent in by David Reeves at www.abpic.co.uk,
shows N142ER On Mark Marketeer at Van Nuys Municipal Airport, Ca on the 23/10/81.
Above is N142ER just to the right of a race Bearcat at one of the
many Air race meets back in the 70/80's
The above shot was supplied by Tom Singfield and show "142"
in June 1974
The
above photo was kindly donated by Tom Janney
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Serial #: 41-39215
Construction #: 6928
Civ.
Registration:
N5292V
N5294V
N4000M
N200M
N142ER
Model(s):
A-26B
B-26B
On Mark
Marketeer
Name: None
Status: Restoration
Last
info: 2007
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History:
Recta Air Aenterprises
- Registered as N5292V
On
Mark engineering Co, Van Nuys, CA, 1963
Reregistered as N200M
L.B. Maytag Jr, Miami, FL, 1966
- Registered as N4000M.
Embry
Riddle Institute, Daytona Beach, FL, 1969-1974.
- Registered as N142ER.
Milt Stollak, Burbank, CA, 1977.
Gold Coast
Classic Cars, Fort Lauderdale, FL, May, 1982.
Courtesy Aircraft Inc., Rockford, IL, Feb. 1984.
ADA Aircraft Museum,
Oklahoma, OK Feb. 1985.
- Forced landing after engine fire during delivery flight, Lawton, OK, Mar. 17, 1985.
- Left
wing destroyed.
Jim Ricketts/Aero Nostalgia Inc, Stockton, CA, 1986-1989.
- Static Restoration.
US Naval Aviation
Museum, NAS Pensacola, FL, 1990-2007.
- Displayed as "JD-1 USN/Bu77141".
- Under restoration, 2007.
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Note
NTSB Identification: FTW85LA151 .
The docket is stored
on NTSB microfiche number 28202.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, March 17, 1985 in
LAWTON, OK
Aircraft: DOUGLAS A-26B, registration: N142ER
Injuries: 3 Minor.
AN INTERMITTANT FIRE IN THE LEFT ENGINE ACCESSORY
SECTION LED TO LOSS OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE RIGHT ENGINE INJESTED WATER AND QUIT. THE LANDING GEAR HAD BEEN LEFT PINNED
IN THE DOWN POSITION BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION REPORTED ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. NEITHER PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED, BUT THE RESULTING
HIGH RATE OF DESCENT LED TO A FORCED LANDING BEFORE THE LEFT TANK BLEW UP AND THE WING BURNED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED
BY FIRE AFTER ALL THREE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FERRIED TO ANOTHER FACILITY FOR RESTORATION.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the
probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
MAINTENANCE,INSPECTION..INADEQUATE..COMPANY MAINTENANCE
PERSONNEL
FLUID,FUEL..WATER
ACCESSORY DRIVE ASSY..FIRE
Contributing Factors
PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION..INADEQUATE..PILOT
IN COMMAND
OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT..INTENTIONAL..PILOT IN COMMAND
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Above, Douglas A-26B N2DM (ex 41-39163)
at San Francisco in August 1958 in the "Boardroom Bomber" era of military disposals aircraft being rebuilt as luxury executive
transports. N2DM was owned by Diamond Gardner Corp, and had been modified as an On Mark Marketer. Photo: Larry Smally via
Gordon Reid collection.
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Serial #: 41-39163
Construction #:
Civil
Registration:
N2022A, N2DM, N2DD, N61B, N161Q
Model(s):
A-26B
On Mark Marketeer
Name:
None
Status: Unknown
Last info: Crashed Mar 12, 1966
NTSB
Identification: MKC68F0538
14 CFR Part 91 General Aviation
Event occurred Saturday, March 16, 1968
in KANSAS CITY, KS
Aircraft: DOUGLAS A-26, registration: N61B
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FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA
F S M/N PURPOSE
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3-0830 68/3/16 KANSAS CITY,KANS DOUGLAS A-26 CR- 0 0 2 NONCOMMERCIAL PRIVATE, AGE 38, 7642
TIME - 1630 N61B PX- 0 0 2 PRACTICE TOTAL HOURS, 820 IN TYPE,
DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL OT- 0 0 0 INSTRUMENT RATED.
NAME OF AIRPORT - FAIRFAX
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
GEAR COLLAPSED TAXI: TO TAKEOFF
PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: MAIN GEAR-SHOCK ABSORBING ASSY,STRUTS,ATTACHMENTS,ETC.
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
REMARKS- RT GEAR TRUNION PIVOT FITTINGS FAILED. |
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On Mark Marketeer N202R Photographed at Long Beach, California, USA,
October 1963
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N202R is shown here at Chicago / West Chicago - Dupage (DPA)
USA - Illinois, in April 1979
The above shot was kindly donated by Paul Cicci via his collection at Airliners.net
- Visit Pauls collection here |
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Serial #: 44-35601
Construction #: 28880
Civil
Registration:
N202R
Model(s):
A-26C
B-26C
On Mark Marketeer
Name: Miss Murphy
Status:
Airworthy
Last info: 2002
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History:
B.S. Hagill
- Registered as N202R.
Metropolitan
Paving Co, Oklahoma City, OK, 1963-1964.
- Nose gear collapsed on takeoff, Oklahoma, OK, Jan. 28, 1965.
Harry Mallory,
Oklahoma, OK, 1966.
Aero Industries Inc, Addison, TX, 1969-1970.
Texas Instruments Inc, Dallas, TX, 1972-1977.
Edward
Counselman, Topeka, KS, 1978.
Rodney G. Huskey, Grand Junction, CO, Nov. 1981-1995.
- Flew as USAF/44-35601/202/Miss
Murphy.
Lone Star Express, Grand Junction, CO, June 20, 1998-2002.
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Note
NTSB Identification: FTW65A0078
14 CFR Part 91 General
Aviation
Event occurred Thursday, January 28, 1965 in OKLAHOMA CTY, OK
Aircraft: DOUGLAS B-26, registration: N202R
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FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA
F S M/N PURPOSE
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2-0039 65/1/28 OKLAHOMA CTY OKLA DOUGLAS B-26 CR- 0 0 2 NONCOMMERCIAL AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
TIME - 2004 N202R PX- 0 0 0 CORP/EXEC 46, UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL OT- 0 0 0 UNK/NR IN TYPE,
INSTRUMENT RATED.
NAME OF AIRPORT - WILL ROGERS FIELD
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
GEAR RETRACTED TAKEOFF: ABORTED
PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPERLY SERVICED AIRCRAFT (GROUND CREW)
FACTOR(S)
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MISSING
REMARKS- NOSE GEAR SCISSORS RETAINING BOLT NOT SECURED-SERVICEMAN DID NOT ASSURE PLT INFORMED OF CONDITION
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Above is N237Y, when she flew for PFB Enterprises of Akron, Ohio.
Here she is parked at Columbus-Port Columbus International in July
70.
Note how closely the paint work resembles N71Y in the shot above her.
Above, two shots taken in '64 at Glendale
Above is N237Y in 1966
Above is 237 when she was at Buffalo - NY in June 86
The above shot shows 237 while at Buffalo - NY in 87 and was supplied
by Mike Jones Via Air - Britain
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Serial #: 41-39516
Construction #:
7229
Civil
Registration:
N237Y
Model(s):
A-26B
B-26B
On Mark
Marketeer
Name:
None
Status: Static Display
Last info: 2002
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History:
Standard Oil Co, Chicago, IL, 1954-1963.
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Registered as N237Y.
Alsam Inc, Youndston, OH, 1966-1969.
PBF Enterprises, Akron, OH, 1970-1972
See Note 1. below
Calspan Corp, Buffalo, NY/Edwards AFB, CA, 1977-1990.
National Warplane Museum,
Geneseo, NY, 1990-2002.
- Donated by Calspan Corp.
- Displayed in 149th BS (Light), Virginia ANG scheme. |
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Above,
Courtesy of Bill Bailey
The above three shots belong to John Barnwell
Above is N240P in 68
The above shot was kindly supplied by R A Scholefield
Above is 240P at Paine Field, Washington on 18th
Nov 73
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Serial #: 41-39427
Construction #: 7140
Civil
Registration:
N75Y
N240P
Model(s):
A-26B-35-DL
A-26B
B-26B
Grand Central Aircraft Co.
Name: Spirit Of Waco
Status: Airworthy
Last
info: 2003
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History:
Texas Railroad Equipment Co, Houston, TX, 1954
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Registered as N75Y.
Brown & Root, Inc, 1959-1961
Barnwell Drilling Co, Shreveport, LA, 1963-1967. Barnwell Drilling
Company of Shreveport, LA bought the A-26 on December 30, 1961 and made further modifications to enhance the executive transport
role. During this time period, 1952-1967, the A-26 received best of care and maintenance from Barnwell and Texas Railway Equip
Co. It is said that former Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson had flown on the aircraft as well as Jack Kennedy. John Barnwell traded
the A-26 on February 7, 1967 for a larger Corvair 240 with Omni Investments.
The registration N-numbers were also swapped in the trade and Invader
N75Y became Invader N240P.
William V. Wright, Long Beach, CA, 1969-1972- Registered as N240P.
Aircraft Holdings, Miami, FL, 1976
Earl
Parks, Amarillo, TX, 1976.
CAF/Commemorative Air Force, Harlingen (later Midland), TX, May 10, 1977-2003.
- Withdrawn
from use, Amarillo, TX, 1978-1980.
- Delivered to Waco, TX for restoration, Aug. 2, 1980-1982.
- Flown as 437140/R/Spirit
Of Waco
The "Spirit" is now part of the Vintage Flying Museum and the CAF
Invader Squadron, but now known as "Texas Special" and will make
the VFM it's new home.
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A-26B SN# 43-7140 was built in 1943 it was the 328th A26B built
at the Douglas plant in Long Beach, Calif. It was delivered to the USAAF on Dec 8th, 1944 and given the USAAF serial number
of 41-39427. It served with various military units such as the 127th base unit at Florence S.C. 4Jan44 thru 13Nov45 and the
4160th base unit Air Material Command at Hobbs Field N.M. 13Nov45 thru Sept of 48, and the 4127th base unit Air Material Command
at McLellan AFB in CA from Sept of 48 to 13Mar50 when it was stricken from the USAF inventory and sold on the civilian market.
The aircraft spent 2 years in storage until Alex Oser, a scrap
dealer bought it and 13 other A26's in Jan of 1952, it was sold 19Mar52 to Texas Railway Equipment Co. of Houston one of 9
sold to them, 7 of which ended up going to the French Air Force.
The aircraft went thru major modifications April of 1953 when the
aircraft was completely disassembled and all systems inspected and repaired or overhauled, it was at this time the aircraft
was converted to an executive transport with many luxuries and modifications being done to the aircraft by Grand Central Aircraft
Co. of Glendale, Calif.
Barnwell Drilling Company of Shreveport, LA bought the A-26 30Dec61
and made further modifications along the executive transport role. During this time period 1952-1967 the A-26 received best
of care and maintenance from Barnwell and Texas Railway Equip Co., it is said that former Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson had
flown on the aircraft as well as Jack Kennedy!! John Barnwell traded the A-26 on 7Feb67 for a larger Corvair 240 with Omni
Investments. and the N numbers were also swapped in the trade and Invader N75Y became Invader N240P.
Flight Test Research Inc of Long Beach, CA purchased the aircraft
on 19Apr67 for $15,000.00 and the aircraft went home to where it was built 25 years earlier.
Note 1: Ownership history
and uses are a little sketchy from 1972 to 1977 but they must have been interesting since the aircraft was seized from drug-runners
by T.L. Baker of the Potter Co. Sheriffs Dept in Amarillo on Jan 10th 1977 after a pilot had landed the aircraft on one engine
and walked away from the airplane and authorities became suspicious. A testament to this is that at a particular air show
a few years ago two gentlemen in dark sunglasses seemed rather intrigued by the airplane; finally one of the gentlemen approached
a crew member and asked what color the aircraft had been before Ranger Wing acquired it. When told it was white with grey
trim he exclaimed "My God it's the "Grey Ghost"!! We chased that sucker up and down the Gulf Coast!! Never could catch him,
he'd drop down on the deck and throttle the engines up and leave us standing there! The two gentlemen were DEA agents!!
The A-26 was purchased by the Commemorative Air Force on 21st of
Dec, 1977 from the Amarillo Sheriffs Dept. After numerous weekend trips to Amarillo to prepare her for the flight to her new
home the A-26 was ferried to Waco on Sept 11th, 1980. Quite a feat since the Ranger Squadron had only held its first meeting
as a CAF unit on June 23rd, 1980 and only had 15 very dedicated members when assigned the A-26 by the Commemorative Air Force.
Initial restoration was completed in August of 1982 and soon after
the airplane headed for Redbird Airport near Dallas for a new paint job, that's after members had scraped 4 old coats of paint
from her, when she emerged from the paint shop she sported the colors Of the Grim Reapers of the 13th Bomb Squadron - Korea,
she was jet black, with red wingtips and cowlings. Ranger Member Col. Gene Deveney painted the nose art of a Hauco Indian
Princess on the nose and the members voted and finally named the airplane the "Spirit of Waco" narrowly defeating the name
"Tee-Pee Time Gal".
Except for a 2 year period when the aircraft lost its number one
engine when a master rod failed on takeoff at Las Vegas McCarran Airport in 1986 after a CAF "Gathering of Eagles" show. Col
Wayne Shookman who was at the controls at the time managed to get her back on the ground. The Ranger Squadron found many eager
volunteer CAF Colonels in the Las Vegas area to help get "Spirit of Waco" back in the air. It was from these volunteers that
the Nevada Wing was born. The CAF honored these volunteers by assigning them the "Vegas Vixen" an A-26C model (glass nose)
also done in the 13th Bomb Squadrons colors. Thanks to their help "Spirit of Waco" and "Vegas Vixen" continue to spark the
imagination and thrill air show spectators with their low level strafing attacks and bomb runs.
As a Commemorative Air Force unit we are proud to maintain and
safeguard the A-26B, a graceful and beautiful example of the aircraft that defended our nation and other allied countries
in such a desperate and dramatic period in our nation's history. We are proud to be "Ghost Squadron" members.
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Abovw, N4000M, photographed at Watsonville CA in 1966
The three shots above were taken at Chino between June
78 and July 80
The above photo sent in by David Reeves at www.abpic.co.uk,
shows N142ER On Mark Marketeer at Van Nuys Municipal Airport, Ca on the 23/10/81.
Above is N142ER just to the right of a race Bearcat at one of the
many Air race meets back in the 70/80's
The above shot was supplied by Tom Singfield and show "142"
in June 1974
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Serial #: 41-39215
Construction #: 6928
Civ.
Registration:
N5292V
N5294V
N4000M
N200M
N142ER
Model(s):
A-26B
B-26B
On Mark
Marketeer
Name: None
Status: Restoration
Last
info: 2007
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History:
Recta Air Aenterprises
- Registered as N5292V
On
Mark engineering Co, Van Nuys, CA, 1963
Reregistered as N200M
L.B. Maytag Jr, Miami, FL, 1966
- Registered as N4000M.
Embry
Riddle Institute, Daytona Beach, FL, 1969-1974.
- Registered as N142ER.
Milt Stollak, Burbank, CA, 1977.
Gold Coast
Classic Cars, Fort Lauderdale, FL, May, 1982.
Courtesy Aircraft Inc., Rockford, IL, Feb. 1984.
ADA Aircraft Museum,
Oklahoma, OK Feb. 1985.
- Forced landing after engine fire during delivery flight, Lawton, OK, Mar. 17, 1985.
- Left
wing destroyed.
Jim Ricketts/Aero Nostalgia Inc, Stockton, CA, 1986-1989.
- Static Restoration.
US Naval Aviation
Museum, NAS Pensacola, FL, 1990-2007.
- Displayed as "JD-1 USN/Bu77141".
- Under restoration, 2007.
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Note
NTSB Identification: FTW85LA151 .
The docket is stored
on NTSB microfiche number 28202.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, March 17, 1985 in
LAWTON, OK
Aircraft: DOUGLAS A-26B, registration: N142ER
Injuries: 3 Minor.
AN INTERMITTANT FIRE IN THE LEFT ENGINE ACCESSORY
SECTION LED TO LOSS OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE RIGHT ENGINE INJESTED WATER AND QUIT. THE LANDING GEAR HAD BEEN LEFT PINNED
IN THE DOWN POSITION BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION REPORTED ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. NEITHER PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED, BUT THE RESULTING
HIGH RATE OF DESCENT LED TO A FORCED LANDING BEFORE THE LEFT TANK BLEW UP AND THE WING BURNED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED
BY FIRE AFTER ALL THREE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FERRIED TO ANOTHER FACILITY FOR RESTORATION.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the
probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
MAINTENANCE,INSPECTION..INADEQUATE..COMPANY MAINTENANCE
PERSONNEL
FLUID,FUEL..WATER
ACCESSORY DRIVE ASSY..FIRE
Contributing Factors
PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION..INADEQUATE..PILOT
IN COMMAND
OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT..INTENTIONAL..PILOT IN COMMAND
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