The mysterious A26 Invader

[SKYDREAM]

Hello,
We bought the Douglas A26 Invader s / n 44-34172 located in UK (Kent).
She is in perfect condition. She joined her new hangar in southern France to Avignon, where she will be restored to flying condition.



We will certainly need in the next years of advice and spare parts but for now, we would like to know the military life of the aircraft. If one of you has information on the military operational career of this aircraft, it would be very appreciated.
Thank you in advance for the help you can give us in the future.
Sincerely,

Christophe.

[T-28mike]

Congrats on your acquisition.
Good to see that project getting attention again. Rod and Rex had good intentions for it. It is unique in that it was basically an un molested, never civillianized airframe, it is an extremely stock aircraft. Probably one of the most stock examples I have ever seen.

[Invader26]

Congratulations on your new purchase. LOve to see her flying.

from fellow A-26 owner...

[gary1954]

AWESOME!!! absolutely A w e s o m e!!!

Per Joe Baugher's Serial Numbers 44-34172 (B-26C) on civil registry as N4806E. Was imported into England Jul 17, 1986 for
restoration; presumably this is still under way. Noted Aug 2002 stored at Norwich, England

[Al Moore]

Congratulations. Thanks for posting the photos and info. All the best with the restoration.

[C VEICH]

Anybody need a top hatch?

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/clt/2637595469.html

[Tulio]

Not the military records, but...

From my old Warbirds Directory # 4:

27451 • A-26B 44-34172 N4806E Davis Monthan AFB AZ: surplus sale 11.6.58
B-26C Rock Island Oil & Refining Co, Wichita KS 60/66
(planned conv. to Monarch 26 not completed, open storage unrest. Hutchinson KS)
Consolidated Aero Export Corp, Los Angeles CA 69/72
Dennis W. Childers, Claremore OK 4.83/84
Courtesy Aircraft Inc, Rockford IL 85 (stored unconv. 60/85, no civil rest.)
Rod & Rex Cadman, Canterbury, Kent UK .86/98 shipped to UK for rebuild: arr. Southend 17.7.86
A-26 Europe Inc, Rockford IL: USCR 16.6.88/02 (rest. to fly at Southend UK, later Manston UK)
________________________________________________________________________________________

Saludos,


Tulio

[Fred41]

More picts here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24948315@N07/

An here:

http://pics-aeronef.discutfree.com/t6998-l-avion-oublie











Thx Skydream for the travel in the "time machine" !

[WallyB]

we would like to know the military life of the aircraft. If one of you has information on the military operational career of this aircraft, it would be very appreciated.

Most of the google references seem to begin at the point it was demobbed and become N4806E.
There is one additional piece of into here: http://pics-aeronef.discutfree.com/t6998-l-avion-oublie indicating it served in Korea with the 3rd and 17th BGs. Both units have websites; you might inquire there to see if anyone remembers this particular machine.

[shrike]

On of the mechanics at our shop was a young buck at K8 and K9 in Korea with the 17th. There's a fair chance that he worked on, or at least around this one, but I know he won't know it by serial number.
I know he had come across another one of 'his' planes in a museum, and has matching posed photos separated by 50 years or so.

[Cherrybomber13]

Col. Rohr told me to let you guys know that he has requested the history file from Maxwell AFB.

[T J Johansen]

Glad to hear that the A-26 has found a new home. It has long baffled me that there is no flying Invader in France. With the extensive history of the 26 both in military in civilian operation, coupled with the fact that it has good handling qualities one would have expected to see at least one in airworthy condition there.

I remember a photo in the first WW directory of a 26 supposedly under restoration in France to flying condition. This was around 1989. Nothing much was later heard of that one.

Therefore it is great to hear that this one is being worked on again. I seem to remember a couple of people who surveyed it saying it is in need of a lot of work, so best of luck with the restoration. I look forward to the day it flies!

Please do keep us updated on its progress.

T J

[mike furline]

44-34172/BC-172 in the back ground?
http://sites.google.com/site/bombgroup1 ... t-volume-2

[SKYDREAM]

Hi,

Many thanks for your answer.

We started a website to tell the story of the aircraft and its restoration. This is just the beginning : (Sorry, now it's in French but later it will be in English too. You can see pictures by clicking on the links that are in the top left of the homepage).

http://sites.google.com/site/a26invaderavignon/

friendly greetings,

Christophe.

[WallyB]

44-34172/BC-172 in the back ground?

Good eye !