Speaking of A-26's Confiscated by the Government

[Larry Kraus]

I ran across these pictures via Google Life a while ago.They are credited to Hank Walker and were taken for an article in the April 11,1960 issue of Life Magazine titled "Plot Counterplot on Flyways to Cuba".It's on page 113 in this issue:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Kk8EAA ... &q&f=false

You can navigate through the magazine by using the controls above the display.

The following pictures were not used in the article,but show a number of interesting confiscated aircraft,including three A-26's.Here's a link to the Google Life photo series:

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/83 ... f2061.html


Here are some of the pictures.I'm not sure which airport was used for parking.When I flew freight in Beech 18's in the late 70's and early 80's,Customs used Homestead Air Force Base for the purpose,but this airport is obvously a civil field.I don't recognize the FBO's.









Here are some T-28A models:







This looks like a B-25 cockpit to me:



This would appear to be a C-46:

[bdk]

Miami? Look up Samuel Hallock DuPont, Jr.

http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/app ... 569/90137/

http://flwg.us/information/archives/bio ... t--jr.aspx

BTW, I am not suggesting du Pont had anything to do with smuggling. I was just using the name on the hangar to try to figure a location.

Last edited by bdk on Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[zorro7]

Larry:

Good day!

Nice info & links of the Cuban bound T-28s & B-26s. I was looking for those pics myself Tks

The T-28s are poss c.1959 at the famous "corrosion corner" of the old Miami airport. Looks like customs did some digging in the area! Nice shots!! The B-26s are somewhere S. Florida!

[FITD]

Great photographs!

To me the T-28s and the A-26s are all at the same airport. There appears to be the same Beech 18 and Connie in the background of most of the photographs.

The side ends of the DuPont hangar have the word "AVENSA" on them. Wikipedia says that AVENSA was a Venezuelan airline that used to operate into Miami in the 1955-60s. Does this help with the identification of which Miami airport?

FITD

[robkamm]

is that a plywood door on the possible c-46 picture? great photos.

[51fixer]

is that a plywood door on the possible c-46 picture? great photos.

Probably used as a protection of the metal against bumps and bangs in loading and unloading of cargo. Door opening is just above the wood.

[WallyB]

Great photographs!

To me the T-28s and the A-26s are all at the same airport. There appears to be the same Beech 18 and Connie in the background of most of the photographs.

The side ends of the DuPont hangar have the word "AVENSA" on them. Wikipedia says that AVENSA was a Venezuelan airline that used to operate into Miami in the 1955-60s. Does this help with the identification of which Miami airport?

FITD

The Dupont hangar was off NW36th St. Miami (Springs) about where the general aviation terminal is now.
All the photos look to me to have been taken in the vicinity. There is a large building in the SE distance in one photo so if anyone recognizes it, that should confirm it.

[bdk]

Anyone have more on those Invader registrations?

N3683G
N3686G

Not sure what the third one is...

[Invader26]

My Invader was N3328G...

Wondering about the N number sequencing here...?

[Chris Brame]

Looks like N3683G has nose art.

[Larry Kraus]

There are several seemingly identical images of some of the pictures on the Google Life photo page.This is the same basic image as one posted above,but it appears more sharply defined,at least in my files:



Also,here's a picture of another FBO where the Cuban pilots were apparently being detained in Miami:



Here's another picture of either an airplane with remarkable short field capabilities or one that's being stealthy:



I had something like this happen to Tanker 62 while flying to a fire north of Ft.Huachuca several years ago,except that the Customs Guys were in a Citation.I finally saw their shadow on the ground and they flew off when I started a gentle turn toward them to see who was there:

[gary1954]

This looks like a B-25 cockpit to me:

It is a B-25 cockpit those lucky guys

[zorro7]

B-26 Folks:

This one escaped the Feds c.Jul 1962 when it flew fm poss TX to El Coco, Costa Rica & later attempted a rendesvouz with a rebel FAR Cuban C-46 at La Llorona Beach, CR. How they landed there don't ask me but pilots G. Herrera & G. Ponzoa managed it. Reg N79580 (fake). They flew it back to El Coco & parked it to be later confiscated by the CR folks!

p.s This aircraft was in semi-storage for many years near the border with Nicaragua. It's AAF #is B-26C 44-75918 which later became after a fly north of the border c.1970s a FAH 510!! Interesting story of the Bacardi Bomber!! Via Foreign Invaders Book by D. Hagedorn & Hellstrom.

p.s If you have photos or know more details of this fine flying machine plz post!! Tks

Last edited by zorro7 on Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[gary1954]

Here are some of the pictures.I'm not sure which airport was used for parking.When I flew freight in Beech 18's in the late 70's and early 80's,Customs used Homestead Air Force Base for the purpose,but this airport is obvously a civil field.I don't recognize the FBO's.

I'm just wondering which B-25 that is sitting across the road over yonder

[Wildchild]

Anyone remember the story of a B-26 that was loaded with gold that crashed in the Gulf on it's way to Tampa after Castro took over???