Rod Lewis is getting an A-20!

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

Quick question to the masses. For the repaint of Rod's aircraft, PTO or ETO?

Myself, PTO, for sure!

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Sun Dec 05, 2010 2:38 pm

TriangleP wrote:

I don't think there was any secrecy. The project just hasn't been worked on for a long time, and therefore wouldn't be a common thread of news. I guess because there were no updates, it sort of got forgotten about over the years. I wrote a significant article on MAM for Aircraft Illustrated (now Aircraft Magazine) when the museum first opened... around 2007 if I remember correctly. The museum had about 60 aircraft on the books at the time, and has expanded significantly since, so it's no surprise that an aircraft or two could be forgotten about... especially if they haven't been worked on. I did list the A-20 in the article, if I remember correctly, and know I discussed it with Jerry at the time. Aircraft do have a habit of changing hands quietly though, which is why I sought confirmation tonight, as it would have been an interesting topic to report upon if a new owner was having her restored somewhere. Dave McDonald's research credentials are impeccable too, and I can't imagine him making a mistake easily on something that significant... It can and does happen to the best of us of course, but not in this case.

Cheers,
Richard

Richard, thanks for your careful insights and taking the initiative for the going to the source, handled with poise and respect, and settled the issue for good. Great to learn that there is more work going towards preservation of the type , thanks to Mr. Gerald Yagen and Mr. Murray Griffiths.

Many thanks Sir... much appreciated

Cheers,
Richard

SaxMan · **Posted:** Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:49 pm

gregv wrote:

Hemiman wrote:

Great news indeed!!

I know a bunch of the 3rd's people are happy to have it stay and eventually flying in the states. Some suggestions on some noseart ??

Bill

Would this be a similar treatment to what was done to the famous B-25 "Tondelayo" when it/she was turned into "Chow Hound" for use as a hack and "Fat Cat" runs? The name certainly fits!

great shots btw!

greg v.

John Henebry's book "The Grim Reapers" indicates that Steak and Eggs was put together from two wrecked A-20s to be a hack and "Fat Cat" runs. Since it was made from two wrecks, it's existence was "off the books" It's been a while since I read the book, but IIRC, they used the plane to fly under one of the bridges in Australia. Once the brass figured out what was going on, they took the plane away (or it crashed...again I haven't read the book in a couple of years).

One thing that did stick out in the book was that after the initial batch of A-20s went to the 3rd BG, no new A-20s were sent to them until late '43 / early '44, so the group transitioned to B-25s and used them in the Rabaul raids of November '43. Where were the A-20s going in '43? There was only one other A-20 group oveseas, the 47th BG in the MTO. I guess the rest were being given to the Brits and the Russians for Lend-Lease?

I always thought the A-20 was one of the more underrated aircraft of the war. As a light bomber / attack plane, it was one of the few truly world class planes in the USAAF inventory prior to the start of the war. It was certainly the equivalent, if not better than any other aircraft in its class until the advent of the Mosquito and the later A-26.

Hemiman · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:14 pm

RE: Steak and Eggs..

Rebuilt from two 89th a/c "Little Hellion" and not sure of the other one (possibly"Yellow Fever") under the direction of Robbie Robinson and John Dugan ( who also did the Dinah at Hollandia). Yep, there was an "incident" of going under a bridge, but as fate would have it, a 22nd BG B-26 got the blame! "S&E" was never "pulled" over the incident. She was lost due to fuel starvation and was ditched by low wooded island near Cooktown.
Pre War, the 3rd was equipped with the A-20, but shortly before hostilities, the 8th Sqdn was switched to the A-24. Arriving in March 42' in Australia, the Group had no a/c. At Charters Towers, the 8th received the A-24's, the 89th received A-20's and the 13th and 90th were handed the "borrowed" Dutch B-25's. The 89th were the first to fly the A-20 in the Pacific and stayed with it until the switch to the A-26's. The Group started switching over to A-20's in Nov 43'. Thanks to the O'Donnell family and others for the pics!
Bill

The second paint scheme ( or lack of!)

Her final resting place

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:28 pm

and the tunnel gun???

Hemiman · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:36 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

and the tunnel gun???

Jack..

If you mean was it removed?, I understand all the armament and armor plating was removed. Per Dugan, it would haul a## and a pretty good load.

Bill

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:18 pm

Quote:

including installation of the top turret

you must have posted a second before me so it threw my question off.
I was curious if the restoration will inc the tunnel gun.

gregv · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:17 pm

Bill & Saxman, thanks for all the info on "Steak & Egg(s)"; hard to believe that that much remains in the surf after all this time...

Amazing what those guys could do "in the field" with rudimentary rigging gear & no cover; they must have had funner things to do with their free time, I can only assume they loved both a challenge and their jobs!

cheers!

greg v.

octane130 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:23 pm

Clifford Bossie wrote:

Ah! Willy Farah's old airplane.

Based on Clifford Bossie's post, this must also be Willy Farah's A-20. I took this photo at the former George Air Force Base at Victorville, California in 1979. A bunch of other warbirds were also present for the annual airshow. Good times!

- octane130 -

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

octane130 wrote:

Clifford Bossie wrote:

Ah! Willy Farah's old airplane.

Based on Clifford Bossie's post, this must also be Willy Farah's A-20. I took this photo at the former George Air Force Base at Victorville, California in 1979. A bunch of other warbirds were also present for the annual airshow. Good times!

- octane130 -

Yep, same plane.

Hemiman · **Posted:** Sun Dec 12, 2010 6:53 pm

a couple more... again, thanks to my buddy Jack Heyn and the 3rd families for sharing!

13th CO Dick Walker planning a mission

Hemiman · **Posted:** Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:44 pm

TriangleP wrote:

Super stuff! Is that "Little Isadore" in the aerial shot with Grim Reaper background? Okay, back to you Jack!

YEP!!!

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:48 pm

I heard that the A-20 will be taking a number of months to be completed, but can confirm it is coming, as well as a P-40 in about a year.

Ryan

Aircraft Mech Paul · **Posted:** Mon Dec 20, 2010 1:00 pm

VERY SWEET to keep one flyable example here in the States !!

Paul

Lightning · **Joined:** Fri Nov 05, 2004 7:06 pm **Posts:** 424

Howdy Ryan

Which P-40 are you talking about ?

Lightning

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Rod Lewis is getting an A-20!

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