Martin B-26 getting her wings!

[gary1954]

Hmmmm Having heard from Kmiles regarding this issue on the Marauder airframe.. ..that, based upon his knowledge of the subject, I am going to consider this "debate" the same as I do with an Accident Investigation.....and wait until a statement is released from the Collings Foundation ....at which point I am sure that the CF have a party and we will be filled in by Kmiles .

Until then.....I'm done reviewing this topic
I'm beacon outbound:drink3:

fade to black

[Mark Allen M]

Who knows I still may be able to see a VF-11 painted Hellcat some day

A bit of a thread derailment but isn't the Palm Springs Hellcat done up in VF-11 colors? (Even if not particularly accurate ones!)

No those markings claim to be a Hellcat from VF-2, even though there are similarities such as the white dot. VF-2 F6F's were usually three tone and VF-11 F6F's were all Navy Blue.


An F6F-3 Hellcat of VF-2 assigned to the USS Hornet (CV-12) in mid-1944


An F6F-3 Hellcat of VF-11 assigned to the USS Hornet (CV-12) in early-1945

Also sorry for the thread derail.

[kalamazookid]

..and just what are the terms under which MAPS has custody of the aircraft? As much as I'd love to see a flying Marauder, it'd be a pity for the gang in Akron to have done all that work over the past couple of decades only to have the project sold out from under them.

SN

Good point, I agree with you it would be unfair if MAPS weren't compensated, this is a discussion for MARC and MAPS to work out if an acquistion were to happen. This may be the sticking point if there is a negotiation for acquiring the aircraft, and may require some very significant compensation to MAPS but thats only my opinion. I'm sure they have a contract for the work done and exhibition of the aircraft. This would be a very good reason for Collings to deny a negotiation is taking place, as the discussion is ongoing and very sensitive in regards to MAPS current contract - again only my speculation and essentially worthless - I know nothing. I'm sure they've all noticed this thread by now and may be very nervous. This discussion may have tossed everything down the drain and nixed the very thing we wanted to happen. At any rate, I appreciate that the aircraft was preserved by MARC and actively restored by MAPS, both deserve great credit for the preservation of this wonderful aircraft.

MARC has already moved several aircraft out from under MAPS that MAPS has performed a significant amount of work on. I can recall at least two SBD's and a P-40 that MARC has already moved elsewhere after MAPS had performed a large amount of work. Never been impressed with that practice. I hope that if the same happens with the B-26 that they are adequately compensated either through funds or a trade for a significant display piece to replace it.

[C VEICH]

Who knows I still may be able to see a VF-11 painted Hellcat some day

A bit of a thread derailment but isn't the Palm Springs Hellcat done up in VF-11 colors? (Even if not particularly accurate ones!)

No those markings claim to be a Hellcat from VF-2, even though there are similarities such as the white dot. VF-2 F6F's were usually three tone and VF-11 F6F's were all Navy Blue.

Strange that both VF-2 and VF-11 would use the same white dot in the same location. Regarding the three tone versus all blue scheme that would have nothing to do with which unit they were assigned but rather the time frame and which version of Hellcat was being operated. All -5 Hellcats were delivered from the factory in overall glossy sea blue as, by the time it went into production, the Navy had switched to that paint scheme for day fighter types. (And I would bet the picture of #29 above is in fact a -5 Hellcat and not a -3 as indicated by the caption.) Some -3 Hellcats were repainted into the overall blue scheme as circumstances permitted, although I don't believe it was particularly common. At least these are the conclusions I have come to from doing research for a model project. If I may ask Mark, do you have details regarding the paint scheme of any of the Hellcats flown by your father? I ask only because I have a Hellcat model nearing completion and I would be interested in honoring your father's service by replicating one of his machines. At least then you would be able to see a VF-11 marked Hellcat fly, although not necessarily in the way you originally intended!

PS - Now that I think about it maybe we should take this back channel! (Sorry guys)

[Mark Allen M]

Good morning mr C and how kind of you to offer such a wonderful idea. What an honor that would be. I shall PM you. And thx for the nice words TriangleP, not necessary on my account, but nice indeed. We're all in this together to help make WIX a fun place to hang out for everyone.

Mark

[SaxMan]

Unlike today, in World War II the markings were specific to the carrier, not the air group, that is why both VF-2 and VF-11 have the "dot".

[kennsmithf2g]

Picture of the B26 from 12/04/13



Pictures of the A26

[kmiles]

With the Collings Foundation's recent aquisition of the P-40B, it got me thinking about this interesting exchange of conversation from February, when it was rumored (to say the least) that the Collings Foundation was working to acquire this B-26 located at MAPS. Did this "potential" die, or is it on life support?

Same condition as February. There have been many conversations on many of the MARC aircraft over the years. There is nothing specific about any of the aircraft that has changed since the exchange in February. I hope that people have found other things to do rather than "sit back and wait" because I am sure they are really bored at this point. We, like most of the people on this board, would like to see a B-26 return to the air. There are very few airframes that would be a candidate for that, so conversations have been had. There are no indications that the amount of airworthy B-26s is going to change at any time in the near future.

[Warbird Kid]

There are no indications that the amount of airworthy B-26s is going to change at any time in the near future.

A sad fact that I have to accept. Boy would it be great to see a new-build production run of 5 to 6 new airframes. But… that probably isn't happening anytime soon.

[over/out]

There are no indications that the amount of airworthy B-26s is going to change at any time in the near future.

A sad fact that I have to accept. Boy would it be great to see a new-build production run of 5 to 6 new airframes. But… that probably isn't happening anytime soon.

Aero Trader has the remains of the ex-C.A.F B-26, and I'm Purtty sure the 3rd/last of the Mill.$ B-26s to put one together with (of course) enough $$! C'mon Mr. Lewis?, Collings? Warbird nut, lotto winner? (me, I wish!) we can only hope!

[Warbird Kid]

There are no indications that the amount of airworthy B-26s is going to change at any time in the near future.

A sad fact that I have to accept. Boy would it be great to see a new-build production run of 5 to 6 new airframes. But… that probably isn't happening anytime soon.

Aero Trader has the remains of the ex-C.A.F B-26, and I'm Purtty sure the 3rd/last of the Mill.$ B-26s to put one together with (of course) enough $$! C'mon Mr. Lewis?, Collings? Warbird nut, lotto winner? (me, I wish!) we can only hope!

Would be nice to see a B-26 emerge from the wreckage of the CAF, for the CAF.

[JimH]

The pictures I saw of the remains of the CAF B-26 wouldn't yield much of anything useful. The MAPS B-26 is probably the last and only candidate for restoration. I'm not sure what all Carl has other than the forward fuselage section. Too bad.

Jim

[george]

At one time, there was a picture of the intact tail section of the CAF B-26.

According to a professional Australian researcher, there is an intact B-26 in a swamp near Kerema, New Guinea, that bellied in on its way from Australia to Port Moresby.

[Marauderman26]

At one time, there was a picture of the intact tail section of the CAF B-26.

According to a professional Australian researcher, there is an intact B-26 in a swamp near Kerema, New Guinea, that bellied in on its way from Australia to Port Moresby.

George,
If the researcher is referring to 40-1426 there not much left of it today. Certainly no candidate for a flyer much less static.
Unfortunately.

[george]

Marauderman, the one I'm referring to is 40-1417. The info is from 1997. Maybe its been salvaged or recovered in these last 16 years.