B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

[A26 Special K]

Had the opportunity to go visit the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston before my departure for the sandbox. Got this shot of what would have been a Skyraider stable-mate of the K's at NKP. The TT on the tail along with the Air Commando Wing insignia are the big clues. The K's had TA. I keep getting tempted to place that on K's tail, but since she didn't go, we are left in a quandry as to whether to put IF for England AFB as she was last painted or make the change. We have fairly well settled on IF, but it still makes me wonder. I have not found a picture that shows the tail code when they were are Hurlburt AFB. Apparently, it was never changed so IF would be appropriate for the period. Any thoughts on the subject? TA or IF or a code for Hurlburt if there was one?? JR

[K5DH]

Jim, I think you should "keep it original". Go with the "IF" tail code because Kay really wore it. Telling your airshow and tour guests, "This is exactly how she was painted when she was in USAF service", will definitely impress them!

[Fouga23]

Another vote for the original IF

[NathanT24]

I say TT and you can fly in formation with the Skyraider.

[rdennard]

When it comes to wearing a T-shirt with a graphic of some place or event on it, it is the "LAW" that you can't wear the T-shirt unless you have been there, or done that. It simply isn't right to wear a "Las Vegas" T-Shirt unless you've been there.

That's a long way to go to say that you should keep it IF.

[A26 Special K]

Bob, I think you have a winning argument there. Unless we find a Hurlburt code on a picture from back in the day, England AFB will do nicely. I suppose we should get used to explaining why there is a big IF on the tail followed by the story of England AFB in Alexandria, LA. The base closed after the First Gulf War. When we go to Hurlburt for the reunion/memorial service for the Air Commando Association, we plan to stop at ol England and say howdy. There are some folks there who still remember the A-26 folks back in time. Heck, the doc who delivered yours truly was a Flight Surgeon at England later. Last I heard he was living in OKC and gone past his hundredth birthday. So if anybody knows Dr. LaFon there, please let me know. Thanks, JR

[A26 Special K]

Flew a B-25 training mission recently and caught this shot. Can anybody recognize where this is? No pony, but will get a star by your name!!! The Duck Drivin Lady is disqualified cause she knew about the mission beforehand, so the field is wide open. JR

[LadyO2Pilot]

Editing due to a semi-nastygram from the previous poster....a B-25 driver.

I was calling BS on him not letting me play.........but I will admit I did know the answer due to prior info !!!!!!!

Last edited by LadyO2Pilot on Wed May 28, 2014 11:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Obergrafeter]

The Golden Gate!

[A26 Special K]

The Golden Gate!

Well, Ober, some folks might consider it the Golden Gate of the Republic. That funny colored bridge out in SFO is a long way from this one. Ok, so the picture is a little small to get many details, but does this give enough of a clue?? I will be glad to get back to the Republic myself soon. Getting anxious to see the progress on K. There are a bunch of pics that I have received. Will have to post when I get home. Cheers, JR

[NImrodA26]

.............Unless we find a Hurlburt code on a picture from back in the day, England AFB will do nicely
=======
Not sure 679 had a tail code until she got to EAFB. I think she left Hurlburt Field in the green and gray attire. Only tail numbers then
was 64-17679. Same for the first eight that went to NKP.

[rdennard]

"IF" is a fine tail code. All of the pilots and ground crews that deployed with Big Eagle (like Randy) first got ready at England AFB. In the following years all pilots that would fly the A-26 were trained at England AFB. When ground crew folks like me received orders for the 609th ACS, we went TDY there to learn the A-26.

So, England AFB was the "Gateway to the Nimrods". I think that is a proud claim.

[A26 Special K]

Bob, I didn't fully realize that England AFB had more to do with the making of Nimrods than Hurlburt. Thanks for pointing that out!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Made it back from the desert in one piece this morning. Just a little jet lag going on here. So I'm only going to post one pic from last weekend's work. More later. Larry and Stan have been doggin the avionics to the point that we now have audio recordings of the tower answering for the first time!!! Yay... Lots of instruments to put back in when the final adjustments are made to the radios, but it is looking much better than it was. Also notice the red and black striped panel above the radio stack. Ray made a new section there, painted it and did the lettering by hand... one letter at a time. Incredibly tedious, but incredibly good as a result. Attaboys to all who worked on the cockpit this week. More things going on tomorrow, Saturday, at the VFM hangar. The team will be there for sure and the B-24 is prepping to leave for its East Coast tour soon. So come see us before she leaves. Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

It was another fine day at the hangar and it sure was good to see everybody again!! Here Tim and David B spent most of the day testing and fitting the aileron gap seals. It was a bit of a puzzle how to pull the zipper that joins the two halves of the seal while the aileron is in place, but as usual, they figured it out. Guys can always find a way to work a zipper, right? Just have to be motivated! Paige, David B's better half sent us something yummy right out of the oven... blueberry coffee cake. She hit a home run with this one. I gave David the empty plate and asked if he would please convey our compliments to the chef and please fill the plate up again!! Again, it's all about our motivation!!! I'll report on other progress later. JR