Bay Of Pigs B-26 Invaders

[zorro9]

B-26 Folks:

Among the many stories of the B-26 Invaders involved in the Bay of Pigs conflict is the one of a famous FAR B-26 #933 who landed at Miami airport c. April '61. According to new accounts of some declassified docs c. 1980s & the story of a Chilean pilot (name Ukn for now), hopefully still alive somewhere in Chile is the likely fact that FAR indeed possessed one solid nose sample of a B-26 Invader.

Unlike the sample that landed at Miami c. April 1961, (pic below) this one came fm the Santiago de Cuba area, a spare a/c that somehow was made airworthy during April '61. It was noted to be a FAR 937. It later crashed at the hands of a young Cuban pilot during take-off. I'm sure some more details will be emerging in the near future as to the true ID of this particular aircraft. 2 B Cont.. Photo via AEC.

[Snake45]

Very interesting! Bay of Pigs is one of my (many) particular interests.

[JohnB]

Very interesting! Bay of Pigs is one of my (many) particular interests.

Soon you can visit the place...
In the meantime now that we're friends with Fidel, I'm sure US history books will be rewritten to say the participants were reactionary war criminals or "Yankee Air Pirates" or some such.

Major Anderson...I'm sure he's forgotten in D.C.

[zorro9]

J.B:

Hi! On the contrary, there 're a few folks still looking for pieces of the puzzle for the MIA/KIA B-26 crews. I think there is a Memorial site either in S.Alabama or S. Fla in memory of those brave souls. SOF mag had an article c.2002 or so, regarding the wreck of a long time missing B-26 found in the jungles of Northern Nicaragua & the recovery of some remains in the area.

[Snake45]

BTW, if anyone ever runs across any photos of the Essex A-4s with the markings painted out, I'd love to see them. There's a good verbal description in the Bay of Pigs book, but I don't think any photos exist. I'd love to do a model of one.

[zorro9]

S45:

Hi I'll ck. Seen the photos of some white scheme A-4s. I think there is a report that about some 12-15 NM off of Cuba of a poss engagement with a FAR T-33 or a Fury but the FAR aircraft decided not to engage. BTW the Essex A-4s did show up according to a later declassified doc but they were about 60 mikes late..which another source blames on a poss conflict about time zones in the area.

p.s Stick around.. I'll be posting some black scheme B-26s of the Alabama ANG recently found in my files.

[zorro9]

B-26 Invader Folks:

Does anyone know the details/story of this bird located in S. Fla?? S/n?? Tks in advance. Photo via AEC.

[Andy Marden]

This is 44-35440, at the Bay of Pigs Memorial at Tamiami Airport. It was last C-FMSB.
Andy Marden

USAMOOS

[zorro9]

Andy:

Tks for the info & data!

p.s ..anyone remembers a set of pics uploaded by Mark about these Cuban (3) bound B-26s seized at Miami c. 1957?? Photo LIFE Mag via Mark.

[zorro9]

B-26 Invader Folks:

Looking for the story on this B-26 Invader fuselage.... somewhere in Cuba. c. 2009 or so. Photo Via AEC. Tks in advance.

[zorro9]

..some further research about the above sample shows to be a poss Cuban B-26C poss FAS 917 who was shot down due to friendly fire near Giron/Bay of Pigs on April 1961. The pilot Chilean advisor was Cpt. J.Legas.

[zorro9]

C.R:

Hi! Tks for the info & data about this pic. Pretty close info!!

I wish I could know who took it or the time frame of it. There is a little Spanish plaque at the front with bit of its history. c. 2009-2012 the rebuilt FAR Cuban B-26 at their Museum also appeared with reg #s FAR 937 & FAR 933 & no markings at the tail. The B-26C nose shown on this thread is a poss Cuban FAR B-26C model. We'll keep digging!

[Chris Brame]

This is the parts plane that the Cubans used to rebuild the one they have on display. It's basically a hulk, I know a few folks have asked about it but the Cubans have basically said no.

Did it come from Angola as well?

[zorro9]

Chris:

Hi I do not think so. It would not have been cost effective to bring a fuselage fm across the pond. Hangar talk!!

[zorro9]

B-26C of FAEC #901. c.1956. Poss San Antonio de los Ba~nos base. Photo via AEC.