Bay Of Pigs B-26 Invaders

[zorro9]

Aerovin:

Good Day!



Interesting question! The solid nose sections that I've seen have a "Douglas" ID plate with AAF S/N on it & it says B-26. Nose sections chg a bit so they may have a diff AAF S/N on it than the cockpit ID. Sorry, I have not seen in close-up pics of the clear nose details. But I'm sure they're there in the frame somewhere. Perhaps someone will come up with a pic of it. I'm sure...I'd like to see some of those also for ref purposes.

[Hudicourt]

I also have a few old FAR B-26 pictures, taken between 1959 and 1961

This is one where it is difficult to figure out the registration, probably 927, which existed. The 8 underwing .50 Cal are interesting.



This is FAR 909. It was Silva's personal aircraft, "La Maya" named after the military outpost he bombed at the controls of a captured Cuban Navy Kingfisher in 1958. Silva did not get to fly his 909 at Giron. He flew on 937 in the early morning of April 17, then was shot down by the AAA from the LCI "Blagar" during his second sortie in FAR 923 around noon.
Silva is the second from the right, standing.

Enrique Carreras attempted a sortie in 909 on April 18th, but had an electrical fire and had to come back without getting into action. The next day, April 19, FAR 909 was fixed and pilot Jacques Lagas did one sortie against the Brigade in this aircraft around 1PM.



The FAR B-26s that saw action at Giron/Bay of Pigs include 909, 915, 917, 923 (shot down) and 937. They were flown by Jacques Lagas (about 8 sorties), Luis Silva (2 sorties, KIA), Alvaro Gallo (2 sorties) and Enrique Carreras (1 mission, aborted due to technical)

Last edited by Hudicourt on Mon Aug 03, 2015 7:59 am, edited 3 times in total.

[zorro9]

Hudicourt:

Good day!

Indeed a nice set of FAR B-26s pics! Tks

We know now of at least 3 black samples: FAR 901, 909 & 927. The pic of FAR 909 was prob taking on a tng type environment. I see at least 2 poss US advisors in that pic.

[T J Johansen]

Thanks Hudicourt for those photos.

I just looked at Google maps and the B-26 is still sitting at San Antonio AB on the lawn. At least the info says the imagery is from 2015.



I notice that the Harvard at the earlier Museo del Aire is a CCF built 4. Ties in with the information that a Harvard accompanied the 26 from Angola as I don't think Cuba got the 4.

T J

[Hudicourt]

If one looks at that Google Earth picture, one can see in that greener area at the B-26's 5 o'clock, the shade of a single flag pole. It is the same pole that can be seen in a picture I posted of General Enrique Carreras standing in front of that same B-26.

[zorro9]

Hcourt:

Tks! Gral Enrique Carreras Rolas was a FAR hero in his days. I think he passed away a few yrs ago. In the Black "La Maya" FAR 909 photo he's poss L/R #5 standing up.

[hang the expense]

Thank you all for posting the info on the Cuban 26s and the others.very interesting stories.Thanks again.

[eoselon]

I am interested in FAEC 931. Is there any information about this plane defecting to Miami in Nov 1960 or any other same time frame?

Thanks

t

[zorro9]

e:

Hi! Are you sure that it was FAEC #931??

[eoselon]

No, but the story i have is that it was 931 that was flown our of country in November 1960 to Miami. The plane was returned to country i am also told.

t

[eoselon]

[url][URL=http://s166.photobucket.com/user/eoselon/media/B-26%20FAEC.jpg.html][/url][/url]

Trying to upload photo, lets see if it works.

t

[zorro9]

eoselon:

Nice shot of the Cuban B-26s. Tks! The best I've seen so far. Poss Place & date of photo??

p.s There is another B-26 at St. Antonio de los Ba`nos S. of Havana but its FAR Reg # in ukn for now. Poss Desert scheme camo. I think the FAEC B-26 that you may be talking about is FAEC #933 a clear nose, NMF/grey that landed at Miami. c. Dec '58. (pg/2) It's ultimate destination is ukn for now since we had to extradition treaties in c. '58.

Last edited by zorro9 on Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Hudicourt]

I have a story on 931, read in a book. I will try to find it

[zorro9]

Hcourt:

Hi! Plz do. Is that related to the story of the S. Fla displayed B-26 sample AAF 44-35440 FAR#931? Tks

[Hudicourt]

Hcourt:

Hi! Plz do. Is that related to the story of the S. Fla displayed B-26 sample AAF 44-35440 FAR#931? Tks

No, the South FLA displayed 931 is not a real 931. It is a fake 931, painted to look like the Brigade 931, which itself was also a fake 931.

The Brigade 931, was the mount of pilot Daniel Fernandez-Mon and of Navigator Gaston Perez, which was damaged while bombing Campo Libertad Air Base in Havana on April 15th 1961, left the scene with an engine on fire, and which crashed in the Ocean North of Havana, possibly while attempting to make it to Boca Chica NAS. Both were KIA.

The Fla 931 is actually painted as FAL 931, meaning "Fuerza Aerea de Liberacion", which is how the Brigade's Air Force called itself, whereas Daniel Mon's 931 was actually painted as FAR 931 (Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria), to make it appear as though it was a Cuban Air Force B-26 bombing its own base.

I have a story on the real FAR 931, shown above as FAEC 931 (picture from before 1959) and which is though to be the same one now located at San Antonio, as seen in the picture with Carreras and on Google Earth.