The "One a day in Tampa Bay" Bomber

[earl1937]

Earl, in a cockpit photo from somewhere earlier, there is a tall vertical handle to right of center.  What is it? 

Some of the  B-26B's were built or modified to a TA-23A, a target tug-gunnery trainer. I suspect what u are referring to is the target release prior to landing of some of the early models. Some had the tail cone removed and a electrical powered wrench was used to extend and retract the target!. I never had the occasion to do any of that stuff, just old trucks and tanks at Avon Park. The U.S. Navy had some of those produced, the JM-1.

[Puma44]

What did the towed target look like?  How long was the cable?

Here's a cockpit photo withe the red handle that I asked about.  Is it the same thing you mentioned?

[earl1937]

What did the towed target look like?  How long was the cable?

Here's a cockpit photo withe the red handle that I asked about.  Is it the same thing you mentioned?

That is the emergency hydrolic pump handle. A "star" valve is in the cockpit floor, just behind the thottle ped to select flaps or landing gear function.

[Puma44]

That is the emergency hydrolic pump handle. A "star" valve is in the cockpit floor, just behind the thottle ped to select flaps or landing gear function.

OK, thanks Earl!  How was the handle to operate?  How many strokes to get landing gear or flaps down to the desired position?

[earl1937]

OK, thanks Earl!  How was the handle to operate?  How many strokes to get landing gear or flaps down to the desired position?

That has been almost 60 years ago, but for some reason, I want to say 10 or 12 for gear, as I remember, the gear would free fall, but not lock, so the emergency function was to finish the "A" knuckle past neutral so that the down lock would engage. The flaps were a lot more, because they didn't free fall, can't remember how many but was a lot. Gosh, wish I could remember that kind of stuff, questions bring back a lot of memories.
The 26 series of aircraft have had a distinct mark on aviation in a number of ways! It had a "laminar flow" wing, was the test bed for the first use by the Navy or Air force, can't remember which, of the use of the Martin-Baker ejection seat, direct involvement in the "Bay Of Pigs" fasco, flew in WW2, Korea, Vietnam, the Congo thing and one company, On Mark engineering modified a number of these great aircraft into executive transports. One of the companies which modified these, actually had a "pressurized model.

[Puma44]

Thanks, Earl!  The first one I ever saw up close was in college.  It was a privately owned exec version and looked like it would really get up and go.   

[Puma44]

That has been almost 60 years ago, but for some reason, I want to say 10 or 12 for gear, as I remember, the gear would free fall, but not lock, so the emergency function was to finish the "A" knuckle past neutral so that the down lock would engage. The flaps were a lot more, because they didn't free fall, can't remember how many but was a lot. Gosh, wish I could remember that kind of stuff, questions bring back a lot of memories.
The 26 series of aircraft have had a distinct mark on aviation in a number of ways! It had a "laminar flow" wing, was the test bed for the first use by the Navy or Air force, can't remember which, of the use of the Martin-Baker ejection seat, direct involvement in the "Bay Of Pigs" fasco, flew in WW2, Korea, Vietnam, the Congo thing and one company, On Mark engineering modified a number of these great aircraft into executive transports. One of the companies which modified these, actually had a "pressurized model.

By the way, Earl, great memory of details for almost 60 years ago.  

[Puma44]

Hey Earl, recognize this tail number by chance?




It's located in the Pima Air Museum.   

[earl1937]

Hey Earl, recognize this tail number by chance?
(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

It's located in the Pima Air Museum.   

Gosh no! Wish my memory was that good. Just looking at it, it appears to be one of the 26C level bombers, most all with the glass nose had a bomb sight.

[Frod]

<S> ET,
   Thanks for the link.  Franklin Poole has some great video clips on the Nimrod,

[Wolfala]

Gosh no! Wish my memory was that good. Just looking at it, it appears to be one of the 26C level bombers, most all with the glass nose had a bomb sight.

Earl,

Did you fly with Phil "Duke" Nagy?

[earl1937]

Earl,

Did you fly with Phil "Duke" Nagy?

That name rings a bell, but can't put a face or time with it. Do you have more info?

[Wolfala]

That name rings a bell, but can't put a face or time with it. Do you have more info?

He flew A-26Ks during Vietnam and was in Iran for a bit.

[earl1937]

He flew A-26Ks during Vietnam and was in Iran for a bit.

Vietnam was after my active duty time.

[drgondog]

My father was a Martin B-26B driver in 336BG at McDill Aug-October 1943 but escaped to fighters and went to ETO as P-51 driver.  He had a lot of hours in the  Douglas A-20, the A-26A and the B-26A and B when the Martin B-26 was retired post WWII.  He flew the Douglas B-26 in Korea for one tour with 3rd BG out of Itazuke flying night intruder missions. The Douglas A-26C and B-26C had the glass nose and norden sight.

He liked all of them, but the B-26A/B/C Invader most of all.

The B-26 Marauder was a medium bomber just like the B-25. Both had pilot/copilot. The Douglas A-20 was a light/attack bomber as was the Douglas A-26 and B-26. Both had single pilot but the Invader had room for a co-pilot or navigator/bombardier next to pilot while the A-20 had room for only one seat.

When he was Group CO of the 355th FG he acted as IP for the fighter pilots that wanted to qualify in the B-26 Marauder or A-20K at Steeple Morden and Gablingen.