Like what you see? Our mission is to preserve these historic films for future generations. Your DVD purchases at our store make this channel possible. www.zenosflightshop.com We need your support! Zeno
My Father, Captained Richard Tutt, was a pilot in the 671st BS and was based at this airfield at Laon during the period of time referenced in your video presentation. His flight records show he flew on the missions filmed on April 8, 9, 16 and 25. The April 25 mission was his last combat flight. The first plane shown in the Not So Happy Landings is a plane he crash landed at Laon a couple of weeks prior to the 416th actually being relocated to Laon from their base in England. The hydraulic system had been damaged by intense flak they encountered on a flight to attack Blankenheim. The bombardier navigator was seriously injured, the fuselage and wings were riddled with shrapnel and the left engine was badly damaged. They couldn't release their compliment of bombs when they reached their target and they were unable to lower the landing gear . He was instructed to land at Laon which was a former Luftwaffe base being prepared to house the 416th BG. It's a testament to the durability of this plane that my father and his crew survived. Kim Tutt
Better men than me. Flying close formation is tough enough but throw in that they were lumbering bombers, even if 'light attack', on bombing missions, in flight for hours, and wing crowding in on you. Those men clanked when they walked. Great music in this video.
I build plastic models and for awhile, used to travel all over the U.S. as a truck driver. Would check my laptop for any kind of air or armor museums along my route and if possible time wise, would pull over and take all the photos I could. Think I was in Kansas when I saw an M-5 Stuart resting on a bed of gravel....yep, lets get off the freeway an get some photos. It was next to a small airport with some hangers, so said let's check 'em out as you never know what you'll find. How about an owner working on his gun nose A-26?! He let me take all the photos I wanted as I had a couple of the Airfix 1/72nd scale kits back home waiting to be built. Then asks if I want to get inside the cockpit?! HELL YES!!! And I can tell you one thing.....that is one cramped son of a bitch. Also got the same opportunity to be inside of a fully restored B-29 at a museum a few months later.
what a sexy looking plane. 2 huge engines and sleek airframe. one question tho, with the nose in "attack" configuration, where was the bombadier located?
The A-26 was made into 2 major modifications during WWII and the Korean War. The A-26B, and the A-26C. The B model had a solid nose with machine guns or cannons installed. The C model had a glass nose with a bombardier and bombsight. It was not uncommon for a single A-26C to lead a flight of A-26Bs, and that's how they would know when to drop.
In the A26k no glass nose the variant most commonly seen in Korea , Vietnam the bombardier was removed and it was a two man crew. Pilot and flight control officer. They could communicate but as to avoid the hazard of the climbing the narrow bomb bay with doors closed they remained isolated during flight bar in plane com's. The A26a glass nose was crewed by 3 the pilot, bombardier and fire control officer who fired via remote control. Sometimes 4 if they carried a co pilot.
Like what you see? Our mission is to preserve these historic films for future generations. Your DVD purchases at our store make this channel possible.
www.zenosflightshop.com
We need your support! Zeno
My Father, Captained Richard Tutt, was a pilot in the 671st BS and was based at this airfield at Laon during the period of time referenced in your video presentation. His flight records show he flew on the missions filmed on April 8, 9, 16 and 25. The April 25 mission was his last combat flight. The first plane shown in the Not So Happy Landings is a plane he crash landed at Laon a couple of weeks prior to the 416th actually being relocated to Laon from their base in England. The hydraulic system had been damaged by intense flak they encountered on a flight to attack Blankenheim. The bombardier navigator was seriously injured, the fuselage and wings were riddled with shrapnel and the left engine was badly damaged. They couldn't release their compliment of bombs when they reached their target and they were unable to lower the landing gear . He was instructed to land at Laon which was a former Luftwaffe base being prepared to house the 416th BG. It's a testament to the durability of this plane that my father and his crew survived. Kim Tutt
Fantastic! Thank You Very Much!
Better men than me. Flying close formation is tough enough but throw in that they were lumbering bombers, even if 'light attack', on bombing missions, in flight for hours, and wing crowding in on you. Those men clanked when they walked.
Great music in this video.
I build plastic models and for awhile, used to travel all over the U.S. as a truck driver. Would check my laptop for any kind of air or armor museums along my route and if possible time wise, would pull over and take all the photos I could. Think I was in Kansas when I saw an M-5 Stuart resting on a bed of gravel....yep, lets get off the freeway an get some photos. It was next to a small airport with some hangers, so said let's check 'em out as you never know what you'll find. How about an owner working on his gun nose A-26?! He let me take all the photos I wanted as I had a couple of the Airfix 1/72nd scale kits back home waiting to be built. Then asks if I want to get inside the cockpit?! HELL YES!!! And I can tell you one thing.....that is one cramped son of a bitch. Also got the same opportunity to be inside of a fully restored B-29 at a museum a few months later.
Brilliant Post, haha, as Richard H states below, "Those Men Clanked when they walked!"
Beauty Zeno.
what a sexy looking plane. 2 huge engines and sleek airframe. one question tho, with the nose in "attack" configuration, where was the bombadier located?
The A-26 was made into 2 major modifications during WWII and the Korean War. The A-26B, and the A-26C. The B model had a solid nose with machine guns or cannons installed. The C model had a glass nose with a bombardier and bombsight. It was not uncommon for a single A-26C to lead a flight of A-26Bs, and that's how they would know when to drop.
In the A26k no glass nose the variant most commonly seen in Korea , Vietnam the bombardier was removed and it was a two man crew. Pilot and flight control officer. They could communicate but as to avoid the hazard of the climbing the narrow bomb bay with doors closed they remained isolated during flight bar in plane com's. The A26a glass nose was crewed by 3 the pilot, bombardier and fire control officer who fired via remote control. Sometimes 4 if they carried a co pilot.
cheers
The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum has an A-26 Invader on indoor display. (www.pwam.org)