Report Date: May 1, 2004
Report No: 1
The New England Air Museum (NEAM) preservation effort is aimed at preventing or slowing the deterioration of outside display aircraft. The A-26C preservation effort was started in November 2003. The main preservation plan focuses on external aircraft surfaces and component repairs, tires, corrosion inhibition, painting and preparing the aircraft for public viewing. A parallel effort is focused on adding to the current NEAM historical records of the aircraft and crew during its World War II service.
The NEAM A-26C (43-22499) was built by Douglas Aircraft Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1944 and delivered to the 416th BG (L), 671st BS in November 1944 while the unit was stationed in Melun, France. Jack Buskirk, a pilot on the aircraft, visited the museum in 1994. Photos and other documents show our aircraft flew with the name “Reida Rae”. The following people are known to have flown or maintained the aircraft during 1944-45.
· John (Jack) A. Buskirk, Pilot
·
Robert
C. Hanna, Bombardier/Navigator
· C. Houston Corbitt, Gunner
· Laurence E. Nanney, Ground Crew
· Hartzell O. Stephens, Ground Crew
· Elton R. Olmstead, Ground Crew
· Raymond R. Rorhdanz, Ground Crew
The aircraft was struck off US Air Force inventory in 1957 and the aircraft was subsequently used commercially until the late 1960’s. The NEAM acquired the aircraft from the City of Bridgeport, CT in August 1971.
General
· In October 2003, the aircraft was examined and a preliminary aircraft inspection form was completed. The flat left main landing gear tire was removed, repaired and replaced.
· The aircraft was moved to the entrance ramp of the restoration building. The aircraft was cleaned internally of debris and parts. Engine cowls were removed and the engines were steamed cleaned and bird debris removed from air inlets.
· In November 2003, the aircraft was moved into the restoration building. A final preservation plan with task level operations was prepared.
· Both engines are seized up and an attempt at using a forklift truck to turn the props did not work. In January, All spark plugs were removed and each cylinder was sprayed with Mystery Oil in an attempt to penetrate and loosen any corroded surfaces. A method for applying a constant torque to each prop was devised and installed. To date, no prop movement is observed. It appears that the corrosion may be too great to allow the engines to break free using this method. A boroscope will be used to visually examine the interface between the cylinder upper head surface and the cylinder wall to determine the extent of the corrosion.
§ If corrosion is not too extensive, we will try to pressurize a single cylinder head with grease under high pressure to see if the engine will rotate.
§ If corrosion appears too extensive, we will drop our attempt to unseize the engines for fear of damaging them. The engines will need to be removed and torn down to solve the problem.
· The engine crew is removing any parts that will be visible when the cowls are installed and conducting corrosion inhibition activities (applying Extend corrosion inhibitor and painting). Parts will be painted appropriate colors. If possible, corroded screws, bolts and nuts are being replaced. Plug leads and accessory tubing will be cleaned and will be finished appropriately.
· Cowl flaps were removed from both engines. Fittings were corrosion inhibited and painted. External surfaces were cleaned of hardened oil and polished. All cowl flaps are completed and stored.
· Work was started on the cowl latching mechanisms. They will be removed, grit blasted, corrosion inhibited and painted before replacement.
· Landing gear struts and actuation linkages were sanded and corrosion inhibited. They will be painted this month.
· All landing gear doors were removed. Fabric covering on one door was removed and the hinges cleaned. Bolts and nuts were replaced.
· Approximately ˝ of the external aircraft surface was polished to remove oxides.
· Two nose panels on the solid nose were removed.
· One armor plate was removed in order to inspect the underlying aluminum sheeting. The sheeting was in very good shape. The plate will be cleaned up and replaced. All the other armor plates will be investigated in a similar manner.