Maintaining the A-26 static display helps keep history alive Published Sept. 3, 2013 By Master Sgt. Rodney Martin 92nd Maintenance Squadron FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE Wash. -- Each year, the 92nd Maintenance Squadron puts its talent on display, inspecting each aircraft in Heritage Park and prioritizing the most critical items for repair. This summer, the A-26 underwent some much needed restoration. Over this past winter, the left wingtip, main landing gear door and numerous sections of the aircraft skin were damaged and worn due to the elements and wildlife. The damaged components were removed and repaired or remanufactured in the 92nd and 141st Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance section. The technical data and part sources for this aircraft have been obsolete for many years, so the shop has to draw on the experience of Master Sgt. Rodney Martin, Historical Property Custodian. Many of the tasks present an excellent training opportunity for young Airmen, including making molds for forming reproduction acrylic light lenses. The A-26 is being brought back to its full glory well beyond the structural repair with a full cleaning of windows and eventual paint touch up. The repairs that have been completed have taken approximately 50 hours, fixing items as mission permits. The A-26 has a storied past. It was delivered to the Army Air Forces on June 4, 1945, just missing service in World War II. It was stored until 1951 when it entered the Korean War as part of the 3rd, 13th and 452th Bombardment Wings, as well as the 17th Bombardment Wing in 1952. Following the Korean War it was stationed with the 184th Air National Guard before being retired from military service. The "retired" A-26 performed pecan frost protection duties at Stahmann Farms in New Mexico. The pecan frost protection duty happened during the '60s when the aircraft was in private hands. The aircraft was used as a crop duster to help protect the pecan trees from frost during inclement weather. It was converted into a "private escape vehicle" during the Cold War for a nuclear attack. After passing thru a few private collectors, the A-26 was purchased by Conair Aviation of Canada and converted to a forest fire control tanker. Ironically, a fire during a fuel pump change destined it for the scrap yard, but in 1990 a restoration effort began that landed the A-26 in Fairchild's Heritage Airpark in 1994. (Capt. Dale R. Ellis II contributed to this story)
