Airworthy B26 Marauder in Ohio?

Yes, a sad day indeed. Around that time I seemed to be spending far too much time going to funerals. Colin, Chris, Hoof, Larks, Mark 🙁

Very sadly, two British enthusiasts on an air-experience flight lost their lives in the CAF owned Marauder crash in 1995

”Also killed were two volunteers – Colin Dunwell of Surrey, England, and Chris Gardner of Essex, England – who were taking their first flight on the B-26.
Thorp and his crew were flying in preparation for AIRSHO 95 at the Midland International Airport. ”

Crikey, it always seems so unreal to remind oneself that this was over 20 years ago. It was a sad day when we lost two good friends. A pair of really good eggs. Colin particularly used to get us all sorts of very useful consumables and bits and pieces.
I believe that they had already ridden in the B-29 prior to the B-26.

Very sadly, two British enthusiasts on an air-experience flight lost their lives in the CAF owned Marauder crash in 1995

”Also killed were two volunteers – Colin Dunwell of Surrey, England, and Chris Gardner of Essex, England – who were taking their first flight on the B-26.
Thorp and his crew were flying in preparation for AIRSHO 95 at the Midland International Airport. ”

http://387bg.com/Aircraft/B-26%20Carolyn.htm

I had the pleasure to see the short-lived CAF example.
It’s an impressive aircraft especially when it’s out of the static confines of a museum. I also saw Week’s example when I was doing some flying out of Chino.
Pity more haven’t survived, but then it wasn’t built in terribly large numbers (5288 according to one source) compared to other major American warplanes of the time.
And unlike the Douglas A-26, it was withdrawn from service after the war and few found civil or foreign use. In fact, Douglas produced less than half as many Invaders (just under 2500), but they’re much more common today, though their numbers rapidly shrank following their withdrawl from corporate transport and firefighting use.

Thanks for all the information guys, a shame that it won’t fly but still a great project.

I wonder what the prospects are for a future airworthy Marauder? There’s Kermit’s that hasn’t flown for several years and that seems to be it.

I heard the same thing : static restoration only. If I remember correctly, the MAPS Air Museum doesn’t look to have airworthy planes at all.

It doesn’t, but they do some pretty impressive restorations that would put many a UK museum to shame. Their F-86L is a case in point: they started with something very ratty and many hours of skill and devotion later ended up with one of the best Dogs out there.

Like I said, it won’t be flying, neither will the third one (now at Pima)

I heard the same thing : static restoration only. If I remember correctly : the MAPS Air museau doens’t look to have airworthy planes at all.

Like I said, it won’t be flying, neither will the third one (now at Pima)

Then I want to see it fly!

(not asking much…)

Adrian

This is one of the ones recovered by Tallichet from “Million Dollar Valley”

That’s something I’d like to see flying in the UK. Being from Essex, the heart of Marauder country, and all that.

What about the “Million Dollar Valley” B-26s?

Adrian

It is indeed a static restoration. Many of the repairs done, and parts made, are not to airworthy standards. Nevertheless, a great job by the folks at MAPS.

It’s not flying yet. No idea when it will be.

Here’s some history of the ac.:

http://mapsairmuseum.org/old/marauder.asp