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.
Thanks to Harry Whitver for the above Illustration
The NIMROD's were tasked with the night time interdiction of
enemy troops and truck convoys transporting supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the communist forces in South Vietnam.
Their A-26s proved to be a deadly truck-killing aircraft. These aircrews and their redesigned WWII propeller-driven aircraft
had a destructive effect far out of proportion to their numbers. Awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for “extraordinary
gallantry in connection with military operations in Southeast Asia,” the NIMRODs were recognized as the best truck killers
of the War!
Incentive for this feature furnished
by the son of Major J Sizemore "KIA" & the son of Lt. Col. Charles C. Vogler
Nimrods of the 609th - Page 2
Features:
The A-26 Legacy Foundation
Al 'Batman' Shortt
Steve Aaron US Army
Douglas B-26K Counter-Invader "Special K" 64-17679 (N4988N)
I am the son of a Nimrod (Lt.
Col. Charles C. Vogler) who flew with James Sizemore's Dad in Nakhon Phanom Thailand in 1968/69. You have some pictures
of my father's A-26 "Mighty Mouse" on your site. My Dad named his plane after our summer
home "Mouse Island" on Squam Lake, Center Harbor NH. His plane is now on display at KAI Aerospace Museum, Sacheon South
Korea. The folks at Italeri have now dedicated a 1:72nd scale model to it (photos attached below).
James and I have become pretty close friends over the past
couple years ... and ...
have undertaken a charitable project that we want you to be aware of. We
have united the Sons and Daughters of the Nimrods and established the "A-26 Legacy Foundation." The Foundation is in
the process of acquiring the world's last airworthy A-26A/B-26K Counter Invader. Our plans are to acquire, restore this
plane to factory new condition, and dedicate it to our fathers at their next Nimrod Reunion in October 2007. Thereafter,
our mission will be to operate and maintain this "K" as a "flying" museum ... honoring these men for time
immemorial ... and to share this historic aircraft with air show visitors nationwide (especially younger Americans) in a uniquely tailored educational forum designed to increase public awareness of our
fathers’ service with the United States Air Force during the “Secret Air War in Vietnam and Laos.”
Please take a look at our website
(www.a-26legacy.org) when you have a moment ... and ... if you would be so kind ... include a link to our site on yours
(we will likewise be happy to link our site to yours). We are actively seeking donations to keep our project alive for
time immemorial. We are a Non Profit 501c3 Educational Foundation and embrace the philosophy that aviation history should
be kept alive, not just preserved in dusty, isolated museums for only a few to see. Thanks
in advance for you help! Feel free to call me if you have any questions.
Regards,
Don
Donald S. Vogler, Chairman
The A-26 Legacy Foundation
Below are some recent shots of Don's father's aeroplane "Mighty
Mouse" at her resting place at the KAI Aerospace Museum in Korea
64-17679 - ex A-26B 44-34198 To civil
N269G, C-GXTG, then N4988N
64-17653 - ex A-26B 41-39378 To
SEA 1968. To Davis-Monthan 1969. Preserved at Pima County Air Museum, Tucson, AZ.
64-17651 - ex A-26B 44-34119 To
SEA 1967. To Davis-Monthan 1969. Preserved at Seoul Museum, Korea.
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