PLEASE READ

Preface: I have developed this site as a testament to a great aeroplane along with the pilots who flew her through an operational life that spanned three major wars, as well as numerous other world conflicts, finally ending up as a bomber of wild fires, as well as undertaking the roll of an executive transport.

I know there will be many "aviation enthusiasts" out there, that will view this site and criticize it for its lack of historical reference and for claiming credit based on other peoples efforts........fair comment.

This site is an effort to accumulate as much visual and technical data as is possible via one site, with a bias on the pictorial.

However, many many people have contacted me regarding the site and offered contributions ranging from photos to technical, historic and personal information.

Throughout the week, I get at least half a dozen e-mails from people with stories of how they flew invaders in various conflicts or who's relatives where involved in some way with the A-26.

In reality this site is as much dedicated to those who contributed to the site, as did actually have a physical role in the history of the A-26 Invader

Some of these people are established photographers and others are guys with personal information relating to them or members of their family having had experience with the A-26, so even though I have only submitted a limited number of personal items to this site, the pictorials and historics have generally been donated with enthusiasm via these other contacts.

Over the years, I have always tried to take the ethical route when utilising other photographers or historians contributions on this site and have spent many thousands of hours obtaining or trying to obtain the permission for use of material that has been formulated by others.

I have on many occasions had to pay for the use of this information, but on the whole people have been good enough to allow me usage of their material with just the credit against their valuable contribution.

I have also on occasion had to withdraw pictures from my site at the request of the owners.

Sometimes I create a page dedicated to a contributor, i.e. Randal McFarlane, who purchased "No 2" from Air spray, John lear who famously raced "76" at Reno, Richard E. Fulwiler who has an unlimited knowledge of On Mark or Al Shortt, who flew with the Nimrods in Vietnam or maybe Steve Aaron US Army, who was indirectly associated with the invader but who's father flew in WWII and who has a passion for the A-26.

Or maybe Robert baetke who is a volunteer A & P at the classic aircraft aviation museum at Hillsboro who's currently working on the former Air spray A-26 tankers, # 4 and #10 ( see features ) but not forgetting the pilots and crew of the 609th and guys such as Richard Fulwiler who contributed some invaluable data and photographs on On Mark Engineering.

I could list two or three dozen contacts who have contacted me over the years offering their stories and photos for their inclusion into the site and I have felt proud to have been asked.

I have also spent hundreds of hours creating illustrations for your enjoyment without the request for credit when used by other sites.

I do not claim to be the oracle when it comes to knowing every little detail about the A-26, but hope that the collection of photos and data on this site is a coming together of all that’s good about the A-26 on the web and will benefit the " general enthusiast" and give them an insight into this wonderful aeroplane.

I have at great cost to myself, created logos and emblems for a number of A-26 based organisations which they have adopted as their design for their apparel and look upon it as an honour to be part of their team.

Even though the large majority of material on this site is a collation of other peoples fine efforts, a great deal of time has been spent as you can imagine by me, preparing and collating the information available for all to enjoy.

If it came down to basics, I could probably boast that in my many years as an aviation Anorak, I have probably clocked up more flying time, more cockpit time ( not pilot in control, although I do fly ) flown in more aircraft types, travelled more air miles and landed at more airfields "major and the back and beyond" than the large majority of the guys I know, but I look upon that experience with fondness and feel lucky to have had such a wonderful life and even luckier to be able to share my experiences with you guys.

Finally.....like a good Anorak I pay my annual subscriptions to various organisations, have dished out volumes of cash to various aviation charities, paid hundreds of Dollars for photographs to put on this site, have at times donned my flying suite to scrub down or mop up the oil form around the hangar floor beneath a tired an ageing warbird, paid out vast amounts of money to see air shows, spent hours and hours on planes visiting museums and war bird race events throughout the world and even paid for a warbirds to be flown to events, but I do it and will continue to do it because this is my hobby and I feel happy knowing that in some small way my financial contributions keep the vintage and veteran air scene alive and kicking.

On that profound note, to all those who just love aeroplanes and never ever take it too seriously.........Fly safe, keep it real