North American AT-6 Gallery

Thanks to Greg Vallero for setting wheel in motion for this addition when he emailed me with news of his recent flying. "I'm still flying 'Axis Nightmare' (the B-25J formerly owned by Don George of Springfield, Illinois.) Its new owners are Tri-State Warbird Museum in Cincinnati. I (flew) it to the big warbird show at Mount Comfort, Indianaand the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends as the photo ship. We own a North American AT-6F that was an Illinois Air National Guard plane based at O'Hare. Do you know where I might find  IL ANG T-6s? Mine really needs to be re-finished and we want to put it back to its original markings.  It's 44-81857, now registered as N81854."

See more pictures of Greg's bird at his web site - http://photos.cafmo.org/ValleroT6     Greg sent the pictures below and said I could share them with you, including two from photographer Dave Menard.  If you can help Greg with more pictures of IL ANG Texans, I hope you will consider sharing those pictures with yours truly as well. His e is valdez25@excite.com and mine is writer@eosinc.com 

AT6Vallero2w.jpg (31995 bytes)
1. A fine view of Greg's taxi. I don't kinow if he has a low-level ticket, but until he refinishes it in IL ANG colors & markings, you couldn't ask for a more colorful flying machine to decorate your air show tarmac.		 AT6Vallero1w.jpg (38755 bytes)
2. The incredibly lucky Vallero family poses with Greg's fine Texan.
(Photo by Greg Vallero)		 AT6crash1w.jpg (58652 bytes)
3. This note is connected to the AT-6 picture which follows. It was written December 26, 1945. The photo was taken the next day.
AT6crsh2w.jpg (102068 bytes)

4. A day after the note above was written (if I read Greg's email correctly) the T-6 in which Lt. Bryan was rated physically fit to fly, the same AT-6 flown for that check ride was successfully belly landed in snow. Note the propeller blades were not in motion when it kissed terra firma. Fuel starvation? The background suggests an extended x-country that sooner than intended at takeoff.

 at6dmen1.jpg (35425 bytes)
5. This photo was taken by aviation history legend David Menard taken at an open house at O'Hare, Chicago on 21 May 1955. 		AT6Dmen2w.jpg (77205 bytes)

6. This photo taken by David Menard shows another T-6 on the same day and location. Note the subtle difference in the markings on the vertical stabilizer & rudder.

at6-1w.jpg (39073 bytes)
7. This picture of William Leff's restored T-6G was taken at Springfield Air Rendezvous some years ago by Job Conger.