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  B-26 Marauder Serial Number 40-1459  
USAAF
11th AF
28th CG
77th BS

Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
Dave Pawski 2013
Pilot  Lt. Edward S. Avery (survived)
Force Landed  January 16, 1942
MACR  none

Aircraft History
Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. Constructor Number 1324. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26 Marauder serial number 40-1459.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 11th Air Force (11th AF), 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 77th Bombardment Squadron (77th BS). No known nose art or nickname. On December 29, 1941 arrived at Elmendorf Field.

Mission History
On January 16, 1942 took off from Elmendorf Field piloted Lt. Edward S. Avery by one of three B-26s on a ferry flight to the south. Low on fuel, all three Marauders force landed wheels up at Smith River in British Columbia. During the crash, the nose section was wrecked. Also lost were B-26 40-1501 and B-26 40-1464.

Rescue
The entire crew was later rescued.

Wreckage
Later in 1942, this bomber was stripped for usable parts by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) then the rest of the aircraft was abandoned. Until September 1971 the wreckage remained in situ.

Recovery
During September 1971 to November 1971 this bomber was salvaged by a team funded by David Tallichet / Yesterdays Air Force (YAF).

Restoration
Between 1972 to 1991 stored at Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC) at Chino Airport. In April 1991, registered as N4299K.

During 1991 transported to Air Heritage Inc. in Beaver Falls, PA. Around 1992, transported to the U.S. Aviation Museum in Willowick, OH.

During 1991, transported to MAPS Air Museum and restoration was begun to airworthy condition. On May 18, 2011 registration N4299K was canceled.

As of May 2013 externally restored at MAPS Air Museum. Painted with the nickname "Charlys Jewel" with nose art of Mammy Yokum from Li’l Abner cartoon wearing boots, a yellow skirt, black shirt and hat smoking a corn cob pipe.

Dave Pawski B-26 Crew Chief adds on September 17, 2020:
In regards to the nose art, the character is Mammy Yokum from Li’l Abner. The name Charly’s Jewel is paying tribute to Charlie Tillson, a MAPS member who was a B-26 flight Instructor. Also Ed Smith who named the plane the 'Jewel'. This plane never carried nose art in service, so we elected to create our own. The restoration is essentially complete as a non-flying aircraft. We recently installed the Martin 250 turret and wrapping up installing a replica Mk-13 Torpedo. We will continue to make the aircraft more complete as time allows."

Memorials
Avery remained in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War and retired with the rank of Major. He passed away on September 8, 1992 at age 76. He is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at plot X, site 2218.

References
USAAF Accident report lists force landing as January 16, 1942 and the location as Watson Lake, Yukon Territory and assignment as 3rd Air Force. Other sources list date of force landing as January 15, 1942
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26 Marauder 40-1459
"1459 crash-landed in British Columbia Jan 16, 1942. Recovered from Smith River, BC Nov 9, 1971 and to Military Aircraft Restoration Group, Chino, CA. Re-registered as N4299K"
FindAGrave - Edward Stephen Avery (grave photo)
MAPS B-26 40-1459
Out of the Wilderness: Restoring a Relic
FAA Registry N4299K
WarbirdsDirectory - Martin B-26 Marauder
Thanks to Dave Pawski / MAPS Air Museum, B-26 Crew Chief for additional information

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Last Updated
February 18, 2020

 

Tech Info
B-26

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