Date: August 31st, 2025 1:51 PM
Author: AZNgirl Taking 100% Equity Stake in Howard Lutnick
The CIA decided to supply AUREV with two common types of aircraft, the Invader and the Mustang. Both types were
used by many air forces around the world, and Invaders were readily available at Clark AFB, where many had been
mothballed, including some aircraft formerly leased to the French for their war in Indochina. The Mustangs would be
“re-possessed” from the Philippine Air Force. As there were no Philippine or Indonesian pilots qualified on
the Invader, the CIA decided to bring in Polish pilots previously hired for secret air drops and reconnaissance missions
over Eastern Europe. (Conboy/Morrison and Air Enthusiast)
In late March 1958, two former Philippine Air Force Mustangs were hired by the CIA, together with a couple of armorers.
(Conboy/Morrison and Air Enthusiast)
On 12 April, four Polish airmen under contract with the CIA flew two black unmarked and turretless B-26s from Clark AFB
to Mapanget. Fuel drums and bombs had been flown in by CAT C-46s. (Conboy/Morrison)
Note: according to Air Enthusiast, six Poles left Clark in three black unmarked B-26Bs on 12 April. Air Enthusiast, and
Leif Hellstrom in “Foreign Invaders” give the serial numbers of three Invaders fitted with 6-gun noses and
painted in black at Clark Field.
On 13 April, the day after their arrival from Clark AFB, the two bomb-loaded black Invaders with Polish/Indonesian crews
started on their first mission, with targets Makasar in South Sulawesi and Balikpapan on the island of Borneo, but the first
plane crashed shortly after take-off, killing its crew of two Poles and one Indonesian. The second Invader attacked
Makasar air base in South Sulawesi, apparently without causing major damage. After the crash, the remaining Poles
asked to return to Clark or Europe as this was not really part of their fight. They left Mapanget within a week.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5768146&forum_id=2],#49226366)