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The majority of the surviving B-29 came from airframes that had either been designated (with the US Navy at [[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake|NAWS China Lake]]), initially, as target-tow aircraft, then unmanned target aircraft, finally as a ground target (the last B-29 destroyed was in 1981 more than 6 years after a ban had been placed on further using these aircraft as targets). Furthermore, B-29s were used at [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]]s as ground targets and survivability studies. |
The majority of the surviving B-29 came from airframes that had either been designated (with the US Navy at [[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake|NAWS China Lake]]), initially, as target-tow aircraft, then unmanned target aircraft, finally as a ground target (the last B-29 destroyed was in 1981 more than 6 years after a ban had been placed on further using these aircraft as targets). Furthermore, B-29s were used at [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]]s as ground targets and survivability studies. |
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=== Museum acquisitions of B-29s === |
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In 1966, the then fledgling [[Commemorative Air Force]], in their quest to gather an example of all the remaining World War II bombers attempted to track down a B-29. At this time, except for two noted museum aircraft, the B-29 was considered an almost extinct aircraft. Rumors of B-29s existing at Aberdeen revealed several airframes, but due to the closeness of ocean air these aircraft were corroded close to the point of unrestorability. In 1970 came the discovery of the US Navy fleet of aircraft at NAS China Lake – these aircraft being used/stored in the desert air were in much better shape. After a year of negotiation, the CAF was able to obtain their B-29 (''Fifi''). These same negotiations also allowed the [[Imperial War Museum Duxford#American Air Museum|Imperial War Museum]] to obtain an example as well (''It's Hawg Wild''). During the early 1970s, [[NASA]] (the redesigned NACA) sold their P2B-1S (''Fertile Myrtle'') and for numerous years this aircraft flew under civil registration until it was grounded by spar corrosion. |
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Since the early 1970s, numerous aircraft have been removed from Aberdeen Proving Grounds as well as NAS China Lake for museum displays – the last B-29 removed from China Lake is currently being restored to flying condition (''Doc''). There are still two partial airframes and one wreck at the NAS China Lake site. Several other aircraft were noted as late as 1980 but these aircraft have disappeared – four having been used in the Disney Picture [[The Last Flight of Noah's Ark|''Last Flight of Noah’s Ark'']], in which two of the airframes were destroyed during production. |
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Additional aircraft have been discovered at both post-war crash sites and near World War II Pacific airfields. At least four B-29 wrecks on [[Guam]] and several on [[Saipan]] are known to exist. There is a search for the first B-29 to bomb Japan, ''Dauntless Dottie''<ref>,[http://www.memphis-belle.com/dotty_story.htm B-29 ''Dauntless Dottie'' Story]</ref> which crashed into the [[Pacific Ocean]] on take-off during her return flight to the United States. If the airplane is found there are plans to recover and restore it for display. In 1995 an attempt to recover the ''[[Kee Bird]]'', which had crashed in 1947 in northern [[Greenland]], resulted in the complete destruction of the plane by fire.<ref>"B-29 Frozen in Time." ''NOVA'' PBS Airdate: July 29, 1997 [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2303b29.html transcript retrieved July 28, 2010]</ref> |
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==B-29 survivors== |
==B-29 survivors== |
Revision as of 18:57, 7 March 2013
List of surviving Boeing B-29 Superfortresses highlights the history of many well known flying and static display B-29s in the United States. A list is also provided of other B-29s on display around the world; including location, model and serial numbers, brief history, nicknames/markings, and conditions.
Background
In September 1945, immediately after the surrender of Japan, all contracts for further production of the B-29 were terminated after 3,970 aircraft (2,766 by Boeing Aircraft, 668 by Bell Aircraft and 536 by Glenn L. Martin Co.) were accepted by the USAAF. Uncompleted airframes at the Boeing Plant in Wichita, Kansas plant were stripped of all government furnished equipment and scrapped on the flightline.
A vast majority all of the B-29s were stored by a new process of cocooning. However, this process trapped heat and moisture, resulting in numerous airframes being damaged by this process (primarily the avionics and instruments). Between 1946 and 1949, many early and high-time combat veteran aircraft were sold or scrapped. None were released to civilian use.
B-50 was introduced
While the B-29 was still considered useful in the post World War II inventory, the numerous problems with development, (i.e. including the freezing of the design in 1942) and the fear that the postwar US Congress would not fund the purchase of a design that still had significant quantity in storage, led to the radically redeveloped B-29D being redesignated the B-50A. While the B-50A looked similar to the B-29, Boeing had redeveloped the airframe with a new stronger alloy skin, redesigned main spar, taller vertical stabilizer and improved engine cowlings. Additionally, the engines were changed to the R-4360, which produced higher power, had better cooling and were less prone to failure.
Korean War and super bomber designs
In 1947, with the advent of the USAF, the B-29 was redesignated as a medium bomber. With the new heavy bombers in production B-36 Peacemaker and Northrop YB-49 and the planned production of both the B-47 Stratojet and the B-52 Stratofortress becoming a reality, the Superfortress was quickly starting to become eclipsed by technology. It was only the advent of the Korean War in 1950 which slowed down the retirement of the B-29. Once again, the Superfortress was pressed into combat; while for the first 6 months the B-29 was able to hold its own, the introduction of jet fighters such as the MiG-15 ended its usefulness; the B-29 was too slow and its defenses were inadequate against fast-moving jets. By 1953, except for some RB-29s, B-29s were withdrawn from combat. The remaining B-29s in service were then redesignated as Training (TB-29), Photo Recon (RB-29/F-13), Air-Sea Rescue (SB-29) and refueling/tanker (KB-29M) aircraft. The last USAF flight was in September 1960.
Loaned to the UK
As a stop-gap measure between the Lancaster and Lincoln propeller-driven heavy bombers and new jet V bombers, the Royal Air Force operated 88 leased B-29s in the early 1950s. These received the service name Washington Bomber Mark I. The Washingtons were largely replaced in service by English Electric Canberra bombers by 1955, the last leaving service in late 1958 when they were retired and returned to the United States. Several Washingtons were given to Australia, but within one year they were retired and scrapped.
NACA and the X-planes
The B-29 did enjoy limited success postwar as a flying testbed, being used with NACA to carry the early rocket aircraft (X-1, X-1A, D-558-2 etc.…), prototype jet engine testing, electronic test ships, High Altitude Atmospheric tests, etc.
The majority of the surviving B-29 came from airframes that had either been designated (with the US Navy at NAWS China Lake), initially, as target-tow aircraft, then unmanned target aircraft, finally as a ground target (the last B-29 destroyed was in 1981 more than 6 years after a ban had been placed on further using these aircraft as targets). Furthermore, B-29s were used at Aberdeen Proving Grounds as ground targets and survivability studies.
B-29 survivors
South Korea
- On display
- B-29 (s/n 45-21739) Unification Kia. This aircraft is displayed indoors at the KAI Aerospace Museum in Sachon.[1]
United Kingdom
- On display
- B-29 (s/n 44-61748) It's Hawg Wild. This aircraft is displayed indoors at the American Air Museum, part of the Imperial War Museum Duxford.[2]
United States
- Airworthy
- B-29A (s/n 44-62070) Fifi. This aircraft is operating with the Commemorative Air Force (B-24/B-29 Squadron) in Addison, Texas.[3] Fifi was returned to airworthy status in August 2010 and flew for the first time since 2006.[4]
- On display (complete airframes)
- B-29 (s/n 42-65281) Miss America 62. This aircraft is displayed outdoors at the Jimmy Doolittle Air & Space Museum on Travis AFB in Fairfield, California.[5]
- B-29A (s/n 42-93967) City Of Lansford. This aircraft is displayed outdoors at the Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park in Cordele, Georgia.[6]
- B-29 (s/n 44-27297) Bockscar. This aircraft is displayed indoors at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.[7]
- B-29 (s/n 44-27343) Tinker's Heritage. This aircraft is displayed outdoors at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[8]
- B-29A (s/n 44-61669) Flagship 500. This aircraft is displayed outdoors at March Field Air Museum at March ARB in Riverside, California.[9]
- B-29A (s/n 44-61671) The Great Artiste. This aircraft, originally modified to be an SB-29 "Super Dumbo", now marked to replicate the Silverplate airframe 44-27393, is on static display at the "Spirit Gate" of Whiteman AFB in Knob Noster, Missouri.[10]
- B-29A (s/n 44-61975) Jack's Hack. This aircraft is displayed indoors at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.[11]
- B-29 (s/n 44-62022) Peachy. This aircraft is displayed indoors at Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum in Pueblo, Colorado.[12]
- B-29 (s/n 44-62220) Joltin Josie. This aircraft is displayed outdoors at the USAF History & Traditions Museum on the grounds of Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas.[13]
- B-29A (s/n 44-70016) Sentimental Journey. This aircraft is displayed indoors in Hangar 4 at the Pima Air and Space Museum adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona.[14]
- B-29A (s/n 44-70064) Raz'n Hell. This aircraft is displayed outdoors at the Castle Air Museum at the former Castle AFB in Atwater, California. It is actually a composite of three B-29s : 44-61535 - tail, 44-84084 - wings, 44-70064 fuselage.[15]
- B-29 (s/n 44-70113) Sweet Eloise. This aircraft is displayed outdoors at Dobbins ARB in Marietta, Georgia.[16]
- TB-29B (s/n 44-84053) Big Red. This aircraft is displayed indoors at the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB in Warner Robins, Georgia.[17]
- TB-29B (s/n 44-84076) Lucky Lady. This aircraft is displayed indoors at the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, Nebraska.[18]
- B-29 (s/n 44-86292) Enola Gay. This aircraft is displayed indoors at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Fairfax County, Virginia.[19]
- B-29 (s/n 44-86408) Haggerty's Hag. This aircraft is displayed outdoors at the Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah.[20]
- B-29A (s/n 44-87627) This aircraft, which is unnamed, is displayed outdoors at the Eighth Air Force Museum at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisiana.[21]
- KB-29M (s/n 44-87779) Legal Eagle II. This aircraft is displayed outdoors at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum adjacent to Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, South Dakota.[22]
- B-29 (s/n 45-21748) Duke Of Albuquerque. This aircraft is currently being displayed outdoors at the National Atomic Museum adjacent to Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[23]
- On display (partial airframes)
- B-29 (s/n 42-65401). Nose section only. On display at the Stockton Field Aviation Museum in Stockton, California. Privately owned by Nick Veronico.[24]
- B-29 (s/n 44-62139). Fuselage section only. Displayed inside the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Painted to represent Command Decision (s/n 44-87657) .[25]
- Under restoration or in storage (complete airframes)
- B-29A (s/n 44-69729) T Square 54. This aircraft is currently shrink-wrapped and stored outdoors with the outer wing panels removed at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. Facilities to store the aircraft indoors with the Museum's B-17 are in the final planning stages. [26]
- B-29 (s/n 44-69972) Doc. This aircraft was being restored to active flying status. However, money for the project ran out and it is now stored indoors at the Kansas Air Guard Hangar across from the Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita, Kansas; no longer available to the public.[27]
- B-29 (s/n 44-70049). In storage for Kermit Weeks at Borrego Springs, California. One of 4 B-29's obtained by Disney from China Lake for use in the movie The Last Flight of Noah's Ark.[28]
- P2B-1S (s/n 45-21787) Fertile Myrtle. Nose Section is on display at the Florida Air Museum in at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The rest of the aircraft is in storage at Aero Trader in Borrego Springs, California. This aircraft was used for the flight sequences in the Disney movie The Last Flight of Noah's Ark and the movie The Right Stuff.[29]
- Under restoration or in storage (partial airframes)
- B-29 (s/n 42-24791) The Big Time Operator. Nose section only. In storage at the Edward F. Beale Museum in Marysville, CA.[30]
- B-29 (s/n 44-61739). Nose section only. In storage at the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB in Warner Robins, Georgia.[31]
- B-29A (s/n 44-62134). In storage at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California.[32]
- B-29 (s/n 44-69957). Wreckage in storage at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California. Took a direct hit from weapons testing. The nose was used in the restoration of 'Doc'.[33]
- B-29 (s/n 44-70102) Here's Hopin. Possibly being restored at NAWS China Lake in Inyokern, California.[34]
- B-29 (s/n 44-84084). In storage for Kermit Weeks at Borrego Springs, California. One of 4 B-29's obtained by Disney from China Lake for use in the movie The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (see 44-70049 above for the other surviving example). The wings were installed on 44-61535. The other two Disney B-29s were destroyed (44-62112 and 44-62222).[35]
- Wrecks
- B-29 (s/n 42-65287). In the ocean off the coast of Aquadilla, Puerto Rico, near the former Ramey AFB.[36]
- WB-29 (s/n 44-83905) Lady Of The Lake. Currently submerged in a lake near Eielson AFB, south of Fairbanks, Alaska, where it was placed after being retired for use in training exercises.[37][38]
- B-29 (s/n 45-21763) Kee Bird. Burned after an attempted recovery. Currently sitting on the bottom of a lake in Greenland.[39]
- B-29 (s/n 45-21847) Beetle Bomb. It was ditched in Lake Mead near Las Vegas, Nevada in 1948 and discovered intact in 2002.[40]
Related content
- B-29 Superfortress operators
- B-29 Superfortress variants
- KB-29 Superfortress
- XB-39 Superfortress
- XB-44 Superfortress
- B-50 Superfortress
- Tupolev Tu-4
Notes
- ^ "Superfortress/45-21739" John Weeks B-29 Survivors Retrieved: 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-61748" American Air Museum Duxford Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-62070" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ Commemorative Air Force page on Fifi
- ^ "Superfortress/42-65281" Jimmy Doolittle Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/42-93967" Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-27297" National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-27343" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-61669" March Field Air Museum. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-61671" The Great Artiste Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-61975" New England Air Museum. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-62022" Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-62220" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-70016" Pima Air & Space Museum Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-70064" Castle Air Museum. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-70113" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-84053" Museum of Aviation. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-84076" Strategic Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-86292" Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-86408" Hill Aerospace Museum Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-87627" Eighth Air Force Museum. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-87779" South Dakota Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/45-21748" National Atomic Museum. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/42-65401" Stockton Field Aviation Museum Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-87657" National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-69729" Museum of Flight Retrieved: 7 April 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-69972" FAA Registry Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-70049" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/45-21787" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/42-24791" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-61739" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-62134" China Lake Alumni Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-69957" China Lake Alumni Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-70102" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-84084" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Superfortress/42-65287" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Superfortress/44-83905" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
- ^ http://www.eielson.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-061114-019.pdf
- ^ "Superfortress/45-21763" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Superfortress/45-21847" John Weeks B-29 Survivors. Retrieved: 6 June 2012.
External links
- Aero Web's B-29 List and Location
- John Weeks B-29 Index
- Warbird Information Exchange B-29 listing Warbird Information Exchange
- Warbird Information Exchange
- China Lakes B-29s
- Airport Data Pictures
- Boeing Production Numbers
- 44-70039
- Docs Restoration
- Sally Ann's B-29 Page
- Hawg Wild (Walk Thru
- T-Square-54: B-29 website by Tom Mathewson
- Baugher's B-29 Page
- 20th AF, 314th BW, 330th BG history and first-hand accounts
- 509th CG Page
- Warbirds Resource Group,
- WarbirdsRegistry.org B-29/B-50
- B-29 history and first-hand accounts,
- FAA's B-29s