Last flying B-29 Super Fortress

[rbsinto]

"Bock's Car", the B-29 that bombed Nagasaki is displayed at the Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio.
And of course there is a Russian B-29 reverse-engineered copy which was designated the Tupolev Tu-4 (NATO name "Bull") on static display at the Monino Air Force Museum in Moscow.

 

[mynikonf2]

This is one of the many WWII aircraft that I grew up with, even though Dad was in the Navy and this was an Army/U.S. Air Force bomber. These aircraft hold such a special and an untouchable place within my psyche that even just the mention of their name triggers a flood of B&W images through my mind of flak peppered skies & sun glinting off silver aircraft bodies and a seemingly endless number of bombs raining down from them...these are the memories of this "military brat". When one of these bombers landed at N.A.S. Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, (a ultra rare occurrence for such a short runway), Dad took me to see it. We rode a ferry boat past the wreck of the U.S.S. Arizona and Dad would always remind me of the thousand + sailors in their eternal sleep there.
Oh well, did not mean to go there so I'll stop and say thanks for posting this.

 

[rxmd]

The Cavanaugh is top shelf all the way! They have a F-104 which is one of the more beautiful jets ever!

Beautiful, yes, but also lovingly named "Earth Nail" and "Widowmaker" (at least in northern Germany where most of the German F-104s were based). The Luftwaffe lost 30% of their Starfighters and 108 pilots to accidents.

 

[gshybrid]

I'll have to head down there to take a look. My father piloted a B29 during WWII. I've heard lots of stories but I've never seen one in the flesh.

The Museum of Flight in Seattle has a recently-restored B-29 on the premises, but I don't believe it's airworthy. It's currently shrink-wrapped to protect it from the elements--sort of a cross between Christo and Curtis LeMay.

 

[TXForester]

They have a F-104 which is one of the more beautiful jets ever!

I prefer props, but I do like the F-104 and the early model F-86 Sabers. Otherwise, jets are ugly. 😀

I'll have to see if I still have an old copy of Air Classics that told of the NF-104A used in USAF test pilot school. It described the typical flight profile. An abbreviated description is in Wikipedia under NF-104A.

 

[Al Patterson]

Ahhhh, the Confederate, errr, Commemorative, Air Force, home base for which is in Texas.

FiFi is the only airworthy B-29, the entire Enola Gay is in the National Air and Space Museum annex @ Dulles, VA.

Bockscar is in Dayton at thr Air Force museum...

 

[Rob-F]

I had some mixed feelings about taking this, but as an ex-Air Force person, this B-29 took my breath away when I happened across it at the National Air & Space Museum:

 

[Rob-F]

Also at the Air & Space Museum is this NASA F-104:

 

[JoeV]

B29 at the National Nuclear Museum of Science and History, in Albuquerque. I believe this airframe was used in live tests of nuclear weapons.

~Joe

 

[bigeye]

Osaka raid, 6-1-45. The last moment. Lined up for the bombing run, they're about to open the bomb bay doors and start taking flak:

Dad said this is probably a POW camp supply mission from Isely field (Saipan); the loads were jury rigged out of 55gal drums and Dad said the supply missions were almost as dangerous as the bombing missions - but a lot more fun not being shot, blasting along at 500 ft (Spielberg got it right in "Empire in the Sun")

If there was any problem once lined up for a mission, the crew shut down, jumped out, and the most expensive, complex aircraft of the day was pushed off the taxiway down a ravine, to allow the others to continue. Maintenance crews would occasionally go down there for spare parts:

- Charlie

 

[mynikonf2]

Fantastic photos. Tell your Dad thanks for his service for me.

 

[kshapero]

Where is that B-29 based- S. florida? Out here in Mesa, AZ, we have a B-24 and B-25, think they are a lot cheaper ($300+/-) 🙂

Wonderful pictures!

The B29 moves all about the USA. I do not know where the home base is.

 

[kshapero]

A few shots from the 40's.

 

[iamzip]

Ever done a google maps/ google earth search of the boneyard in Arizona? It's pretty mind blowing.

 

[KoNickon]

Sounds like there are some "warbird buffs" among us. I very much enjoy looking at Air Classics magazine, which in addition to interesting history has reports on restoration efforts on classic aircraft, military and otherwise. I admire the dedication of the people who work for years, often purely as volunteers, in restoring these aircraft.

 

[kshapero]

For more photos see:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kshapero/sets/72157629234628386/

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Fantastic photos. Tell your Dad thanks for his service for me.

From me as well. Thank you for sharing his story in words & pictures.

 

[Calzone]

The rides were like $600 out of my league. BTW my dad was a navigator on 18 missions in WWII, in one these giant sardine cans.

Over 15 years ago I got a free ride on a B-17 as a videographer when I did TV broadcast news journalism. The plane had Memphis Belle painted by the cockpit, was used in the film "Memphis Belle" and was one of the few B-17's still airworthy. The owner was a wealthy Texan and was a member of the "Confederate Airforce."

The news story was that someone was actively campaigning to have the plane grounded because it was considered a treasure that could not be replaced and needed to be preserved for our future heritage. The owner's argument was that our heritage needed to be displayed and be demonstrated...

So I'm on the tarmac with an $80K broadcast quality Ikagami video camera that records on a one inch tape into a separate deck. I'm instructed to stay low and away from the props. The engines were billowing a bit of smoke, and it was just like one of the last scenes from "Casa Blanca." I was also warned to stay on the gang-plank that ran down the center or else I would put my foot through the plane. When I touched the side of the bomber I took notice that the outer skin of the plane was no thicker than a beer can.

My place for take-off and landing was right behind the pilot on the floor. I would learn later that the pilot was a little crazy. In the back of the plane are these open windows for a machine gun on each side. I was shooting video out one of these windows, when the pilot decided to perform a tight banked turn around the Jones Beach water tower at perhaps 200 feet. Somehow I didn't drop the $80K camera, but I also luckily didn't fall out of the plane.

Anyways flying in this plane was scary enough because its airworthiness was being questioned, but I imagine the vast amount of courage it took for men to fly into battle with so little protection.

Cal

 

[TXForester]

Sounds like there are some "warbird buffs" among us. I very much enjoy looking at Air Classics ...

I used to love that magazine, but haven't bought one in 20+ years. I do have a few old ones a few feet from me. Got them down out of Dad's attic with other stuff and brought them home to reread.

 

[TXForester]

The rides were like $600 out of my league.

Some rides are really high priced and planes with multiple seating for passengers often require a minimum number of passengers before they go up. However, some rides are reasonably priced.

For those in the Dallas area, check out the cost of rides at the Cavanaugh museum and the DFW Wing of the CAF (in Lancaster). Last year, I went up in the CAF R4D (at the Flights of our Fathers gathering in Terrell, TX) for $150. Sometimes you can go up at airshows/gatherings. In other cases, you can sign up for a ride at the plane's homefield, but flights are subject to weather and availability of pilots certified for each type of aircraft. I want to sign up for a flight for a gift for my dad.