Chasing a B-29 s/n

[The Inspector]

I've been going through old photos and trying to update the information about the aircraft depicted. I'm currently working on a batch of KB-29 tanker photos. One photo shows five aircraft parked on a ramp somewhere. The farthest aircrafts tail number cannot be seen due to the boom from the third a/c blocking it out. It's the fourth a/c I'm unable to locate in Baughers lists, and it seems to fall in a ten s/n hole. The tail # is 4469761 which would drop it in the middle of a block of B-29B-60-BW aircraft (and that's using a 5X loupe to read the little bugger!).
The other a/c are 4484047 Bell-Atlanta B-29B-55-BA, 4483924 Bell-Atlanta B-29B-45-BA, and closest is 4484151 Bell-Atlanta B-29B-65-BA. I'm guessing 91st ARS. The tail's have a huge dark square (insignia blue?) with an 'I' in it. The vertical tail tip trim appears to be orange and white (or yellow) candy cane stripes as is the shroud around the boom attach point fairing. The colors are just a SWAG as the photo is in black and white but tonally don't appear to represent black and red paint.

[Second Air Force]

I'll take a swing at this in the morning. I've got at least one reference that I think will identify the unit (and I think you're right about it being the 91st ARS), and I might have a color photo or line drawing as well. As memory serves, the candy cane stripes are red and white.

Those serial numbers also show what happened to a good portion of the B-29B airframes after WWII. Since they were built without the CFC system and turrets they were perfect for tankers and other duties. A lot of Bs came out of storage at Pyote and Tinker to become utility airplanes.

Of interest in the serials you've listed is 44-83924. She served as "Slicker 31" of the 315th Bombardment Wing, 331st Bomb Group, 356th Squadron.

Scott

[Craig59]

I was the unofficial historian for the 91st AREFS in which I served from 1984 to 1987. I can confirm for you that the KB-29's with the square 'I' are 91st aircraft. I believe they were stationed at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio during that time.

[Second Air Force]

It's interesting that a Wichita airplane was converted into a KB. The reason I mention that is that the AAF decided to "save" the Boeing-Wichita aircraft for use in the strategic role and assigned Bell, Martin, and Renton aircraft to the more mundane utility, tanker, etc. duties post-war. Somewhere I probably have a list of all KB serial numbers.

Scott

[the330thbg]

http://www.udisco.com/hobbies/pics/902113.jpg
http://www.modelwholesaleuk.com/catalog ... J14403.jpg

Renderings of your tankers for colors. The candy striping appears to be blue and white.., vs. red and white.,. the 91st guy should be the decisive factor.

Last edited by the330thbg on Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:44 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Second Air Force]

Yup, blue and white is right. I built a KB-29P not long after the Monogram kit came out--you'd think I would remember the colors . I can tell you masking off the pivot fairing for the boom was a PITA.....but it made for an impressive model.

S

[The Inspector]

A big THANK YOU gentlemen!

I will assume then that even though not shown in Baughers listings that 69761 is a 60-BW and I'll list it as such on the margin of the photo.
And, light blue never entered my mind as stripe colors.

[Second Air Force]

I just checked Mann's lists, and I find that 44-69761 served with the 500th Group as Z Square 1. He has her being written off at Anderson AFB in 1954, being assigned to the 509th Bombardment Wing at the time.

44-84151 was the second-to-last B-29B built.