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Collection of B29 Nose Art

Fri Apr 19, 2013 9:03 am

I found a nice collection of nose art from the Pacific online that i thought people might appreciate. These are not my pictures and I don't know where the came from, sorry.

(I apologize if this has already been posted.)

http://imgur.com/a/tzIVZ

Re: Collection of B29 Nose Art

Fri Apr 19, 2013 11:48 am

Nice link, thanks! By the way, the nose of "Big Time Operator" was recently recovered from China Lake and is going to be restored by QuestMasters... he posts here from time to time, although I can't recall his actual name.

I'm amazed more decal companies haven't taken on some of these subjects... there's some really terrific work done back then.

Lynn

Re: Collection of B29 Nose Art

Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:24 pm

lmritger wrote:Nice link, thanks! By the way, the nose of "Big Time Operator" was recently recovered from China Lake and is going to be restored by QuestMasters.


FYI,
Actually I believe it is an anonymous B-29 nose that was just painted up like BTO. It was recovered from China Lake about 20 plus years ago and Questmasters only recently got it in a deal with the New England Air Museum.
Great photos of the B-29's!
Jerry

Re: Collection of B29 Nose Art

Sat Apr 20, 2013 1:11 am

Great find!

I think "Urgin Virgin" was my favorite followed by "Hore-3ontal Dream"

Re: Collection of B29 Nose Art

Sat Apr 20, 2013 11:40 pm

Not to hijack the thread, my apologies, but Questmasters' B-29 actually is "Big Time Operator" (B-29-50-BW, s/n 42-24791) that was destroyed at China Lake in the early to mid-1960s. Gary Larkins bought the cockpit and the tail gunners' compartment from Mobile Smelters at Mojave, hauled them to Grass Valley where he restored the nose for the Beale AFB museum. The nose section eventually passed through Seattle and then to the New England Air Museum shedding parts all along the way.

I have the complete tail gunners' compartment from this aircraft, including the hatches and the gun ball. The -50-BW tail gunners compartments had an oxygen system installation that was unique to this block of aircraft, and Big Time Operator was the only -50-BW allocated to China Lake.

Regards,
Nick

Re: Collection of B29 Nose Art

Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:42 am

I vote for "Slick's Chick's" - love the style of the artwork. "Call House Madam" looks more like a B-24 or Privateer.

Ken

Re: Collection of B29 Nose Art

Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:29 am

Nick, that's not a hijack, that's an outstanding explanation and I'm certainly thrilled you chimed in to share that info with us!

Cheers,

Lynn

Re: Collection of B29 Nose Art

Mon Apr 22, 2013 11:18 am

Van, i.e. QuestMasters, jumping in here. Yup, I'm the current "care giver" of the nose section of B-29 42-24791
"The Big Time Operator". Here is the link to her page on my website: http://www.questmasters.us/B-29_BTO.html

As for the picture link above, Wohoo!!! A new picture I hadn't seen of the BTO. Cool!!!!! :drink3:

Re: Collection of B29 Nose Art

Mon Apr 22, 2013 11:37 am

I have added the photo to the QuestMasters Museum Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/QuestMastersMuseum

Just when you think all resources have been found, a new (original) photo of The Big Time Operator" has surfaced. Very exciting! Also, note that Captain Shenefiel's name is on the pilot window, vice Pulsfort. Shenefiel flew 21 missions in the BTO.
:drink3:
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