China Lake Aircraft

[Shay]

I was looking through some pictures taken of China lake aircraft. B-29s, F-86s and so on. I was wondering if anyone knew what aircraft are still out there? I remember it being said the FiFi was the last B-29 worth anything out there. But Doc was pulled out and is being restored to flying. Wouldn't the remaining Superfortress's be worth while for parts as a whole? Sure with the remaining aircraft left a couple good ones could be made out of the remaining assemblies. Or is there nothing left to speak of. Also what other aircraft are out there? I seem to recall hearing that a remarkbly intact Hellcat was out deep in the wasteland. Just curious since everyone talking about aircraft recoveries state side. Seems like China Lake might be a good place to start. Thanks

Shay

[Randy Haskin]

If anyone knows who to talk to at China Lake, or can talk to the people who pulled Doc out and know how they did it, I'm willing to help from the military contact side and also with physical labor to go pull something out.

[Mike]

I remember it being said the FiFi was the last B-29 worth anything out there. But Doc was pulled out and is being restored to flying.

And so was the example now at Duxford, and that was flown across the Atlantic without too much restoration being required.

[wendovertom]

Not add fuel to the fire on this topic but there were 5 "silverplate" B-29s sent to China Lake. These were the modified B-29s for atomic weapons deployment. Those photos sure make dreaming exciting don't they??!!

[mjanovec]

If I remember correctly, the CAF got Fifi in 1971 when there were still quite a few B-29s out there. I think the CAF chose the aircraft that would become Fifi because it had low hours on the airframe and was in better condition than most.

Remember, that Fifi didn't take too long for them to put back into ferry-able condition. So it's quite likely that there were several other B-29s that, by today's standards, were very good candidates for airworthy restorations.

The story I heard is that Doc was the last B-29 pulled out of there with any chance to fly again. But I may be wrong on that one.

I'd be curious with all of the B-29s on static display how many of them could return to the skies if the effort was put into resotring them. Obviously, the costs involved are somewhat prohibitive of that. Also, once both Doc and Fifi are touring the airshow circuit, the rarity of seeing a flying B-29 will diminish ever so slightly...making the economics of restoring another one a little less desirable.

Then again, there are 13 flyable B-17s and they seem to do just fine. Wouldn't it be great to see just four B-29s flying in formation once again?

Mark

>I was looking through some pictures taken of China lake
>aircraft. B-29s, F-86s and so on. I was wondering if anyone
>knew what aircraft are still out there? I remember it being
>said the FiFi was the last B-29 worth anything out there.

[RareBear]

There's a B-29 on static display at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Park, near Cordele. It's been there a while, and it's been a long time since I've seen it, but I recall it was in remarkably good shape at that time.

Walt

[bdk]

As I recall, there is a museum at China lake. I understand that even they have trouble getting permission to visit some of the aircraft and wrecks that are out there.

I also recall reading that all the intact B-29's have been removed.

[AirJimL2]

When USAM brought out Doc they also found parts from quite a few other B-29s. I think at least one was pretty complete. For a short time USAM had a Museum at Inyokern with I assume other aircraft pulled out of China Lake. I really don't know what they had at the Museum, but it was pretty clear to me that "stuff" is out there.

Also, I understand there are quite a few airframes sitting around Aberdeen as well. (Not B-29s...but other misc stuff.)

Jim

Last edited by AirJimL2 on Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

[TimAPNY]

I heard China Lake was going to keep one of the B-29, For the Museum?

[RMAllnutt]

The guys who recovered Doc, later recovered most of a second example. From the photographs, it was complete, and on it's gear, but lacked the rear fuselage. I believe that the aircraft resided at the Inyokern museum for a while. Unfortunately, the Navy decided that they wanted the aircraft back for some reason, and it was removed from Inyokern.... does anyone know what happened to it since then?

Cheers,
Richard

[bdk]

There were also apparently a handful of WW2 Amphibious GMC DUKW military trucks out there as well. Not sure why, but Ihave have seen more than one report of them.

[HarvardIV]

What happened to the Hellcat out there?

Chris

[bdk]

And I think someone posted some photos on the old Warbirds Worldwide refugees board of a bunch of Hellcat wrecks that had already been recovered from there.

[DaveM2]

We had a nice article in CW a few years back on China Lake, a guy was able to do a tour by helicopter. The Hellcat he photographed was burnt out in the middle, but tail , forward fuse and outer wings looked new.

Dave

[B-29 Super Fort]

Their is also another B-29 stilll out in the West Hot Bomb Range that has never been touch the US Navy knows about this one also.

Col. Rohr: That's amazing! I'd love to see photos of it. What are the chances it will be recovered?