B-29 in iceland

[Cking]

Hi all
I saw this picture on "Airliners.net" and thought you might be interested

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/788930/M/

Rgds Cking

[N3Njeff]

nice pic. If it wasent for the more modern 2 vehicles right there, you would think the pic was taken earlier than 1979.

[Chuck Gardner]

It's too bad that this B-29 was made airworthy and flown from the US to the UK with a terrible finnish, never to be flown again. It should have flown with FiFi and done some airshows in both countries before being put down forever. It would have been great to have some arial shots of the plane.

[Richard Woods]

Hi guys,

I agree. While it was flying it should have toured for a while. But thanks to the fact it could fly, it meant us Brits have got a lovely B-29 to go look at without having to go all the way to the US.

Don't get too sad, 'Doc' will be airborne soon!!

Regards,
Richard
[/i]

[Mike]

It's too bad that this B-29 was made airworthy and flown from the US to the UK with a terrible finnish.

The finish of that particular flight looked fine to me, as a 15 year old pointing my Zenit B at the first B-29 that I'd ever seen.





By the way, that ferry flight was made in 1980, not 1979. Still doesn't seem like 25 years ago, though............

[en830]

Mind you it would be nice to see it flying in the UK, ah well

[Cking]

Great pictures Mike!
Tis a shame she wasn't kept airwothy for just a little while, perhapes they were afraid of (pre)repeting the Keybird incident?.
Hear's a question did the U.S. Navy donate the "Hawg wild" to the I.W.M. or to the R.A.F.M.? I seem to remeber reading it was to the R.A.F.M.


Rgds Cking

[Firebird]

Tis a shame she wasn't kept airwothy for just a little while, perhapes they were afraid of (pre)repeting the Keybird incident?.
Hear's a question did the U.S. Navy donate the "Hawg wild" to the I.W.M. or to the R.A.F.M.? I seem to remeber reading it was to the R.A.F.M.

IWM weren't afraid of repeating the Keebird incident as 'Hawg Wild' was delivered to the UK in 1980, but the Keebird recovery attempt wasn't until 1994, some 14 years later

Info direct from the IWM indicates the USN donated the aircraft to the IWM, and not the RAFM.

[Mike]

I believe that the B-52 was originally donated to the RAF Museum, in exchange for Vulcans being donated to US Museums. Presumably ownership has now transferred to the IWM?

The B-29 was donated to the IWM.

[Cking]

Firebird, I did say PRE repeating the Keybird

Yes the B-52 was the one I was getting the ownership mixed up on!!!.

When I last visited Duxford there were pictures of the Hawgwild at China lake. On one of the pictures was a navy film unit making a film of the recovery. I wonder what happened to that?.

Rgds Cking

[APG85]

Although sad to see a Superfort leave the states, at least it is being well cared for and is displayed indoors. Had it stayed in the US it might have ended up a gate guard at some base.
The Brits have slowly been restoring the aircraft over the years. The
forward crew compartments are complete. The bombay (at least the forward one) looks like new.
I've always wondered where they got the gun turrets from (anyone know). The airplane was delivered to Duxford without them (including the tail).
I'm sure the flight to the U.K. was an adventure. Anyone got any details?

Check out the link below for some good pictures of the interior...

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mclaydon/bkdoor-b29.htm

[Robbo]

The flight over to the UK was covered in Flypast magazine. I re-read it whilst going through my back issues a while ago and it really is a gripping account. The crew spent most of their time freezing to death.

[APG85]

Can you find out what issue? I'd love to read that article.....