Warbird Information Exchange

What is a Silverplate / Saddletree B-29 ?

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*When you meet a Veteran shake his or her hand and thank them. They earned your freedom*

Not sure about Saddletree, but Silverplate was the code name for the B-29s of the 509th Composite Group specially modified for the nuclear strikes on Japan.

SN

Thanks Steve
I'm never to old to learn something.

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*When you meet a Veteran shake his or her hand and thank them. They earned your freedom*

Saddletree replaced the name Silverplate when it became compromised...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

It is my understanding that Silverplate was for the nuclear strike against Japan - name never was "compromised". Saddletree was the project name for the post war Bikini nuclear tests. Not that it makes any difference.

BTW - "Up and Atom" was George Marquardt's plane - he ended up living most of his life here in Utah - passed away several years ago He and his wife are really nice people.

Tom P.

APG85's correct: Silverplate was the code name originally used by Col. Tibbets and the 509th for the delivery system component of the Manhattan Project. It eventually became the name of the modified B-29s, and was security-compromised. Saddletree was the new name, and applied to both the B-29 and B-36 nuclear equipment modifications. In addition you'll sometimes see GEM (Global Electronics Modernization) associated with the Saddletree program.

Here's an example of how Tibbets was able to use the Silverplate code word: The 509th was in need of some C-54s, and Col Tibbets was told to "take a number" as there was a great need in ATC for the transports. Someone reminded him of the code word, and when he re-ordered the airplanes using Silverplate six new C-54s were almost immediately delivered, becoming part of the 320th Troop Carrier Squadron, the "Green Hornets".

It's true that I found an unidentified handle inside of FIFI, that I was told was an emergency release for nukes, but without documentation, there is simply no way to prove it. In NO WAY was I ever suggesting that FIFI was a Silverplate aircraft. However, there is a slight possibility that it MAY have been used as a post war, practice plane for dropping/testing nukes. I started looking into that when I was working on the airplane but it just fell off my radar and I never looked any further. Maybe Dave Miller will post a picture of the handle for y'all to see.

Gary

Is the handle still installed?

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Yes.

Hope nobody minds this old thread coming up again, but this video has a shot of 44-86291 Necessary Evil in its later guise as a target tug at Yuma circa 1955 (it shows up at 5:07):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90JXqlnas00

Once again a case of "found it while looking for something else".

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Cool footage in a hilarious video.


Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

If you can find Pt. 1, it's just as funny as Pt.2 was-Geiger is now Spokane International but still I.D'd on your luggage as GEG

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I'd recommend the book "Enola Gay," by Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan Witts. Probably the best book about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki missions. A real page-turner. Some years later, a so-so Made For TV movie was based on the book, and had some decent B-29 ground and aerial footage.

The book gives several examples of how the code word "Silverplate" could open just about any door. There is also a somewhat grimly amusing account of the group adjusting to life at Wendover.

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The main winding was of the normal lotus-o deltoid type placed in panendermic semi-bolloid slots of the stator. Every seventh conductor being connected by a non-reversible tremmy pipe to the differential girdle spring on the up-end of the grammeters. Moreover, whenever fluorescent square motion is required, it may also be employed in conjunction with the drawn reciprocation dingle arm, to reduce sinusoidal depleneration.

does anyone have an ID or serial number on those B-29's?

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