Last B-29 active in the Air Force

PITA · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2009 10:49 pm

Hi there...I am a long time lurker and first time poster. I was watching something on the Military Channel today about the B-29. Near the end, they made a comment that the last B-29 retired from active duty, so to speak, was in 1960. Is that correct and if so, what was its purpose? From the way the person described it, I don't think it was a drone aircraft or a target aircraft. Anyone know?

airnutz · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 12:06 am

PITA wrote:

they made a comment that the last B-29 retired from active duty, so to speak, was in 1960. Is that correct and if so, what was its purpose?

What was it's purpose? My guess was that it would've been one of the weather recon birds..the WB-29 or somesuch
specialty bird. Welcome to WIX PITA!

A little google and your date seems about right according to these folks. As a long time lurker you know there are
folks here who will probably know the exact bird(s) to be the last and the date. Scroll down to the B-29 timeline..
http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/307.html

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 12:34 am

Psst - uh, guys? the "B-29 in flight" is a B-50...

And again, welcome to WIX, PITA! Fasten your seatbelt!

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 12:47 am

I'm not certain, and the information I have is buried in a pile somewhere, but I think the last B-29 was being used by a Radar Calibration unit assigned to SAC.

Welcome to WIX!
Scott

jamesintucson · **Joined:** Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:42 am **Posts:** 546

Second Air Force wrote:

I'm not certain, and the information I have is buried in a pile somewhere, but I think the last B-29 was being used by a Radar Calibration unit assigned to SAC.

Welcome to WIX!
Scott

It is likely that it came from Griffiss AFB. I think all the B-29 radar evaluation planes were there by the end of the 50s. Pima's was retired from there in June 1959. Also there is supposed to be a book coming out soon about the entire service history of the B-29s.
http://www.amazon.com/B-29-Superfortres ... 879&sr=8-1

James

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Book.., what is a 'Book'?

Who needs a book when you have WIX and the entire WEB for constantly changing updated data and stories.

Might as well go out and by an Encyclopedia!!! that will last you.. uh well.., at least a year, if you time it right! :shock:

All the information you would ever want to garner about the B-29 is available for free and from several different view points enabling you to ultimately rule on what is the true tale!!!

THE WEB RULES!!!!!

So before you go out and invest $55.00 on an all encompassing book.., GOOGLE first!

Then when you still have not come found the answer.., come to WIX!! :lol:

airnutz · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 3:29 pm

Chris Brame wrote:

Psst - uh, guys? the "B-29 in flight" is a B-50...

Yep..but I was after the date. I figured the B-29 pro's would've answered the question definitively by now?

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 11:45 pm

the330thbg wrote:

Who needs a book when you have WIX and the entire WEB for constantly changing updated data and stories.

Don't discount Bob Mann and his work, Smis--he has been diligently, and I mean diligently, researching the Superfortress for many years. He also wrenched on the bird when he was in the service and has helped me a LOT with my research on the B-29. I personally look forward to his new work.

That being said, WIX is a pretty good place to find out things and get leads on warbird stuff........(top secret stuff for right now).

Scott

airnutz · **Posted:** Sat May 23, 2009 12:58 am

Second Air Force wrote:

the330thbg wrote:

Who needs a book when you have WIX and the entire WEB for constantly changing updated data and stories.

Don't discount Bob Mann and his work, Smis--he has been diligently, and I mean diligently, researching the Superfortress for many years. He also wrenched on the bird when he was in the service and has helped me a LOT with my research on the B-29. I personally look forward to his new work.

That being said, WIX is a pretty good place to find out things and get leads on warbird stuff........(top secret stuff for right now).

Scott

2ndAF, I think 330 was being a bit facetious and poking fun at some of the web stuff at the same time. Anywho..

PITA and all,
I dug through some of my available(what's not in Ike storage) books, periodicals, and yet a few more web searchs.
An extensive Pete Bowers article from a 1973 "Wings" article states the USAF retired their last B-17 and B-29 in 1960.
Sorry nothing on a particular bird or date. Found nada in one of Birdsall's Superfort SSP books. I did find a web article
which cited a thorough bibliography, but alas no footnotes, as to which source supported the claim of the last USAF
B-29 date as June 21, 1960..and not specific as to a particular bird or birds on that date.

APG85 · **Posted:** Sat May 23, 2009 1:46 am

I could be wrong but I thought it was the B-29 at the Strategic Air & Space Museum, 44-84076. Seems like I read that somewhere...

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Sat May 23, 2009 6:36 am

I know, airnutz--I was just putting in a shameless plug for Bob's new book. :lol:

Bob and I and a couple of others have been trying to decipher that "K" hull number on the earlier Superforts for a while, so I thought I'd just do a little advertising for him.

Scott, I wondered about the SAC Museum airplane being the last in service, but it retired to Offutt in '59. I seem to remember that it was definitely one of the last to leave the inventory.

One of my modeling reference books has a photo of a VIP-type B-29 that might have been the last or close to it. I'll try to find it when I get home.

Scott

airnutz · **Posted:** Sat May 23, 2009 12:25 pm

APG85 wrote:

I could be wrong but I thought it was the B-29 at the Strategic Air & Space Museum, 44-84076. Seems like I read that somewhere...

Birdsall has that bird as a Bell-built B-29 which flew with the 4754th Radar Evaluation Squadron at Hamilton AFB
untill her last flight July 6, 1959 delivering her to the museum.

Simon Beck · **Joined:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:20 pm **Posts:** 137

Several books I have say 21 June, 1960 and it was
a TB-29 doing a weather reconn. even though it
was designated as a trainer.
This was probably the last operational flight as
opposed to the "last flight" as such.

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Second Air Force wrote:

the330thbg wrote:

Who needs a book when you have WIX and the entire WEB for constantly changing updated data and stories.

Don't discount Bob Mann and his work, Smis--he has been diligently, and I mean diligently, researching the Superfortress for many years. He also wrenched on the bird when he was in the service and has helped me a LOT with my research on the B-29. I personally look forward to his new work.

That being said, WIX is a pretty good place to find out things and get leads on warbird stuff........(top secret stuff for right now).

Scott

I am not slapping around said author, nor his book. I have quite a collection of books on the B-29, but can not remember the last time I pulled them out for reference. Pretty pictures.., but the stuff I have accumulated from the web and WIX (

) is far more current and will ALWAYS be!

I did not have quite the experience you did.., I gave the author lots and lots of data that I had spent countless hours verifying and when I asked for some in return.., i received a 'wait till my book comes out' :cry:

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

may have as much trouble finding the last B-29 to fly in active duty as you will in finding out the last B-29 to drop bombs on Japan. Kind of like all the people who trace their lineage to arriving on the Mayflower!

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