B-29 Superfortress at Bougainville?

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:54 am

OK, thanks to my mate Kerry who kindly scanned these photos for me, we now have closer looks at the details.

Kerry says, "It appears to have had Nose Art Removed from the Starboard Side, I can read “The Dragon” in a bamboo font, it could be part of longer name, there appears to be a head (Womans?) removed from underneath the antennae. I could be on LSD too."

I agree with Kerry about THE DRAGON appearing on the starboard side. I have tried adjusting contrast and lighting on the port nose art but still get no joy. It looks almost like a witch with point black hat and flowing cape on a broomstick, and a large word or name across the bottom. Then again I might be on LSD too...

Does The Dragon ring any bells with B-29 fans?

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

I think this is it!

A 'Square' 41

Edward Sheetmetalhands · **Joined:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:44 am **Posts:** 257

From SallyAnn's B-29 website:

"871st Squadron
A41 42-63425 The Dragon Lady later Terrible Terry-survived the war (see note 2);
2) Dragon Lady survived ramming 22Dec44 with the Clifford crew; was repaired, later became Terrible Terry.
(see Rust, p. 45) [Birdsall claims Dragon Ladynever flew again] "

So basically the ramming attack required replacing the vertical fin with one salvaged from a T Square....?

Edward Sheetmetalhands · **Joined:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:44 am **Posts:** 257

I think I see the damage to the vertical at the top of the fin from 330th's photo?? Or is that just distortion with the photo? So which T-Square plane was the organ donor?

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

Well, that explains the other nose shot then!!!

Still would like to know what the heck she was doing so far from home?

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

Edward Sheetmetalhands wrote:

I think I see the damage to the vertical at the top of the fin from 330th's photo?? Or is that just distortion with the photo? So which T-Square plane was the organ donor?

No, not distortion because there is a ladder up to the area as well.
She is also missing No. 1 and No. 2 propellers!!!

Nice CALL!!!

Also, Birdsall is incorrect as the photo from Bouganville clearly shows that she flew long enough to be modified into a SilverPlate'd'.

That is why I do not like getting my info from books. With the advent of the web..,so much information is easily assimilated it constantly changes and is your BEST source of data.

Tom Moungovan · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:14 am

If this aircraft was indeed on Bouganville, I'd think it would have been at
Torokina rather than Piva North or South as these were parallel fighter strips and slightly more inland than Torokina. Just my thoughts.

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:50 am

the330thbg wrote:

Also, Birdsall is incorrect as the photo from Bouganville clearly shows that she flew long enough to be modified into a SilverPlate.

Smis, I am quite certain this is just a stripped "standard" B-29, not modified to Silverplate standards. The true Silverplate airplanes and all the B-29Bs in the 315th Wing were quite a different breed than this War Weary. All the rebuilders did was to strip the armament out of her to make her lighter for use as a utility ship. The same thing was done to Fortresses, B-26s etc. in the ETO, and B-24s in the Pacific.

As to Dragon Lady never flying again, that is technically a correct statement. They stripped all the nose art and serials/codes off the airplane, and there is a good chance that the airplane "disappeared" from the 73rd Wing equipment lists because it was considered a non-combatant.

Good detective work to all concerned!!
Scott

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

Thanks Scott and you are correct, as usual, on my SilverPlate comment.., maybe we should call this 'SilverPlated'!!!! :wink:

and Dragon Lady, never flew as 'Dragon Lady' again either!!!!

Django · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:27 am

Great dectective work!

Edward Sheetmetalhands · **Joined:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:44 am **Posts:** 257

If I was to guess at the sillohuette of the replacement vertical fin it would be T Square 41... from SallyAnn's site:

"Planes of the 875th
9/l0/44
B-29
T-41
42-24606
Battling Betty
12/25/1944
Damaged on ground by enemy raid 12/25. Salvaged 1/6/45"

So both airplanes were based on Saipan, if T41 was damaged on the ground (versus being ditched, shot down, etc) it *could* have been the donor to rebuild A41. Anyone have a T41 damage photo? :wink:

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:38 am

The dates certainly line up, maybe that is the donor ship.

S

Ian Quinn · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 2:07 pm

For what it's worth it could have been taken at Emirau...this was built as a B-29 base but only used as such for a short while as events were moving quickly then.

Haven't been there since 1970 but the vegetation and layout looks like Emirau and not like Piva1/2 [which as someone pointed out would be a bit of a squeeze for a B-29]. The RNZAF did have a large base there as well.

Just a thought.

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

So how much runway would a fully loaded (typcially overloaded and underpowered) B-29 chew up?

8,500'?

Emirau Island, close to New Guinea below.

Django · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:19 pm

If it's a hack, it wouldn't be overloaded though.

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B-29 Superfortress at Bougainville?

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