Kee Bird wreckage recovery

[B-29 Super Fort]

Does anyone know if the planned recovery of the remains of the B-29 Kee Bird ever took place, and if so, how much was recovered and where it went?

http://www.aycsnetwork.com/flightlinebringinghomekeebird.htm

[Wolverine]

Do you mean after it crashed in the 96?
As far as I know, the Kee Bird's wreckage from the fire is still there.
It consists of complete (for the most part) wings and the tail section. The fuselage was destroyed. I've heard nothing since then.

[B-29 Super Fort]

Do you mean after it crashed in the 96?
As far as I know, the Kee Bird's wreckage from the fire is still there.
It consists of complete (for the most part) wings and the tail section. The fuselage was destroyed. I've heard nothing since then.

Right according to the article I linked to the salvage rights for the remains after the failed attempt by Greenamyer were awarded to Veron Rich. They were going to recover the engines and wing surfaces that survived the fire.

[tom d. friedman]

supposedly she was on a frozen lake when she caught fire due to the apu igniting as they were moving her with the engines running. no choice, they stopped her, & bailed right on that lake, & watched her cook. if she was stopped on a lake what remains is surely under water by now. nobody's fault, who could differentiate a frozen lake from frozen ground up their?? a tragic ending to a noble effort & cause. 1 additional snag..... i was told that the team left the sight a shambles with junk, litter, fuel drums etc. they promised the govt. of greenland they would return & clean up the place but never did, hence the "greenies" are not to receptive to any new proposed expeditions. regards, tom

[Ollie]

They towed the remains on the shore before the ice melted.

[N3Njeff]

I dont know about noble effort????? As a aircraft mech and having a friend who had a large private investment in the KEE BIRD, and still does have salvage rights to his "Borrowed parts" to get the B-29 off. If anyone interested in the other side of the story...........I will post later when I have more time and wont get pissed before work due to peoples stupidity.

[tom d. friedman]

ollie, is that verified that they towed the remains off the frozen lake??? n3njeff, i hope your statement regarding stupidity was not aimed at me!! regards, tom

[ThinkingManNeil]

PBS made an excellent NOVA documentary about the recovery and loss of Kee Bird. The project's chief mechanic died during the recovery operation, and the subsequent fire was completely documented by the NOVA crew.

Heartbreaking on both accounts.

Neil H.

[aerovin]

Hanging a fuel tank over the APU in the back of the airplane while taxiing over a very rough surface? Hmmm.

[B-29 Super Fort]

Getting back to my original question I guess this statement below is still unknown as to what remains and are recoverable?

WHAT REMAINS OF THE AIRCRAFT  

The B-29 fuselage burned forward of the tail section through the bomb bay into the cockpit. The fuselage and cockpit were totally destroyed in the fire.

 The center wing section was not damaged by the fire, as will as the outer wings

1300 hundred gallons of aviation fuel still remains in the fuel tanks.

Four reconditioned zero time 18-cylinder Wright R-3350-23 radial engines with cowling are still intact.

16- reconditioned zero time Hamilton Standard propeller blades are still on the engines.

 The vertical and horizontal stabilizer is completely intact

 The recovery team of mechanics will disassemble the remaining Wings, four engines, propellers, and tail section of the B-29  “ Kee Bird“ and they will be airlifted out. 

[Originalboxcar]

N3N,

Yes, please enlightened us to this tragic story.

regards,

t~

[Lightning]

Howdy

What about that substantial remains of B-29 S/N.44-70102, that the United States Aviation Museum tried to get out of China Lake. The U.S Navy made them return it back to China Lake!
The U.S.A.M only ended up with B-29 S/N.44-69972 "DOC" now at Wichita

Keep em flying

Lightning

[CWBuff]

but don't ask me.

We won't...

It's just a joke... sheesh...


If anyone's interested in seeing a ton of images of Kee Bird, go to Corbis.com and do a search for 'B-29'.


Fade to Black...

[N3Njeff]

Nope, tom your ok. That statement was directed to the people that were responsible for the loss of the B-29.

Yep, NOVA did a excellent job in the documentary, but there is other footage not used by the NOVA team.
A good friend of mine let them use some prop parts, with the intention in getting them back once the aircraft was on US soil. So being a "sponsor" they would send him updates and video of the project.

The video that I got to see made me sick. Example 1, was I guess to help get the nose gear out of the mud, they stacked supplies lifted by a UH-1 and set them on the horizontal to lift the nose out.

Example 2 was when it was out on dry land, they ran a fuel line from a drum direct to the carb of the #4 engine. They tried to start the engine with all 4 prop blades being twisted back!!!!! They got a few cylinders firing and it wanted to run, but what were they trying to prove????? With 4 bent blades, all they were going to do was tear the engine off the firewall!!!

So yes, from what I had heard was that it was due to the fast taxi on the ice that broke loose/ tipped over a generator that started the fire. Also as everyone was getting out, aparently darrell could not get the belt un done from the pilots seat due to its age. That the FE, I believe he is from the CAF, had to go in and unbolt the belts from the seat to get him out.

If anyone has other info about the end, fill me in. But as about the stuff above, I had seen it in video so that I know is true!

[peter]

I trieda search and I dont see loads of pics only one black and white wartime one and a shot of "doc"