XB-15 Remains in Panama

JFS61 · **Joined:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:44 pm **Posts:** 305

Out of idle curiosity, was wondering if anyone has ever gone to Panama to look for what remains of the old XB-15? It is said that its remains (sans tail, engine and internals) were pushed off into a swamp in Panama, where it sank from sight. I realize that after 80 years in swamp water probably nothing much remains, but was curious if the idea of looking for what's left had ever crossed anyone's mind.

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:50 am

no offense, but your math is way off. the x-15 project was well before 80 years ago. perhaps you are confused about another project.

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Tom,

Perhaps you should Google "XB-15"

JFS61 · **Joined:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:44 pm **Posts:** 305

Turns out my math was off by a bit, as the plane was disposed of in 1945, making it 67 years, not 80 (teach me to be up typing at 3:00 in the morning, especially without caffeine).

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:58 am

tom d. friedman wrote:

the x-15 project was well before 80 years ago. perhaps you are confused about another project.

Big difference between X-15 and XB-15 :wink:

robkamm · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:28 am

i had to google that one. neat plane. huge! should be easy

to find. isnt the other x-15 (rocket plane)buried in the desert with a plaque marking it as a grave?

The Inspector · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:38 am

66672 X-15 #3 was the one that tumbled on returning into the atmosphere killing Mike Adams, it's remains are buried in an unmarked spot somewhere on Edwards AFB.
Rumors persist that there are some privately held bits from the airplane by a guy who does, or did run a restaurant in the Antelope Valley.

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:46 am

Fouga23 wrote:

Big difference between X-15 and XB-15 :wink:

Indeed, but both very cool in different dimensions...

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

More info here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1190&hilit=panama#p7902

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:47 am

Look here for a story on finding the X-15 crash site.
http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/X- ... h_site.htm

Indeed, these "Wreckfinders" have found a few bits and IIRC, a few bits were on display somewhere. They turn over the bigger pices to the AF, but keep small trinkets for themselves.

RE: the XB-15, in his Boeing (Putnam series) book, Peter M. Boweres says the XB-15 was scrapped at Kelly Field. I've never heard it was scraped abroad.

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2308

The Inspector wrote:

66672 X-15 #3 was the one that tumbled on returning into the atmosphere killing Mike Adams, it's remains are buried in an unmarked spot somewhere on Edwards AFB.
Rumors persist that there are some privately held bits from the airplane by a guy who does, or did run a restaurant in the Antelope Valley.

Parts of it were on display at Wing & A Prayer out at 90th East & Ave J. The place went through a series of owners after the original couple sold it & one of the new owners sold a lot of the stuff off on Ebay...including stuff I had loaned the original owners.... such as large pieces of Spitfire PA908. I'm still pissed about it.

Ztex · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:28 pm

Interesting bit in the Wiki article on the XB-15

Quote:

In June 1945, it was ordered to be scrapped at Albrook Field in Panama,[7] its engines and internal parts removed along with its vertical stabilizer and rudder. The remaining airframe was deposited at Diablo dump, a swampy landfill southwest of the runway, where it slowly sank from sight.[13][14][10] Squatters built shacks on stilts in the swamp, covering the remains. The former dump is now an industrial area, with "Grandpappy" underneath

Woodsy Airfield · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:34 pm

Warbirdnerd's reference to XB-15 info appeared in an American Aviation Historical Society Journal article (Vol. 50-1, Spring 2005) by Dan Hagedorn. What is interesting is that before the aircraft was pushed into a swamp, the engines, verticle fin and rudder were removed at Albrook Field. I wonder if any of these items or stripped souvenirs are with the Air Force Museum?

old iron · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:30 pm

Many years ago - early 1990s - I was walking around the edge of a boneyard at Chino, gawking through the chain-link fence, and saw a forward fesulage section of a large bomber, labeled (if my memory is correct) as "B-19". Always wondered what it was that I actually saw. Any guesses?

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:52 pm

A long time ago, they had a B-36 front fuselage...and still have a B-50.
The XB-19 was scrapped at D-M in 1949.

I've never heard mention of a B-19 bit...and I didn't see antything like that in my visits in 1990 or 2000.

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