The b-29 that would not die

[Chief]

Thanks Sandiego for posting the link to the C-133 information. I was in the 1607th at Dover AFB 1958-1967. We lost a lot of friends in the C-133's. Reading the accident information on the link brings back a lot of memories. We had 6 crashes plus those severly damaged on the ground.

The aircraft that just "disappeared" over the ocean shortly after take-off were hard to understand. We heard a very short radio transmission from one. It was only two words, "prop struck".

[whistlingdeath77]

[ryguy135]

Wow! I had no idea what the tail mounted on Doc had been through!!!

[PinecastleAAF]

That a-26 is the only restored example I've ever seen with the early style canopy. What was the reason for that? Looks good I'm just curious.

[whistlingdeath77]

That a-26 is the only restored example I've ever seen with the early style canopy. What was the reason for that? Looks good I'm just curious.

I believe the bombardier sat up there as opposed to mounting several .50 cals in the nose. That did at one time have a solid nose,( possibly for civilian use,) but the correct glass nose was put back on for the restoration

[whistlingdeath77]

Another survivor of the harsh New England weather

[whistlingdeath77]

b-29 tail

[PinecastleAAF]

Regarding the restored Invader, I was referring to the cockpit canopy being hinged at the front rather than the sides.

[PinecastleAAF]

Regarding the restored Invader, I was referring to the cockpit canopy being hinged at the front rather than the sides.

[Steve Nelson]

I've always wondered what they were thinking when they designed that early canopy. It looks like it would really restrict visibility, and opening the thing against the slipstream in an emergency would be impossible. I'm surprised to see one still exists. I don't think they built that many Invaders with the early canopy, and I assumed that any still operating postwar would have had been retrofitted with the later "clamshell" type.

SN

[muddyboots]

Seeing that B29 surrounded by other larger aircraft really brings things into perspective. It was considered so large when built, and yet now it's not even a medium. We sure have learned a lot since the Wright Bros.

[tom d. friedman]

very good point muddy buddy!!

[Jerry O'Neill]

I've always wondered what they were thinking when they designed that early canopy. It looks like it would really restrict visibility, and opening the thing against the slipstream in an emergency would be impossible. I'm surprised to see one still exists. I don't think they built that many Invaders with the early canopy, and I assumed that any still operating postwar would have had been retrofitted with the later "clamshell" type.

SN

My guess is that they were designing a "souped" up A-20 when they designed the A-26. Totally different, but similar in many ways. A-20 had a single pilot wide cockpit with lots of framing and then they went to the A-26 with a wider one, though still with only on set of controls, and that may have not thought that out all the way until they built them. Quick production change to the clam-shell doors and, viola!, a better cockpit layout! Just my thoughts.

[Jeremy Housdan]

Wow! I had no idea what the tail mounted on Doc had been through!!!

Yeah we traded them a non airworthy (but still cosmetically acceptable) tail for theirs. I believe they also got our one and only turret out of the deal.

[whistlingdeath77]

Ownership of combat veteran