B-29B "Pacusan Dreamboat" ...

[Mark Allen M]

Always something new to learn about these old warbirds .... from the SDASM archives.

Boeing B-29B-60-BA (S/N 44-84061) "Pacusan Dreamboat."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm8hfsfXqh0

The B-29B was a modification used for low-level raids, designed with the intent of firebombing Japan. Since fighter opposition was minimal over Japan in late 1944, many of the Army Air Force leadership — most notably Curtis LeMay, commander of the XXI Bomber Command — felt that a (lighter) faster bomber would better evade Japanese flak.

In the B-29B, all defensive armament was removed except for that in the tail turret. Initially the armament was two .50 in M2/AN machine guns and one 20 mm M2 cannon which was soon changed to three .50 in M2/ANs. The weight saved by removing the gun system increased the top speed from 357 mph to 364 mph (574 km/h to 586 km/h). Also incorporated on this version was an improved APQ-7 "Eagle" bombing-through-overcast radar fitted in an airfoil shaped radome under the fuselage.[12]
All 311 B-29Bs were built at the Bell plant in Marietta, Georgia ("Bell-Atlanta").

A few weeks after the war ended, 20th Air Force received orders to make a non-stop flight with three B-29s from Japan to Washington. Four B-29s were selected, stripped of all armament, polished and waxed. Their group markings were completely removed and the 20th Air Force insignia painted on their tails. One aircraft was a stand-by, and the others were numbered 1, 2, and 3. Each was commanded by a General and crewed by veterans. This is the lead plane, commanded by General Barney Giles; General Curtis LeMay was in #2; General “Rosie” O’Donnell flew #3. A fuel shortage in Giles airplane caused all three to land at Chicago.

Each airplane carried a twelve man crew and 10,000 gallons of fuel, and while the flight had to stop over at Chicago before reaching their goal, the planes had carried out the first non-stop flight from Japan to the United States. Within three weeks, General Frank Armstrong in FLUFFY FUZ IV led four B-29s from Japan to Washington in 27 hours. The climax from of the distance flights came on November 20, 1945, when Colonel “Bill” Irvine set a new world nonstop record by flying the B-29B PACUSAN DREAMBOAT from Guam to Washington, a distance of 8,198 miles. Their B-29 had been lightened down to 66,000 pounds empty weight, but gross weight at takeoff from Guam was 151,000 pounds – the fuel-laden B-29 was indicating 145 miles an hour before the runway ended and she took to the air. Soon after, Irvine flew the airplane from Burbank to New York to set a new transcontinental record, averaging 451.9 miles per hour. Irvine flew THE CHALLENGER from Long Beach to Oahu, then in March 1946 took FLUFFY FUZ V from Honolulu to Manila nonstop. Irvine said the record, 21 hours and 49 minutes, was “accidental”, as it was a routine flight.

Back on Guam, Irvine directed ground operations for the “Marathon Project” during May 1946, and the following records were achieved: THE CHALLENGER was flown to 41,561 feet true altitude with a 10,000kg load, and to 39,500 feet with 15,000kg. A B-29 named QUEEN OF THE NECHES, 44-84065, carried 2,000kg to 46,522 feet on May 13, then on the following day took 5,000kg to 45,252 feet. FLUFFY FUZ IV made 47,910 feet carrying 1,000kg. In October Irvine was breaking records again. With modified PACUSAN DREAMBOAT, grossing 149,000 pounds and carrying 13,400 gallons of fuel, Irvine took off from Honolulu and flew 10,000 over the Arctic to Cairo, Egypt in 39 hours and 36 minutes.
Source http://b-29s-over-korea.com/B-29s-SetRe ... cords.html

[sandiego89]

Thanks for posting Mark.

Was not aware of those Northerly routes, which I am sure were designed to send a clear message to Moscow- sort of a precursor to the "Chrome Dome" flights with nuclear capable (and armed) flights going to the high lattitudes.

I can imagine the pucker factor was quite high with that much AVGAS on board for takeoff.

And for the spotters, was that nose window retrofitted to B-29's, or did this later batch come off the line that way? Looks very much like a B-50 nose glass?

[The Inspector]

'Andy Gump' nacelles and toothpick props, wonder if Irvine showered with that stoggie stuck in his face?

[daviemax]

Another really great posting. Thanks Mark.

Note the "Andy Gump" nacelles on Dreamboat. Not many B-29s were produced with them.

[wendovertom]

What became of this B-29, probably scrapped?

Tom P.

[AG pilot]

Very interesting story and photos! Thanks.

[Matt Gunsch]

Another really great posting. Thanks Mark.

Note the "Andy Gump" nacelles on Dreamboat. Not many B-29s were produced with them.

And the B-50 style nose

[JohnB]

I agree, it's good to see the "Andy Gump" nacelles. In most books they show you the entire aircraft so you don't get a goo look at them.

[TAdan]

I never heard of the "Andy Gump" nacelles before. Very interesting! That's why I hang around here. Thanks for starting this thread Mark.

[fotobass]

Wow....TWO whole NCOs!

[WacoOne]

"WOW!...Two whole NCOs"

Three NCOs in the photo. The guy standing second from right has stripes on his sleeve. There are only two NCOs on the crew list on the plane, though.

Bill