B-29 mothership question

Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:45 pm

What was the tail number on the B-29 mothership that dropped the X-1? I have a few blown up versions of the photo below but have not found any record of what the numbers/letters are on the rear fuselage and tail. If any one as any info or pictures, I would be greatly appreciative.

Thanks
Eric

Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:01 pm

I'm not sure if Fertile Myrtle (45-21787) was "the" mothership for the X1, but it was a Mothership for many NACA flights.

...see: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b29regis ... 21787.html

Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:11 pm

http://home.att.net/%7Ejbaugher/1946.html

46-6/15 Boeing B-50A-5-BO Superfortress
c/n 15726/15735
6 was carrier for X-1. Destroyed on Nov 9, 1951
after landing with X-1 46-064. X-1 fuel tank exploded
due to problem with gaskets in fuel tank.

Dave G.

Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:24 pm

Valkyrie, are you sure that it wasn't the X1-A that had the gasket problem not the X1 ?

Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:31 am

This info is again from Baugher's website, at the very bottom of the 1946-48 list of serials:

48-1384 Bell X-1A: Exploded while suspended under mothership during test Aug 8, 1955. Jettisoned into Edwards AFB range

48-1385 Bell X-1B: Used for aerodynamic heat research and later to train X-2 pilots. On display at WPAFB Museum.

48-1386 Bell X-1D: Caught fire while suspended under mothership Aug 22, 1951. Jettisoned into Rogers Dry Lake

48-1387 Cancelled contract for Bell X-1C

Dave G.