Inside a B-29 Superfortress as Aviation Museum turns 20

kentucky.com ^ | 7-9-15 | Mark Cornelison

[Dr. Ursus]

Thank You,friend.

[LifePath]

She’s been flying with the CAF since 1971, when she was pulled out of the desert and restored. Our squadron’s mission is to keep the airplanes flying, and that takes a lot of effort. But when you see a veteran coming up to the planes with tears in their eyes, you know its worth the effort.

[biff]

Not a good story. Money, politics and a lying SOB for a CEO.

[LifePath]

FIFI is going to be in New Orleans, LA from October 22 to October 25 in conjunction with the National World War II Museum (the museum that Stephen Ambrose helped set up).

Maybe you could make it to that airshow? I will probably be there.

[MasterGunner01]

The B-29 technology in its day was similar to that of the Space Shuttle. The B-29 had four Wright R-3350 radial engines, was pressurized so its crew could fly in shirt sleeves at high altitude, and weighed in at 70 tons. Bomb load was 10 tons, crew was 11, and armament was 12 .50 machine guns and one 20mm M2 cannon (later removed). Some 3,970 of all versions were constructed. The B-29 was retired in 1960. Three B-29 bombers, damaged by Japanese anti-aircraft fire, flew to Russia (our ally at the time, but neutral in the Pacific War). The crews were allowed to escape, but the Russians kept the B-29s. These aircraft were reverse engineered by the Russians and the Tupolev TU-4 “Bull” was an exact copy. The Tu-4 was Russia's first very long range bomber.

[TalBlack]

That day in ‘82 they had a B17 there at Islip (actually Long Island MacArthur) as well. Huge crowds showed up. I mean huge. I saw plenty of the following that day:

The old men were noticeably suddenly taken aback upon getting close to the war birds. They’d go dead still as they stared at the plane, apparently fighting sudden, unexpected emotion. Their grandkids would be hopping up and down excitedly asking “You FLEW on that, Grandpa”? And Grandpa would be trying to take a breath without bursting into tears.

Based upon the things I overheard there that day I’d say most of the families had had no idea what grandpa had done during the war and were surprised to learn that he’d had a daily familiarity with such machines.

After the war those old guys just kept their mouths shut and got on with life.

[Rinnwald]

Thanks for the comparison. Guess I won’t be touring any B-25s. There’s actually one available for rides right next to my house at the Arlington Fly-In this weekend.

Forgot about the B-29 tunnel. Built a model as a kid that showed this feature. I guess claustrophobics need not apply. Or, just be the pilot. I doubt their duties required crawling through very often.

I also heard that P-47s had the most spacious fighter cockpit of the era. Some wag said you could warm yourself up by running around the seat.

[Oatka]

Are the inside spaces any larger than a B-17? I toured a B-17 interior with my youngest son a couple of years ago at Paine Field, Washington.

I walked therough a B-17 "Sentimental Journey" and was astounded at how small it was - felt like walking through a culvert stooped over.

[LifePath]

The veterans are what make membership so special to me. I was on tour with our B-24 “Diamond Lil” in April and May. I met a 98-year old former B-24 pilot who was doing convoy escort duty over the Atlantic, when his plane was attacked by two Focke-Wulf Condor bombers (bombers attacking bombers). We got him up in the cockpit of our B-24 where he hadn’t been for 70 years. Very memorable for me.

His story is in the May issue of Air and Space Magazine:

http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/wars-oddest-dogfight-180954663/

[DesertRhino]

“CORRECTION!...U.S. military air museums are The Bomb, man!”

You know, I think every military air museum is the bomb. Can’t think of a single one in any country I wouldn’t want top spend all day at. Not a one.

[smokingfrog]

upvoted and left comment

[DesertRhino]

For one thing, they were among the very first to go for this Confederate hate.
They were the Confederate Air Force and it was totally fun, tongue in cheek, good natured Americana. And back in the 90s, they changed their name to the Commemorative Air Force.

That’s a nice reason to dislike them a bit, but maybe not hate.

[Does so]

Something like 400 B-29s were lost over Japan during WWII.

[donaldo]

Thank you.

[SkyPilot]

Neat!

[razorback-bert]

I have flow in Fifi and others, as I live in the home of the CAF. At my father’s funeral a couple of months ago, the Air Force did a fly over, then to everyones surprise, the CAf did a fly over.

Of course, I voter against the renamed the CAF.

[LifePath]

I think most of the “rank-and-file” members were against renaming the Confederate Air Force to the more PC Commemorative Air Force. I want to emphasize that I in no way speak for the national organization, I am just relaying what others have told me. The decision to rename was years before my time in the CAF.

But, my own view is this: the Confederacy is a nearly perfect analog to the modern CAF. Why? Because the Confederacy was always scrambling to find resources, men and material. That is exactly what we go through. Where does one go to buy tires for a B-24 or a B-29? Discount Tires can’t help us. Where does one go to find an engine for a B-24 or a B-29? That’s what we face. The comparison to the Confederacy is pretty much dead-on.

I was told that the issue was this: with the old name it became increasingly difficult to raise money from corporate donors. The shakedown artists Jesse and Al won the battle, and history lost.

[MediaMole]

I so want to get to fly in a B-29. I’ve done a B-25 and a B-17 along with older and more modern military planes,

[MediaMole]

B-25 isn’t all that bad. It is a much smaller aircraft, but it isn’t all that terrible to get through the tunnel. Just nearly lost my wallet, thankfully the Yankee Air Museum folks were kind enough to find it and not charge me. LOL.

[smokingfrog]

I’ve never flown in a WWII plane. It’s on my bucket list.