Missed opportunity 3 ship B-29 flight

[jmkendall]

For years I have been fairly certain that the claim that the CAF B29 has been the only flyable B-29 in the world, since its recovery, was wrong. I remember seeing "Fyrtle Myrtle" at at least one airshow in the 1980s. I was in fact told that the a/c I saw MUST have been "FiFi". I just found my negatives from the Travis AFB show circa 1980 and there, plain as day, is "Fyrtle Myrtle". I will be posting those pictures as soon as I can find someone that will print from 126 negatives ( hey, I was a kid at the time!).

I have also just completed moving my magazine collection from the Napa Valley to Ohio, and came across the article wherein the recovery and flight of the IWM's B-29 was recounted.

And; I could not help but think that an opportunity was missed for what was probably the only time since the Military retired the SuperFort for a 3 ship formation.

That is to say: The IWM's bird, Fyrtle Myrtle, and FiFi. Given the Historical significance of the posited flyby, why wasn't it done? Miss communication? I can guess that we will never know. But; I do wonder why the CAF never took the opportunity to do a flyby with Fyrtle Myrtle when she was flyable.

Any thoughts?

Oh, and wasn't Talichets plane flown out of NAS China Lake as well?

Joe

[rwdfresno]

For years I have been fairly certain that the claim that the CAF B29 has been the only flyable B-29 in the world, since its recovery, was wrong.

Well, I am not sure who made that claim or if a claim has ever been made but certainly "Fyrtle Myrtle" was flown during the early 80s making appearances at airshows such as the "Gathering of Warbirds" in Madera, CA.

Oh, and wasn't Talichets plane flown out of NAS China Lake as well?

This is how Doc made it out of China Lake


You may be thinking of B-29 44-61748 "IT'S HAWG WILD" which flew in 1980 out of China Lake to Duxford. Here is a link to WIXer Taigh Ramey's site about the flight.
http://www.twinbeech.com/B-29HawgWild.htm

[gtokid]

This is the registry link for the ex-Tallichet/Yesterday's Air Force B-29:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b29regis ... 61669.html[url]

I found a referance to it be flown in January of 1981:

"The aircraft was recovered from the Naval Test Center at China Lake, restored by a private organization, and flown from Daggett Field, Barstow, to March AFB in January, 1981 by MARC (Military Aircraft Restoration Corp.). "

Todd

[rwdfresno]

This is the registry link for the ex-Tallichet/Yesterday's Air Force B-29:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b29regis ... 61669.html[url]

That is interesting I didn't realize that Tallichet owned that B-29. I thought it was in reference to the aircraft he currently owns. It appears there was a lot of B-29 activity going on around the early 80's.

[Tom Crawford]

During the early eighties FIFI was wearing a movie paint job for "The Right Stuff". May have been protraying Firtle Mrytle for the movie. I don't remember ever seeing a name painted on her in the movie...I don't think we ever see the left side of the bomber.
Tom

[krlang]

Wasnt it Fertile Myrtle that was shown running in the Disney Movie?

[Old SAR pilot]

But; I do wonder why the CAF never took the opportunity to do a flyby with Fyrtle Myrtle when she was flyable

Or, why didn't Fyrtle Myrtle take the opportunity to do a flyby with the CAF? Same with the IWM bird?

Can anyone answer the big "Why" as to why these aircraft (and owner/organizations) didn't get together?

..Just curious...

[Bluedharma]

What is the status of 44-69729? Is she air-worthy?
I know she is on static display in Seattle, and they are working on her right now.
I always assumed that she flew from Denver to Seattle when it was sale happened.

To those who know the answer... how did she get to Seattle?

[JDK]

But; I do wonder why the CAF never took the opportunity to do a flyby with Fyrtle Myrtle when she was flyable

Or, why didn't Fyrtle Myrtle take the opportunity to do a flyby with the CAF? Same with the IWM bird?

Can anyone answer the big "Why" as to why these aircraft (and owner/organizations) didn't get together?

..Just curious...

Money/gas/logistics/bookings.

As to the IWM B-29, I understand it was restored ('fixed up enough'... would be better) specifically and only for the ferry flight to the UK. Display flying of any kind was never part of the intent. Both the RAF Museum's B-17 and the IWM's B-29 were flown to the UK, but never flew any displays.

[APG85]

What is the status of 44-69729? Is she air-worthy?
I know she is on static display in Seattle, and they are working on her right now.
I always assumed that she flew from Denver to Seattle when it was sale happened.

To those who know the answer... how did she get to Seattle?

Truck...

The last report I heard was that she would be restored to operational status but the NMUSAF (who has the "title) will not allow it to be flown...

[APG85]

Museum Of Flight B-29

[Jerry O'Neill]

Wasnt it Fertile Myrtle that was shown running in the Disney Movie?

Yup!
Fertile Myrtle" was the one that flew in "The Last Flight of Noah's Ark".
They also used several other China Lake B-29 sections, some of which are now with Aero Trader and still have the "Fertile Myrtle" nose art on them.
Jerry

[hang the expense]

Tallichet had a deal with the airforce on the B-29 at march afb.He could fly it around california is what I understood from brian who had worked for Dave since the 70s.They parked it at march afb because it was breaking him.Lot cheaper to fly a B-17 than a 29.