Enola Gay on Display

[Dave Fish]

Most of you may be aware and/or seen the Enola Gay on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington, DC Dulles International Airport.

We recently returned from the WWII Marine Air Group (MAG-61) Reunion held at the Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA.
Our early arrivial allowed us to visit the museum and I would like to share some photos of the Enola Gay and their
P-61 Black Widow.

















Their P-61 Black Widow

[Richard W.]

Nice shots- Thanks for sharing those.

[henning]

So anyone know when they moved the P-61 black widow? Looks like its out in the
middle now and not down on the end like it was for the past couple years?

It must have been rather recent. I believe it was last months flypast that had had
a 2 page spread on the plane and had some little pics of the back. It still doesn't
look like you can see it from the back?

interesting.

henning

[Garth]

So anyone know when they moved the P-61 black widow? Looks like its out in the
middle now and not down on the end like it was for the past couple years?

It must have been rather recent. I believe it was last months flypast that had had
a 2 page spread on the plane and had some little pics of the back. It still doesn't
look like you can see it from the back?

interesting.

henning

The P-61 was moved around six months ago (give or take), to free up room for the final assembly of the F-105D ... which is now located inside the Cold War/Modern perimeter backed up to the F-4.

You can't see the P-61 from directly behind, but it is possible to see and photograph the rear from a perpendicular angle ... having a zoom lens helps.

[Matt_in_NC]

Great pictures. The B-29 looks sooooo sleek without the turrets. The P-61 just kinda looks like something is missing IMO.

[Chuck Gardner]

The P-61 just kinda looks like something is missing IMO.

Yeah, it is missing air under it's wings.......................

[mustangdriver]

The P-61 just kinda looks like something is missing IMO.

Yeah, it is missing air under it's wings.......................

No I think maybe he means the top turret.

[Matt_in_NC]

Yeah, it is missing air under it's wings.......................

That is pretty funny. Well, it's obviously been missing that for a loooooooong time. I meant the big flat spot on top of the fuselage where a turret was.

[Robbie Roberts]

For some great shots of the Enola Gay, inside and out, take a look at my friend's website: http://aafradio.org/NASM/Enola_index.html He was involved with the restoration of the Enola Gay. Also take a look at the rest of his website(link at the bottom of the Enola Gay page) which has some realy great info on WWII USAAF radios.

Robbie

[Lynn Allen]

The P-61 just kinda looks like something is missing IMO.

Yeah, it is missing air under it's wings.......................

No I think maybe he means the top turret.

No, like Chuck said "The air under the wings"

Lynn

[Steve Nelson]

If there was no air under the wings, i.e. a vacuum, wouldn't they be sucked down to the floor? Or more accurately, wouldn't the pressure of the air above crush them to the floor?

Great pics, BTW..I'm hoping to visit NASM and UH this summer.

SN

[APG85]

Great pictures! Probably the most historically interseting part of the Enola Gay is the bob bay and they have the doors closed. They did a ton of work in that area including fabricating a replica bomb rack.

As for the P-61, I think it looks pretty bad with the paint job the way it is. I could understand it if it was a combat vet (i.e. Flak Bait), but leaving it in it's test colors all chipped - why? The tail markings don't even cross the rudders properly. If it were up to me, I'd strip and repaint it and try and fabricate ($$) a top turret. Put it in a combat scheme. Or at a minimum, re-paint it in it's test markings...

[TAdan]

The nice folks in Reading PA at the MAAM will be taking care of the "wind under the wings" of a P-61

I think the P-61 at Udvar Hazy looks great as is. It should wear that faded and chipped paint proudly.

Thanks for the pictures Dave.

[Garth]

As for the P-61, I think it looks pretty bad with the paint job the way it is. I could understand it if it was a combat vet (i.e. Flak Bait), but leaving it in it's test colors all chipped - why? The tail markings don't even cross the rudders properly. If it were up to me, I'd strip and repaint it and try and fabricate ($$) a top turret. Put it in a combat scheme. Or at a minimum, re-paint it in it's test markings...

The Museum's goal, iirc (I'm not directly affiliated with NASM, just a member of NASS and an annual parking pass holder) was to get the P-61 out of a Quonset Hut at Garber and on public display. They did a fair amount of work at Garber, mainly cleanup and preservation rather than restoration, with more work to happen once the Phase II restoration shop opens at Dulles.

[mustangdriver]

I think it is cool to see it as is. I also see the point of it not being a combat vet so clean it up. I am just glad that it is on display and can't wait to see it get some attention in the shop. Reading's P-61 will be the flyer.