Does anyone here work at the NMUSAF?

[Quest Master]

Was wondering if any WIXers here work at the NMUSAF? I have a question about Bockscar and would rather work with a WIXer than make a blind call to the museum. I need to know if someone can craw inside and verify something for me. Shoot me a PM or email. Thanks - Van

[mustangdriver]

I am a member and was a volunteer. Jerry is on here and he is a current volunteer. What are you looking for.

[Quest Master]

I don't know if you saw my thread:
"B-29 S/N 42-65377 history needed - just brought her home."
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=37628
but with further research....it looks like I have the S/N of the aircraft wrong. What it looks like is that I may have the tail
section from either B-29-35-MO 44-27298 “Full House” or B-29-35-MO 44-27304 “Up An’ Atom”. Both were “Siverplate” B-29s that were assigned to the 509th Composite Group for the attacks on Japan. That batch of aircraft were 44-27296 through 44-27304…..”Bockscar” being 44-27297. Those two B-29s were converted to TB-29s and scrapped at China Lake and the tail section that I have may be from one of them.

What I need is for someone to crawl into the tail of Bockscar and see if there is a data plate located just outside of the pressure door in the tail section on the starboard side on the frame and tell me what is stamped on it. This would be a really easy way to prove this theory and an exciting fact that a third aircraft from the August 6th/9th 1945 bomb run still existed (well at least the tail gunner position). There is also a stamping above the pressure door with an assembly number and "UNIT" number. I would like to know what that says as well.

Any chance you can help or know who can?
Thanks,
Van

[mustangdriver]

That sounds like more than they would let me or Jerry get away with, however every month the interiors of the aircraft are cleaned. Let me see if I can work out something with them, even if they just e-mail the number they find. I will let you know what I hear. Jerry may have more luck as he is there every week, but I will see what I can do as well.

[Quest Master]

That would be awesome. All I'm asking for is for someone to go into the aircraft, go to the tail and directly before you get to the pressure door before the tail gunner compartment, look down to the starboard (left side since your facing the rear) and look at the data plate mounted on the frame just before the door. You do not need to go inside of the tail gunner compartment. I can provide exact pictures of where the plate should be. It should be screwed to the frame. Both of the TB-29s tails have a small build plate there. I would like to know what it says. That would totally prove (mostly) if this tail is in fact from B-29-35-MO 44-27298 “Full House” or B-29-35-MO 44-27304 “Up An’ Atom”. Very exciting!!!!

[AFML]

The NMUSAF has several links for info and pictures pertaining to "Bockscar".

Try:

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsh ... p?id=15670

Note rudder difference between the 1st & 3rd pic.