B-29 42-24791 "Big Time Operator" - New Home and inside!

[Quest Master]

I thought you guys and gals would like to see updated pictures of B-29-50-BW-42-24791 "The Big Time Operator". She is now in the QuestMasters collection and is finally stored inside after 70 years.

and


I have not updated the http://www.questmasters.us website with pictures of her yet (just got her inside today). But here are the details. She was built by Boeing, Wichita Kansas as B-29 42-24791 Block 50 production, Craft Number 4452 and accepted on 17 October 1944. She served with the 9th Bomb Group, 1st Bomb Squadron on Guam completing 46 Missions over Japan with 2 Japanese aircraft shot down. She carried the nose art "The Big Time Operator" with Circle-X on the tail and 4 on the fuselage. She was stricken on 12 June 1950 and served as a ground target at NAS China Lake. Many years later her forward fuselage (show above) was covered in automotive bondo and painted for display at the Edward F. Beale Museum, California. When the Beale museum closed, the cockpit was transferred and used by the New England Air Museum for parts for the exceptional restoration of "Jacks Hack". It is now stored inside in the QuestMasters collection. The nose "green house" is from Omaha, NE and did not come from BTO. It will be used in the restoration of this nose section.

I am looking for any B-29 nose parts for the eventual restoration of this historic cockpit. Seats, glass, instrument panels, turret domes....anything and everything etc. Let me know if you have any or know of any leads.

If you have any additional pictures, history or details of "The Big Time Operator" please let me know! Correct history is always important!

Enjoy! - Van

[RMAllnutt]

Wow... that's fabulous! I do have some instruments if you're interested... ASI, Flap, Fuel, Oil, among others. Send me a PM if you need anything like this.

Cheers,
Richard

[Jerry O'Neill]

That is awesome news Van!! Boy you move fast!
Sounds like it's got a good home!
I hated seeing it out in the rain and weather.
Keep us posted on it's restoration.
Jerry

[Cherrybomber13]

Man you fast, I have a photo of it from this past Saturday in NEAMS back yard! Great recovery. It's defiantly going to a good home.

[APG85]

Where is this museum? How did they acquire the nose section?

[Steve Nelson]

Cool beans! Always good to see even part of an historic aircraft saved. Question: did this fuselage ever pass through NMUSAF custody? I toured the museum's old storage building at Wright-Patt back in the mid 90s, and there was a B-29 forward fuselage standing on end back in a corner. I couldn't get close enough for a good look, but it appeared to have the "Big Time Operator" nose art. The tour guide didn't know anything about it or where it came from.

SN

[APG85]

I believe this nose section has been passed through several museums as a parts doner over the years. I think the Museum of Flight had it for a time and used it for T Square 54. Hopefully it has found a good home...finally.

[DH82EH]

Congratulations on giving this old warrior a well deserved home.
I wish you all the best with her future. She certainly looks like she could use some lovin'.
We look forward to hearing more, as things turn in a more positive direction for her.

Andy Scott

[TAdan]

Great acquisition, so glad to see the Big Time Operator will finally be getting the attention it deserves after helping so many other restorations.

[APG85]

Years ago at the Beale Museum

http://www.johnweeks.com/b29/b29beale.html

Some picture on Flickr when she was at the New England Air Museum:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cherrybomb ... otostream/

Some other pictures of the plane here:

http://warbirds.wikia.com/wiki/The_Big_ ... 2-24791%29

A wartime picture on this website:

http://www.mrprophead.com/b29nose.htm

[jmkendall]

After the Filming of "The Right Stuff", at Hamilton Army Air Field, they told the us on the support staff that if we wanted any souvenirs we could take stuff off of the three other B-29 forward fuselages that were in the Hangar. But we couldn't touch the bird that had been put back together for the film.

If I can find the small parts I took I'll donate them to the cause. Nothing real important, or even all that big, but I guess every thing helps.

[APG85]

Cool beans! Always good to see even part of an historic aircraft saved. Question: did this fuselage ever pass through NMUSAF custody? I toured the museum's old storage building at Wright-Patt back in the mid 90s, and there was a B-29 forward fuselage standing on end back in a corner. I couldn't get close enough for a good look, but it appeared to have the "Big Time Operator" nose art. The tour guide didn't know anything about it or where it came from.

SN

I have heard that it did spend some time in storage at Wright-Patt before going to the NEAM to be used as a parts doner for their B-29. It will certainly take a lot of work to make this nose section presentable again. I believe there are two nose sections (saved from Aberdeen) at the Museum of Aviation in storage (one is 44-61739) and there is one in Stockton California (42-65401) in storage. The United States Aviation Museum also has nose section 44-69957.

[cooper9411]

Better late than never!!!! Congratulations

[Quest Master]

Indeed fella's, this aircraft is far from being restored - but rather, it is preserved for now. With 46 missions under her belt and very few B-29's still remaining on the planet, she deserves to be preserved. They all do!

I have already obtained a nose green house (shown in the above photos) as well as a B-9 Norden Bombsight with C-1 Stabilizer and B-7 mount. Much more parts are needed...but with time, it can be done. She is inside now which should allow her to last another 70 years! That is the important thing.

Let me know if you have any leads on parts: seats, instrument panels, control parts, etc. Plus any history and pictures of her that may not have been published.

Thanks for your support!

[APG85]

Will the skin need to be replaced or can it be saved? Some areas look a little rough. Glad you guys have saved this important piece of history that has gotten abused and neglected over the years...