Budd RB-1 Conestoga Evaluation ...

[Mark Allen M]

Budd RB-1 Conestoga Crash Photos - Ten photos documenting the crash of an RB-1 prototype, U.S. Navy BuNo 39293, NX37097, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on April 13, 1944. While the crash killed one of the crew, the pilot reported that the stainless steel construction of the aircraft contributed to his surviving the accident. The accompanying crash report is missing.

[JohnB]

You don't find much about the Budds other than the basics every book seems to repeat.
However, for a very good history of the program and eventual use of the type, there is a well illustrated five page subchapter concerning it in Bill Norton's.excellent
"American Aircraft Development of WWII Special Types 1939-1945 Crecy 2016.

Budd eventually produced 26, with 17 being used by the Navy which used them briefly in the east. The program cost $28 million and the unit costs were $378,000...

The book has a great chapter on the efforts to produce a tactical airlifter...none were fielded so the military relied on C-47 and C-46s which were " off the shelf" designs. The C-82 just missed wartime service with its first production example being delivered in June, 1945.

I can't recommend the nook highly enough...it addresses naval floatplanes,photo recon, strategic and tactical airlifters, targets, drones, autogyros, helicopters and more.
The author has similar book on fighters and one on bombers..including Navy PBs and flying boats.
Great stuff if your interest goes beyond the well known types and picture books.

[Paul Stroud]

Here's a picture of s/n39307/N33308 I took at Pima in 1990, has it been restored any more since then? It looks like the offspring of a Carvair and a Bristol Freighter.

Budd RB-1 Conestoga N33308 by Paul Stroud, on Flickr

[JohnB]

The Pima website shows it currently in the same condition. It apparently flew into Douglas in '72 and donated to the museum on '78, so hopefully, they have the rest of it.

Last edited by JohnB on Sun Jan 05, 2025 2:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Clifford Bossie]

The Pima website shows it in the same condition. It apparently flew into Douglas in '72 and donated to the museum on '78, so hopefully, they have the rest of it.

Looks the same today. The outer wing panels and other parts were stored in the fuselage, I imagine that is still the case.

[L-188]

Wow. They didn't mince any words did they? I might be wrong but didn't Flying Tigers operate these?

[JohnB]

Yes, Flying Tigers operated some.
Despite their deficiencies, the advantages of straight through loading must have been appreciated...just like today.

[sandiego89]

You don't find much about the Budds other than the basics every book seems to repeat.
However, for a very good history of the program and eventual use of the type, there is a well illustrated five page subchapter concerning it in Bill Norton's.excellent
"American Aircraft Development of WWII Special Types 1939-1945 Crecy 2016.

Budd eventually produced 26, with 17 being used by the Navy which used them briefly in the east. The program cost $28 million and the unit costs were $378,000...

The book has a great chapter on the efforts to produce a tactical airlifter...none were fielded so the military relied on C-47 and C-46s which were " off the shelf" designs. The C-82 just missed wartime service with its first production example being delivered in June, 1945.

I can't recommend the nook highly enough...it addresses naval floatplanes,photo recon, strategic and tactical airlifters, targets, drones, autogyros, helicopters and more.
The author has similar book on fighters and one on bombers..including Navy PBs and flying boats.
Great stuff if your interest goes beyond the well known types and picture books.

Thank you for the book tip, I have a soft spot for these more obscure types.

[Paul Stroud]

Thank you for the info on the survivor, gents, maybe one day they can put her back together. Suspect they might be quite busy for a while when the Mars arrives though!
And as always thanks to Mark for more fascinating material.

[mike furline]

Pima Jan. 2023

Interesting doublers/re-enforcement's on exterior of aircraft, the amount of spot welds is staggering. Very thin skinned as well.

[sandiego89]

Great photos Mike.

Yes quite thin skin. Imagine there was not much experience with stainless steel welding.

Has held up very well to the elements.

[p51]

I saw her in 2023 as well. She's essentially parked behind a building and easy to miss.