Enola Gay Aft Bomb Bay Fuel Tanks

[APG85]

Have they ever located and installed the aft bomb bay fuel tanks in the Enola Gay? I had read several years ago that the tanks were long gone (not sure when/why they were originally removed) and there was an effort to locate a set to reinstall into the plane. I believe there were two tanks - one on top of the other (correct me if I am wrong).

There was a discussion about this several years ago but I don't think anything came of it.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18334

[JohnB]

Good question.
That was an odd thread....topic switched from B-25 tanks found on a farm to getting tanks for the Enola Gay restoration. That was back in 2007 (wasn't the E.G. finished by then?).
I don't think it was ever established that the museum actually asked for or wanted them..it was just an idea from a forum member.

If the restoration was finished, or even if the tanks were supplied now, I don't see the NASM removing the aircraft from display to take it to the restoration hangar to install something by no one will see.

[APG85]

Good question.
That was an odd thread....topic switched from B-25 tanks found on a farm to getting tanks for the Enola Gay restoration. That was back in 2007 (wasn't the E.G. finished by then?).
I don't think it was ever established that the museum actually asked for or wanted them..it was just an idea from a forum member.

If the restoration was finished, or even if the tanks were supplied now, I don't see the NASM removing the aircraft from display to take it to the restoration hangar to install something by no one will see.

I think the tanks could be raised up into the aft bomb bay without removing the plane from display (just a guess). I thought I had read years ago that a guy had a set of tanks but was refusing to part with them. I think the NASM has a small list of items they would like to reinstall into the airframe as they become available/found (mostly avionics type stuff). I had thought the tanks were on the list.

[lucky52]

A couple of questions for the B-29 folks,(1) did all the nuclear B-29s of WW2 have tanks in the aft bomb bay, (2) could the forward and aft bomb bay doors be opened separately? Thanks.

[JohnB]

A couple of questions for the B-29 folks,(1) did all the nuclear B-29s of WW2 have tanks in the aft bomb bay, Thanks.

God question, I'd guess yes.
Which could be why the EG no longer has them. I don't know the service history of the relatively few Silverplate airframes, but it is possible if the EG was taken out of service before the others for preservation, its tanks were retained for the examples still in service.
Very possible for a limited production item.

Wonder if Bock's Car has them?

[APG85]

A couple of questions for the B-29 folks,(1) did all the nuclear B-29s of WW2 have tanks in the aft bomb bay, (2) could the forward and aft bomb bay doors be opened separately? Thanks.

I'm pretty sure the forward and aft bomb-bay doors on these planes could operate independently. During the atomic missions, I believe only the forward bomb-bay doors opened for the drop.

This link has some good views of the Enola Gay's bomb bays.

https://aafradio.org/NASM/Bomb_bays.htm

[lucky52]

Those wood boxes at the top of the aft bomb bay, did they cover something or hold something (or did I miss something)? Are they on either of the flying B-29s? Thanks again.

[APG85]

Those wood boxes at the top of the aft bomb bay, did they cover something or hold something (or did I miss something)? Are they on either of the flying B-29s? Thanks again.

Not sure what the boxes are for. Maybe they hold the life rafts for the plane? I don't think the boxes are currently installed in the two flying B-29's.