The elusive Kee Bird photo, have you tracked it down Gary?

retroaviation · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 9:45 am

I promise, I've been looking for that. I just mentioned it the other day to someone who was trying to help me find it. It's filed away somewhere, but I've just not been able to find it. I swear, y'all will be the first ones to see it once (and IF) I ever come across it again.

Gary

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 5:16 pm

A few years ago I was visiting Maurice Hovious's shop (AKA Mr. Ford Trimotor.) We were chatting in his office, and I noticed a pic on the wall showing him standing next to the Kee Bird on her belly in the snow..I asked about it, and he said "oh, you'll like this, then.." He rummaged through his desk drawer, and handed me a data plate, with "Boeing B-29" stamped on it. Apparently, he'd taken it from the aircraft during a visit in the '80s, when the Kalamazoo Air Zoo was considering attempting a recovery. I understand they went as far as getting new engines and props, but the project never panned out.

SN

APG85 · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 6:27 pm

It probably looks like this...only not as good...

http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Ai ... 0173704/L/

retroaviation · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:15 am

Still nothing. :oops:

I'm sorry y'all. Believe it or not, I have looked for it on occasion, but it may just be lost in cyberspace.

Gary

jspitfire · **Joined:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:55 pm **Posts:** 27

This is from the "pics from a swamper" thread on www.avcanada.ca.

Blakey wrote:

retroaviation · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:40 pm

Maybe I'm seeing it wrong, but it almost looks like the tail has "floated" over to the front side of the left wing, perhaps causing that damage on the trailing edge of the wing. This picture is certainly more recent than the one I had, but interestingly, the wings and forward portion of the fuselage are more above the water than in the picture I had. I reckon the freezing and thawing of the ice makes for some interesting movements of the plane.

Gary

B-29 Super Fort · **Joined:** Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:12 am **Posts:** 871

Great photo. Gary I think you're right that looks like the tail to the left of the wing. Wings still look shiny.

peter · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:44 pm

Wasn't there some group trying to recover the valuable engines and prop blades?

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:07 pm

Don't laugh, but is it really that bad? I mean I have seen projects that have been restored that started out way worse looking than that. I know it was burned, but there have been restorations from worse. At the very least it could make a great static airplane.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:50 pm

I think if it were more accessible, the wreck would probably have been recovered by now..at least for parts. But then, it was the plane's remote location that kept it preserved for so many years. And of course, if she'd been closer to civilization, they might have tried a more "conservative" recovery method.

I'm with you though, Natan. I'd love to see the remains recovered. Heck, if nothing else, there are probably a lot of parts there that could help get and keep Fifi back up and running.

SN

retroaviation · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:08 pm

As mentioned before, the way I understand it, the leader of the last crew that dealt with the airplane, left the site in such a mess, the Greenland government made it off limits to anyone.

Definitely a shame about that airplane's demise.

Gary

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:19 pm

Well also think about this. Before recovery, someone might want to dig into the paperwork of what was "Borrowed" for the recovery. I know for a fact that $35,000 worth of prop parts were borrowed and are still his if recovered cause he has the salvage rights paperwork showing that they were his. I just wonder what else was on loan that was installed to get it out of there.

slinky · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:23 pm

A friend I met at Tinker AFB years ago went to Greenland to be the Safety Officer there at the field. While there he was given a VHS tape he let me copy and it is truly amazing. It was "home movies" made by Greenamyer and others that showed Kee Bird in great detail. It shows how they lifted her out of the water on the mains then used a Huey to lift jacks onto the Horizontals to add weight to the tail and lift the nose! Among some of the video, was two men that flew in to the camp in a Cessna that took video inside. It is unbelievable....completely box stock inside as they toured from the cockpit to the back fuselage. So sad as they almost made it out.... Another part of it shows the aftermath of everything left when being toured by Gary Larkins. A very interesting video....

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:40 pm

Slinky, Ive seen that video too. The guy I know who "loaned" the prop parts was given it. I remember the huey and the jacks well. Did you also see the part where they attempted to start the #1 engine while the bent prop was still installed?

slinky · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:02 pm

Yes!!!!! It fires and just almost starts!!!!! Amazing!!!!!

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The elusive Kee Bird photo, have you tracked it down Gary?

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