Warbird Information Exchange

Good morning, gentlemen. Start your engines.., the one's that drive your eyes..,

I have this photo someone sent me

Through a quick search I found them to be Crew 20, 60th BS, 39th BG, 314th BW.
easy enough. Obviously CONUS shot, not sure which base..., Scott? I tell you, I am surprised that this is a Silverplate.., well maybe not a silverplate.., but a 'turretless' model.

Now, I zoomed in on the SN.., I love that part.., but it is 'garbled' after the 42-######


I require your eyes.

Thank you very much.

I have already forwarded the photo to Pete Weiler of the 39th BG Association as we always swap stuff in the 314th.

Thanks gents!!

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S.

I used to have the web address for a site that had ALL of Boeing's SN's. Anyone else have it?

Thanks!

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S.

Maybe this one?

http://www.abcdlist.nl/mainb.html

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The 39th did 2nd and 3rd Phase at Smoky Hill. The fire station in the left background looks similar.

The airplane is something of a rarity. Her serial number is 42-63651, a B-29B-35-BA. The lack of turrets is correct for this airframe as she rolled out of Marietta with no CFC system and has the Eagle bombing radar. You can see the airfoil radome to the right of the crew. She went to Fairmont with the 16th Group, 315th Wing, and then on to the combat zone.

Was Crew 20 a replacement or original crew with the 39th? I ask because the timing of this crew and airplane being photographed together isn't really adding up to me.

I'll do some more digging.
Scott

Scott.., thanks!!! Yes, upon closer inspection I can clearly see the Eagle RADAR.., just did not make since that she was NEW and being used as a training bird.

Crew 20 was not a replacement crew as far as i can tell., they flew 23 missions in 44-69894.

When did the Eagle equipped 29's start rolling off the line?

Thanks!!

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S.

After eating lunch and doing a little more research, the dates do line up. Crew 20 and ship '651 were in the Midwest at the same time. 42-63651 was in the second block of B models delivered and should have been in service by late January/early February of '45 if my material is correct. The early Bs were assigned to Fairmont, Grand Island, Harvard, and McCook for training purposes (and most of them ended up overseas) and '651 was probably transient in Salina when the Post crew decided to get their photo taken next to the "Special" Superfort. The Bs were supplemented with stripped "standard" B-29s for some training as well. The 315th Wing training program is of very great interest to me and I have lots of boring info.

Here's the line-up of flyaway Bs at Fairmont in March of '45.


After studying the background of your photo I'm almost certain that the picture was taken at Salina. The crash/fire station and Sub-Depot hangar are in exactly the right places to be Smoky Hill.

Scott

Dang Scott...you are such a nerd!

I love it!

Cool but useless information by the bucket full!

THE Greatness of WIX!


The previous statement included tongue in cheek humor with no offense meant to any persons living or not

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Curator - EAA Aviation Museum, Oshkosh, WI
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