Warbird Information Exchange

Greetings
I have often wondered how and who thought to save Flak Bait the B-26 ?
Also the B-29 Bockscar as well. I have been told that the B-29 was VERY close to being scraped and some one recnoized it and step in at the last moment, is that true ?

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Always Keep Em Flying !

Glen

Lookie Capt Jim! Wham! Wham! ...............................Termights

At the end of WWII, "Flak-Bait" was already known to be an "historic" aircraft because of the number of missions flown.
While other B-26's were being reduced to scrape in Europe, "Flak-Bait" was put aside and earmarked for return to the US. I'm not sure exactly who ordered it, but certainly by the time it was back in the US, Hap Arnold was aware of it, since he order many various types of aircraft to be gathered and stored in Chicago, pending a the creation of a national museum to house them.
Someone else might have more specific info on who made the first choice to save her from destruction.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Read somewhere that she had an astonishing 207 missions to her credit!

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Cheers,
Peter

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You can probably thank Paul Garber.

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Don't touch my junk!!

you can also thank general hap arnold who was instrumental in saving what is displayed in the smithsonian air museum today. he made the decree/ order that alot of the ww 2 captured aircraft booty be preserved, along with some u.s. experimentals etc.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

I thought it was 202, but I could be wrong.

You know it was sad that the surviving 200 mission B-17s were not preserved. So; why only a B-26 has me scratching my head.

I bet there were B-24s and B-25s that came close as well.

Also aircraft with high "kills" were not preserved.

Makes it seem more likely that it was some individual commander that made the initial decision rather than Hap Arnold.

Joe

My guess would just luck. The might person in the right place at the right time.
Frank Kurtz went to great lenghts to save the Swoose and some eagle eyed Memphisonian save the Belle and spread the word.

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Don't touch my junk!!

For that matter, I've always wondered why the "Strawberry Bitch" was earmarked for preservation. Seems like they'd want a Ploesti veteran or one with a more illustrious combat record..and a more politically correct name. I'm not complaining, mind you, just curious. SB is one of my favorite aircraft (my girlfriend considers it her namesake.)

SN

That is a concept that did not exist in the 1940s and 1950s.

Actually, it did..nose arts were often "sanitized" by adding bathing suits or nightgowns to the girls when planes were brought Stateside. In fact, I've heard unconfirmed stories that SB didn't have a nightie when she was in combat..if I ever get around to building a model of her, she'll be buck-nekkid!

Sexuality and profanity were much less prevelant in public and the media back then than they are now. While the "B" word is now considered part of everyday vocabulary, it wasn't even allowed to be heard on TV until the past few years.

SN

"Flak Bait" was parked at Gablingen Airfield, Germany, during Summer 1945, at a time when B-26's were scrapped / blown to bits in wholesale-lots in Germany. So someone surely had a word in putting this particular aircraft aside....

original photos in my collection:





Martin

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Flying is easy: just learn how to throw yourself at the ground and miss

That!! Is One Bitch-in' Airplane!!

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

I just found this site and registered. I was looking for info on Flak Bait. My wife's Dad Colonel Edmond Clemenzi retired USAF flew 71 mission as the bombadier on this plane, I have heard some awesomem stores on it

Welcome aboard! The B-26 known as Flak Bait gets alot of attention here on the WIX. Mostly because only the cockpit section is on display at the NASM and that portion of the plane is/was subjected to what can only be described as damage to the paint by guests of the museum who constantly want to touch it. I say, and I know I'm not alone on this, put the plane back together as is and put it on display!

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!