B-29 Superfortress/44-61669

728thInvader · **Joined:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:32 am **Posts:** 2

This aircraft at March Air Base Museum has a varied background depending on who researches it. It no longer is displayed as "Mission Inn", but "Three Feathers III". It has been displayed as "Flagship 500" and "4th Marine Division" that it was dedicated to in 1945 which actually was delivered on Guam as 44-61668 according to 73rd Bomb Wing records. The name "Flagship 500" was only used when the Group Commander flew it back to the States after the end of WWII.Since the original production number is 44-61535, It may have been the "Mission Inn" that flew in the Korean War. I am also posting a recent picture that I took.

Ace Near March

Django · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 5:04 pm

So then would the ball and barb just been blank when it was flying as "4th Marine Division"? Do you have dates when it made the trip back to the States?

728thInvader · **Joined:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:32 am **Posts:** 2

The Ball is painted as Three Feathers III on the display at March. I would have to guess about September as the return to ZI date.

I have 2 pifures I took recently at March Air Museum, but don't know how to post them. Can anyone help?

L. Thompson · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 11:31 pm

The real MISSION INN was 44-27263, a B-29-35-MO of the 33rd BS/22nd BG. It later (after October 1950) went to 19th BG/28th BS.

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Tue Feb 21, 2012 1:03 am

Here are a couple photos from a few years ago:

Django · **Posted:** Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:22 am

Yes, but it fly 11 missions as "4th Marine Division" from what I have read. So either it must have said that in the ball and barb, or it was blank, as several were.

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B-29 Superfortress/44-61669

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