B-29 UV Lights?

bmoran · **Joined:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:48 am **Posts:** 140

I was watching this video (http://www.joost.com/272ij6q/t/American-War-Eagles-Boeing-B-29-Superfortress) on the Boeing B-29 and a portion of it shows an abbreviated crew pre-flight and test flight. At about 10:57 into the video, it talks about the pilot checking the Ultra Violet lights. This caught me by surprise... the B-29 with UV lights? I searched around my books and the internet and could find nothing that ever indicated a B-29 had UV lights or what they would even be used for and so I was hoping that someone here might have an idea.

petef86a · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:51 pm

Most WW II era lighter than air craft and a few larger birds like the B-29 had "black" lights that illuminated instrument panels. Combined with phosphorescent paint on dials and switches, it served as a cheap version of radium or later tritium glow in the dark instrument faces.

bmoran · **Joined:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:48 am **Posts:** 140

Ahhh... I see now. I didn't think as to special lighting requirements for the radium dials and such. I also learned now that black lights are actually UV lights

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B-29 UV Lights?

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