55th Recon Wing, Ramey AFB 1950-1952, KB-29, B-50

[Ken]

Anyone here have any info on the 55th Wing and its activities with KB-29s or B-50s performing recon of the USSR? Specifically a KB-29 whose tail # ended in 806.

Ken

[mike furline]

Are you referring to RB-29's or KB-29's? The 55th Wing history refers to RB-29's.

There was a KB-29M 44-69806, page 106. F-13/RB-29 s/n on page 105.
http://books.google.com/books?id=5SdDW6 ... 06&f=false

No mention of USSR or KB-29's in the 55th Wing History
http://www.offutt.af.mil/library/factsh ... sp?id=4607

http://www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0055rw.htm

"Less than a year later, the group reactivated as the 55th Reconnaissance Group at MacDill Field, Florida with assignment to Strategic Air Command (SAC), operating the RB-17. In June 1948, the 55th transferred operations to Topeka (later named Forbes AFB) Field, Kansas, and became the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, converting to the RB-29. On 1 November 1950, the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW) activated and was bestowed with the awards and honors of the 55th Reconnaissance Group at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. Then in 1952, the wing returned to Forbes AFB, Kansas and converted to RB-50s. The wing formally assumed a global strategic reconnaissance mission in 1954 and transited to the RB-47E "Stratojet."

RB-29's over USSR
http://www.spyflight.co.uk/rb29.htm

[Ken]

My neighbor was the flight engineer on KB-29 '806. My understanding is that, although their assigned base was Ramey, most of their time was spent TDY in England. They used the hose and reel system to top off the the guys who were actually going in to conduct Soviet recon. An often overlooked, yet hazardous, and important part of the AF history. As far as I can tell, there isn't much info out there on this. If anyone has leads on info or more pictures, that would be great.

Ken

[mike furline]

Is it possible your neighbor was assigned to one of these units? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_KB-29

"The 509th and 43d Air Refueling Squadrons (Walker AFB, NM and Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ respectively) were created in 1948 to operate the KB-29M tankers.[1] The 303d Bombardment Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB flew B-29s and KB-29s from 1951 to 1953 that provided training for strategic bombardment and air refueling operations to meet SAC's global commitments.[3] Deployed at Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco, Oct 5 - Nov 6, 1952."


Regards,

[JohnB]

They used the hose and reel system to top off the the guys who were actually going in to conduct Soviet recon. Ken

Do he mean the hose and grapple hook system or the later hose and drogue?
Most B-29s had the former, but "several" had the later.

Last edited by JohnB on Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Ken]

Specifically the hose and grapple system. Locations and dates are correct - I can check to ensure the unit designation is correct.

Found this KB-29 video on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUtpIIBG-w4

Anyone have a history or other activities of B-29 '806?

[Ken]

bump

[Ken]

I have since learned that the B-29 in question was KB-29M "Able Mabel", formerly B-29-65-BW 44-69806.







Bottom photo taken March 12, 1952 after flying from Ramey to the Azores, time 12.8 hours.

[Ken]

From the Ramey site:

[Ken]

While searching for RB-50 photos, I stumbled across this photo on the 55th Air Police site, mislabeled as an RB-50 ... it's actually my neighbor's KB-29 in color. I have to think that I had some help from a higher power today.

[boom&engineer]

The 55th Air Refueling Squadron did indeed fly KB-29Ms at Ramey and Forbes. Then they upgraded to KC-97Gs while at Forbes. Their KB-29Ms only used the long grapling hose method designed by the Brits. I have the official histories from the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. I'm working on a book about all of the air refueling squadrons. I'd love to contact your neighbor and ask him some questions for the book. Any chance you could pass on my e-mail address? I'm a retired boom operator and flight engineer. My name is Jim Webb. My address is boomer9ars@hotmail.com. If you guys need any information on air refueling squadrons, let me know.

Jim

[boom&engineer]

I was looking through some of the maintenance histories and 806 was mentioned for being out of commission while awaiting two new superchargers in January 1952. The covers of their monthly histories had a momma flying winged horse with a baby winged horse sucking on her utters. I'd attach a scan of one, but I can't figure out how to attach jpgs.

[Ken]

The main WIX Hangar page has instructions on posting jpegs or you can email the photo to me.

I'd be interested in seeing the emblem and, did you note the Big Gass Bird logo on the tail in the photo above?

[boom&engineer]

Funny story about that "Big Gas Bird" tail art. Many of the 55th Air Refueling Squadron guys went on to start up the 98th Air Refueling Squadron at Forbes. They used one of the nose arts called "Big Gas Bird" to design their squadron patch. It has Woody Woodpecker holding a gas can. I've never seen the nose art and I'm not sure if that is where it came from. I pictured it being Woody Woodpecker. The patch said, "We Change the Range" on it.

[boom&engineer]

Where at on the main page? I don't see anything. Can you cut and paste it maybe? I'm not even sure where the main page is.