Warbird Information Exchange

A widow brought these slides over the other day, had a friend of mine scan them in. Her husband worked on B-29s in the Pacific. Thought I'd share a few of them with everyone here on the forum. Thought they might be pics that some folks don't have in their collections. I'm no Jack Cook, but I thought I'd make a meager attempt... Enjoy!

kevin

[img][img]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g204/tulsaboy/TheUninvited.jpg[/img]

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[img][img]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g204/tulsaboy/NoahBortions.jpg[/img]

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[img][img]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g204/tulsaboy/20thCenturyFox2.jpg[/img]
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Those are great to see!

Scanning slides is an interesting undertaking. I have had mixed success.

Thanks for sharing,

Z

Great pics. Kevin.
I'm sure others will chip in with info, black undersides = Korea ?, lack of turrets = RB's or standard in Korea ?

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Martin
Wide open & turning left.

Nice to see some B-29 photos, thanks for sharing.

Glad you like them. If folks like, I've got another 5 or 6 I'll be happy to post.

kevin

Yes please post them.

very cool.

I enhanced the photos using the AutoEnhance tool on ArcSoft:

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

These photographs are great discoveries! These aircraft were all from the 315th Bombardment Wing (VH) and were taken on their hardstands in Guam, summer 1945. The 315th was the only unit to fly the B-29B in combat. These aircraft were stripped of all armament except the tail turret, and this was now radar controlled. The AN-APQ7 "Eagle" radar was utilized, and this Wing was assigned special targets in the Japanese homeland such as oil installations and power generating stations.

Here is a partial listing of the aircraft shown:

The Uninvited- 42-63742, 502nd Bomb Group, 411th Squadron. This aircraft and crew are credited with dropping the last bombs on Japan prior to the official cessation of hostilities.

Noah Bortions- 502nd Bomb Group

MyasisDragon- ? I'm still digging!

20th Century Fox- 501st Bomb Group

Thanks for sharing!
Scott

In the same vein of the corrected pictures above....



I think I've got a new favorite piece of nose art.

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Phil K.
Yankee Air Museum
Systems Admin / Ramp Crew / Professional Photo Ruiner

These are very cool!
Earlier this summer a lady also gave me a box of negatives (most are 2x 3 and number about 500). Most are separatedby sleves and have never seen the light of day. most are on Guam and also show many of the 315th BW b-29Bs plus P-51s, P-47s, F-5Gs ect. Lots of action stuff like bomb loading, crew gearing uo for as mission ect. I've printed a a few and there very cool. Especially the dumps where they bulldozed wrecked 29s into. A mountain of smashed up Superfortresses!

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Don't touch my junk!!

Are these pics from the Korean War era?

What is that draining from the bomb bay area of 20th Century Fox?

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Phil K.
Yankee Air Museum
Systems Admin / Ramp Crew / Professional Photo Ruiner

WWII Guam summer 1945. These are B-29Bs equipted with radar and stripped of all armament (except tail guns)
and with the unsides painted black for low altitude bombing.

Looks like a rope.

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Don't touch my junk!!

I didn't mean to leave out Rose Marie! She is also 315th Wing, I have not found her owners yet.

I do have a question as to when these aircraft received their black camouflage. It seems I read somewhere that these aircraft were painted in the Theater of Operations or on Guam. I haven't seen any photos of factory fresh B-29Bs in warpaint, and the lack of it in some of these photos seems to bear this out.

I'd love to hear from someone who can clear this up!

Thanks,
Scott