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B29 super Fortress and Grand Slam


antarmike

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Before the crash there was a topic that touched on the American use of the Barnes wallis Grand Slam bomb.

 

I just came across this that claims to shed more light on the subject, but shows that the B29 was also used for a twenty (yes 20!) ton bomb

 

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1967/mar-apr/coker.html

 

"The B-36 was test-flown for the first time in August 1946. Even then the first models of the B-36 could not carry the big bomb, and it would be some months before they could be modified to handle it. The Air Force, which was interested in experimenting with the 44,000-lb bomb, decided that a modified B-29 could handle the job until a B-36 was available.

 

Toward the end of the war a B-29 had been converted to carry two 22,000-lb bombs, one under each wing, for use against Japan. The two atomic bombs, the Fat Man and Little Boy, made use of this special B-29 unnecessary.13

 

The aircraft chosen for the alterations was a B-29A, No. 44-62263. The Wichita, Kansas, Division of the Boeing Company performed the fuselage work. Part of the body section under the wings was cut away, the rear bomb-bay doors were removed entirely, and the front bomb-bay doors were cut away to allow the nose of the bomb to protrude. In spite of these modifications, about half the missile hung out beneath the plane. The aircraft also required special instrumentation to measure wing deflection, “G” forces exerted on the plane, and acceleration of the aircraft upon release of the bomb. A separate instrument panel with the necessary equipment was installed so that a special camera mounted near the panel could photograph the instruments. The wing tips were painted with black and yellow strips of known width which could be photographed and the wing deflection computed. The instrumentation work was accomplished at Muroc AFB.14

 

In addition to the modification of the B-29, a special bomb lift had to be built to handle the 44,000-lb missile. The Boeing Company designed a 50,000-lb lift that would hoist a 25-ton bomb 12½ feet in the air, roll it 360 degrees in either direction, shift it 4 inches either side of center and 10 inches fore or aft, and tilt it 6 degrees up or down. One man operating six levers could load one of the bombs into an aircraft. 15

 

Squadron C, 608th AAF Base Unit, Chemical & Ordnance Test Group, stationed at Muroc, was selected to drop the first TI2.16 Preparations for the drop continued throughout the fall of 1947 and early 1948. After modification, the Superfortress and its crew were sent to Eglin AFB, Florida, for special training. Air Force and Ordnance experts refused to speculate on what might happen to the B-29 when it suddenly became 22 tons lighter after the bomb was dropped.

 

The Superfort reached Muroc in December, and the 50,000-lb lift arrived the following month. A series of minor problems then delayed the actual drop for some time. The lift had been damaged en route to California and had to be repaired. Squadron C armament personnel had to be trained to operate it. A pit had to be dug to get the bomb and lift under the B-29. After money problems for digging the pit had been solved and the earth excavated, a heavy rainfall filled it with water and delayed pouring of the concrete. The same rain also saturated the Muroc Dry Lake from which the aircraft would have to take off, and it was feared that the program might be further delayed. Several days were devoted to loading the bomb into the plane and to static drop tests. It was also necessary to load the bomb into the Superfort, weigh it, and find the center of gravity before the first take-off could be made. A crew of weight and balance experts from the Sacramento Air Depot were called in to assist in that function. But in spite of these little difficulties, everything was ready for the big event by early March.17

 

Just before noon on 5 March 1948, the bomb was released from B-29 No. 2263, piloted by Captain William A. Looney. The Group historian recorded the event in these words, “On this date the heaviest bomb the world has ever known, weighing 43,755-lbs was dropped from a B-29 aircraft from an altitude of 25,000 feet. The entire mission was highly successful and the bombing results were excellent.”18 By 19 April 1948 the personnel of Squadron C and B-29 No. 2263 were veterans, having dropped six of the extra-super blockbusters.19 Their part in the operation was completed."

Edited by antarmike
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If you've ever been and stood next to a B-36, you would appreciate just how big the plane really is. I took a photo of one at Castle Air Force Base, and had to walk several hundred feet away to get it all in frame!

 

I found this B-17, B-29 and B-36 comparison picture amongst my files. Sorry but I can't credit the artist. Look in the B-36 bomb bay........

 

If you want to see this monster flying, look out for the film 'Strategic Air Command'.

 

Steve

b17b29b36.jpg

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