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Whiteman Display B-29

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Description

B-29-40-BN, 44-61671 on display at Whiteman AFB as Silverplate B-29-40-MO 44-27353 "The Great Artiste".

The Silverplate B-29's were manufactured by Martin in their facility at Omaha, NB.

The Great Artiste was assigned to the 509 CG stationed on Tinian Island in the Mariana’s during WW II. This was one of the aircraft modified as "Silverplate" aircraft to perform the Atomic Bombing mission of Japan. All of the turrets and extra armor were removed and specially cuffed propellers were used to increase engine cooling.

The Great Artiste was the only one of the 509th aircraft to participate in the bombing of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It did not carry any weapons but was heavily instrumented to measure data concerning the blast effects.

Note the two red "Fat Man" marks for the "nuclear missions. The other three black "Fat Man" marks were for dropping "Pumpkins", high explosive bombs over Japan prior to the nuclear drops.

The pumpkins were similar to the nuclear "Fat Man" implosion device in aerodynamics and trajectory.

This is a wonderful reproduction of this very historic aircraft.

Whiteman AFB is now home to the 509 BW operating B-2A's with a direct legacy to the 509 CG nuclear bombers
Image size
2244x1464px 875.78 KB
Make
Panasonic
Model
DMC-LZ2
Shutter Speed
10/4000 second
Aperture
F/5.6
Focal Length
6 mm
ISO Speed
100
Date Taken
May 19, 2009, 6:21:22 PM
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Comments22
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AyeArtLabs's avatar
Thank you for the information.  In my edit I was trying to find a silver one to use.  Because of the below I knew I needed on.   All I could find that were in the public domain did not edit well.  Finally, settled on the European green ones I presume.
Just one more question ...

So these silver clad planes are like the ones that I saw in the below series of videos made from old tape about The Pacific War?  See * below.

Some of the film viewed is Curtis Lemay's capture after the capture of Tinian and elsewhere.  It is a miracle of restoration.   These planes were a triumph of technology at that time ... and a disappointment at first because they were no QA'ed before deployment.  Testing in real time occurred because we needed them more than glossed over history today records.  Something to see if one has an interest.  As mentioned below ... another chance Feb 17.

*The Pacific War in Color: EPISODE 5 Striking Distance,

I watched this last year and part of it again today on Youtube TV.  This is on again on Feb 17 see the link below.  You may like this if you have not viewed it.  It is B29 centered.  For example, see Curtis LeMay and the planes new on Tinian. Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February – 26 March 1945) fought for damaged planes to have a place to land. Worth seeing I think.  The outcome of the war was not certain even at that late date.  We have forgotten I think ...