Possibly the vaguest thread ever... (WW2(?) Aircraft Content...)

[Happynoj]

The 'If it has an engine and you think it's cool' thread has revived a forgotten interest in me. I went out last weekend and picked up a couple of Airfix kits - I haven't built an Airfix kit for about 10 years (P-40E Kittyhawk and P-51D Mustang for those who are interested). When I was in the shop I was looking at the B-29 Superfortress, but decided against it for a number of reasons. The main reason was the cost, but also I didn't feel like I should be starting with a big kit. Anyway, I just finished the Kittyhawk this evening, and I got to thinking about the Superfortress. I suddenly remembered a program I saw on TV (probably around the last time I built an Airfix kit...) and decided that I wanted to watch it. Now comes the vague part...

I think that it was about a Superfortress (but it could have been a different large plane) that had either crashed or crash landed in a desert (or other large, desolate area). They made a documentary about it, but I don't remember whether they were just telling the story or whether they were restoring it or reclaiming it or what.



If anyone has any idea what I'm talking about, or better yet knows exactly what I'm talking about I would be grateful for more information. If someone knows where I can find it, that would be even better. I'm not too hopeful though...

[Relic]

I think I know what you're referring to but I'm almost certain that it was a B24. It had crashed landed in the Libyan desert during the N Africa campaign. The crew had seemed to have survived the crash but were never found. They probably wandered off into the desert and vanished. I think that the plane was rediscovered sometime in the 1990's. Does that ring a bell?

About 4-5 years ago I had built a bunch of model airplanes, it was a ton of fun. I even won some silly award from a local hobby shop. Fun stuff.

EDIT - OK, I might be way off in my original assumption in as far as dates and details but is this it?

http://www.qmfound.com/lady_be_good_...r_recovery.htm

[Michael Jewels]

I'm an airplane buff, and especially WWII aircraft.

I vaguely remember reading about a B-24 bomber that went off course after bombing its target in North Africa, and instead of heading back to its base, went in the opposite direction, and the entire crew was lost in the Sahara desert.

I think they didn't find the remains of the plane 'till years after the war was over.

I'm going to go look for some info on it right now.

Mike

[FL Knifemaker]

There was also one in the movie Heavy Metal

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by Relic

I think I know what you're referring to but I'm almost certain that it was a B24. It had crashed landed in the Libyan desert during the N Africa campaign. The crew had seemed to have survived the crash but were never found. They probably wandered off into the desert and vanished. I think that the plane was rediscovered sometime in the 1990's. Does that ring a bell?

About 4-5 years ago I had built a bunch of model airplanes, it was a ton of fun. I even won some silly award from a local hobby shop. Fun stuff.

OK, I might be way off in my original assumption in as far as dates and details but is this it?

http://www.qmfound.com/lady_be_good_...r_recovery.htm

That sounds like it might be the one. I'll look into it.

Thanks!

[Michael Jewels]

I found something already.
http://www.qmfound.com/lady_be_good_...r_recovery.htm

The internet is amazing!

I believe that Rod Serling did an episode based on this story on The Twilight Zone in the 1960s.

An American bomber crew hanging around their crashed plane in the desert waiting to be rescued, but they didn't realize they were already dead.

Then, one by one they disappeared when people found the plane, and laid them to rest.

Does anyone remember this one?

Mike

[Michael Jewels]

Hey, Relic, we posted the same link!

Great minds think alike!

Mike

[bassteban]

IIRC, the one in Heavy Metal was a B-17.
Modelling is cool- I have about 3 dozen unbuilt kits of mostly WW-II aircraft, some tanks & a couple of motorcycles. I'll never find time to finish them all.
BTW, my father was a flight engineer on B-29s(as well as several others)- never saw any combat, which is probably good for me. My late father-in-law flew P-47s & F-84s, and did see some combat.

[Michael Jewels]

I found the episode I was thinking about.
http://tzone.the-croc.com/tzeplist/king.html

In this one, they change the plane from a B-24 to a B-25.

It was a good one.

Mike

[Thudd]

A large desolate area, you say? Hmm, how about a glacier in Greenland...yeah, this is it.

When I saw the OP's description, I instantly knew he was describing the 1997 PBS Nova episode (#2303): "B-29 Frozen In Time". Truly, a fantastic story of the recovery of the Kee Bird, a B-29 that, in the late 40's, had to make a forced landing in the true middle of nowhere...250 miles north of Thule-freakin-Greenland.

And, you can order your own copy of the ep, just a few clicks away: http://www.amazon.com/Nova-B-29-Froz.../dp/6304096739

If you want to just read the screenplay, here's the PBS link:
http://manchurianhitchcock.tripod.com/keebee.html

But it's definitely worth a view. A true adventure, not faux "reality" TV...

Cyas,
-Thudd

NB: No, I'm not a hard-core aviation buff, but it does run in my family.

[bmc]

Thudd has it right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kee_Bird

http://www.dhc4and5.org/N124DG_2.html

[RWP]

Reminds me of one of the best movies ever.

[lunarpollen]

Many WW2 planes have been lost and then rediscovered like that. Sometimes in the desert, sometimes on a glacier, or in other remote or obscured loactions. Usually larger bombers, like B-17s. B-24s, B-29s, etc.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

Many WW2 planes have been lost and then rediscovered like that. Sometimes in the desert, sometimes on a glacier, or in other remote or obscured loactions. Usually larger bombers, like B-17s. B-24s, B-29s, etc.

Usually but not always the larger ones, check this one out:

http://p38assn.org/glacier-girl.htm

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by Relic

Usually but not always the larger ones, check this one out:

http://p38assn.org/glacier-girl.htm

IIRC, the Disco channel did a show on that P-38.
A-FREEKIN-MAZING how they got that thing out of there.

[Cyber Soda]

Heil.

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by Cyber Soda

Heil.

que?

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by Thudd

A large desolate area, you say? Hmm, how about a glacier in Greenland...yeah, this is it.

When I saw the OP's description, I instantly knew he was describing the 1997 PBS Nova episode (#2303): "B-29 Frozen In Time". Truly, a fantastic story of the recovery of the Kee Bird, a B-29 that, in the late 40's, had to make a forced landing in the true middle of nowhere...250 miles north of Thule-freakin-Greenland.

And, you can order your own copy of the ep, just a few clicks away: http://www.amazon.com/Nova-B-29-Froz.../dp/6304096739

If you want to just read the screenplay, here's the PBS link:
http://manchurianhitchcock.tripod.com/keebee.html

But it's definitely worth a view. A true adventure, not faux "reality" TV...

Cyas,
-Thudd

NB: No, I'm not a hard-core aviation buff, but it does run in my family.

Originally Posted by bmc

Thudd has it right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kee_Bird

http://www.dhc4and5.org/N124DG_2.html

Oh, that adds something new to the mix!

[RWP]

I remember seeing that NOVA show on the Kee Bird and the end is so sad. All the blood and sweat those guys put into getting her ready to fly home only to have her burn due to the generator fire.

[Michael Jewels]

While we're discussing WWII aircraft, and bombers in particular, I thought I'd mention the Tokyo Fire raid that occurred 65 years ago tonight, on the night of March 9th-10th 1945.

I first heard about this on the aviation show Wings about 20 years ago.

This raid is also mentioned in a book I own on B-29s.

Some consider it the single most destructive air raid in history.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/tokyo.htm

Mike