B-29 Frozen in time, Heartbreaking restoration documentary

[Mike Delamar]

I hadnt seen this for many years, tried to find it again a while back with no success, just did some searching and its on youtube now, well worth an hours viewing...


Mike

[LazyEagle]

I remember this epic quest to get that B-29 aloft. It was a documentary shown years ago and almost played out like a movie with all the challenges they valiantly fought. I remember they had to abandon their efforts one year to return the second year after which the chief engineer sucummbed to an illness that tragically took his life. The final nail was the fire I think in the radio bay that caused the whole plane to burn to a cinder just before its intended maiden flight....amazing but sad story..

[canveyjim]

i watched this many years ago , it was over two nights , i just wanted to cry for them , the B-29 was moving to the end of the run way when it burst into flames , so sad .

[Mark42]

I couldn't believe the ending to that one, after all that effort and sacrifice to have it burn up just before take-off - it was very sad!
Did you see the other similar documentary about the flight of WW2 aircraft buried under about 60 feet of ice, they had to dig a big hole and then managed to winch one out in bits - a twin-tail lightning I believe and they did get it to fly in the end.

[Steve Gerard]

When I first viewed this B-29 documentary years ago, I was shocked at the ending...loss.

Originally Posted by Mark42

Did you see the other similar documentary about the flight of WW2 aircraft buried under about 60 feet of ice, they had to dig a big hole and then managed to winch one out in bits - a twin-tail lightning I believe and they did get it to fly in the end.

Here is the WW2 P-38 recovery from Greenland:
http://p38assn.org/glacier-girl.htm

[Mike Delamar]

Originally Posted by Mark42

I couldn't believe the ending to that one, after all that effort and sacrifice to have it burn up just before take-off - it was very sad!
Did you see the other similar documentary about the flight of WW2 aircraft buried under about 60 feet of ice, they had to dig a big hole and then managed to winch one out in bits - a twin-tail lightning I believe and they did get it to fly in the end.

Dya know, I think that one was the one I originally remembered. as I didnt remember the plane catching fire. I must have got them mixed up.

but the keybird story, absolutley gut wrenching!

Mike

[Troy]

On the subject of recovery and restoration I've always found the recovery of this T34 to be quite astonishing http://www.vincelewis.net/t34

[Guest01]

yeah ive watched both and extremely good.i was in tears at the first one when she caught fire at the end,a lot of time ,effort and money went into getting her airborne ,again but sadly no.also one of the engineers if i can recall also died whilst doing this

[TonyB]

Very interesting videos, I love watching stuff like this, it was unfortunate about the B29 at the end though, as has been mentioned all that time effort and money lost forever.