B-29 tail markings

[Peter Twydell]

Is it OK to post an aviation-related question in this NG and not mention
B*sh or K*rry?

The Times published a review last week about a book covering the allied
crossing of the Rhine in 1945. The accompanying picture, captioned as
being US bombers over said river, showed a formation of B-29s (I don't
think they were B-50s) flying over a river with two islands in it. I
don't know if it _was_ the Rhine, but as we all know, the photo
certainly couldn't have been taken over the Rhine before VE Day.

The tail marking was a V in a triangle. The only similar markings I have
found documented were those of the 58th BW, whose groups used Triangle
S, N, U and I. I have also seen photos of 509th ARefS KB-29Ps with
Triangle C markings.

Does anyone have any information about what unit wore the Triangle V and
where and when the photo was taken? My Google searches have so far
turned up only the same question about the Triangle V marking, but no
answers.
--
Peter

Ying tong iddle-i po!

[Mark and Kim Smith]

Peter Twydell wrote:

> Is it OK to post an aviation-related question in this NG and not
> mention B*sh or K*rry?
>
> The Times published a review last week about a book covering the
> allied crossing of the Rhine in 1945. The accompanying picture,
> captioned as being US bombers over said river, showed a formation of
> B-29s (I don't think they were B-50s) flying over a river with two
> islands in it. I don't know if it _was_ the Rhine, but as we all know,
> the photo certainly couldn't have been taken over the Rhine before VE
> Day.
>
> The tail marking was a V in a triangle. The only similar markings I
> have found documented were those of the 58th BW, whose groups used
> Triangle S, N, U and I. I have also seen photos of 509th ARefS KB-29Ps
> with Triangle C markings.
>
> Does anyone have any information about what unit wore the Triangle V
> and where and when the photo was taken? My Google searches have so far
> turned up only the same question about the Triangle V marking, but no
> answers.

Unless I'm wrong ( which can happen quite often! ), the only B-29 to get
close to europe is the one that was flown to the Duxford (sp?) Museum
quite a few years back.

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"Mark and Kim Smith" > wrote in message
...
>
> Unless I'm wrong ( which can happen quite often! ), the only B-29 to get
> close to europe is the one that was flown to the Duxford (sp?) Museum
> quite a few years back.
>

No, B-29s were in Europe during the Berlin Airlift and the RAF operated them
as the Washington.

[Mark and Kim Smith]

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:

>"Mark and Kim Smith" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>>Unless I'm wrong ( which can happen quite often! ), the only B-29 to get
>>close to europe is the one that was flown to the Duxford (sp?) Museum
>>quite a few years back.
>>
>>
>>
>
>No, B-29s were in Europe during the Berlin Airlift and the RAF operated them
>as the Washington.
>
>
>
See! I told you I could be wrong!

[Jack G]

In March 1944 a B-29 (41-36963) was diverted to the UK until it returned to
the USA on May 10th. Purpose of the visit was evaluation by 8th AF
technical staff and to let German intelligence believe that deployment of
B-29's to Britain was imminent. The plane visited Glatton and Knettishall
during its stay. Interestingly, this B-29 was finished in OD / NG. It did
not carry any markings except the national markings and S/N.

Source: The Mighty Eighth War Manual by Roger A. Freeman and several
magazine articles I don't recall specifically.

However, since I wasn't there, Art will declare this posting has no
credibility - and if he didn't see it, it couldn't have happened..

Jack G.

"Mark and Kim Smith" > wrote in message
...
> Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
>
> >"Mark and Kim Smith" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> >>Unless I'm wrong ( which can happen quite often! ), the only B-29 to get
> >>close to europe is the one that was flown to the Duxford (sp?) Museum
> >>quite a few years back.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >No, B-29s were in Europe during the Berlin Airlift and the RAF operated
them
> >as the Washington.
> >
> >
> >
> See! I told you I could be wrong!
>

[Greasy Rider© @ invalid.com]

On Wed, 08 Sep 2004 20:48:44 GMT, "Jack G"
> proclaimed:

>However, since I wasn't there, Art will declare this posting has no
>credibility - and if he didn't see it, it couldn't have happened..

Haven't you subscribed to WW2A2A ?

( World War Two according to Art )

[Brian Colwell]

Geez Peter what are you trying to do ? Get this n/g back on topic !! :-))

BMC
"Peter Twydell" > wrote in message
...
> Is it OK to post an aviation-related question in this NG and not mention
> B*sh or K*rry?
>
> The Times published a review last week about a book covering the allied
> crossing of the Rhine in 1945. The accompanying picture, captioned as
> being US bombers over said river, showed a formation of B-29s (I don't
> think they were B-50s) flying over a river with two islands in it. I don't
> know if it _was_ the Rhine, but as we all know, the photo certainly
> couldn't have been taken over the Rhine before VE Day.
>
> The tail marking was a V in a triangle. The only similar markings I have
> found documented were those of the 58th BW, whose groups used Triangle S,
> N, U and I. I have also seen photos of 509th ARefS KB-29Ps with Triangle C
> markings.
>
> Does anyone have any information about what unit wore the Triangle V and
> where and when the photo was taken? My Google searches have so far turned
> up only the same question about the Triangle V marking, but no answers.
> --
> Peter
>
> Ying tong iddle-i po!

[Moose]

Hi Peter

The first visit to England took place in the Spring of 1946 when three
aircraft were sent on a training/goodwill visit to R.A.F. Station Marham.
In November 1946, six B-29's deployed to Rhein-main, WestGermany. Strategic
Air Command B-29's commenced regualr deployments to Europe in 1947. During
that year, nine B-29's of the 97th Bombardment Group were based at
Giebelstadt, West Germany for a 30 day training/goodwill tour.

The first Boeing B-50A's were deployed to England in 1949. They were from
the 43rd Bombardment Group.

The 96th Bombardment Squadron operated the Boeing B-50A out of Lakenheath.
The tail sported at black triangle with a black 'S' in the middle of it.

Aircraft of the 8th Air Force carried a black triangle on the tail while
those of the 2nd Air Force used a black square

I have other tail codes of U.S.A.F. B-29/KB-29 and B-50 units based in
England from 1947 onwards. I can post them if you want.

Cheers...Chris

[Kevin Brooks]

"Moose" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Peter
>
> The first visit to England took place in the Spring of 1946 when three
> aircraft were sent on a training/goodwill visit to R.A.F. Station Marham.

As another poster has already noted, that was not the first isit of the B-29
to Europe; one had done a short trip to the UK prior to VE Day.

> In November 1946, six B-29's deployed to Rhein-main, WestGermany.
Strategic
> Air Command B-29's commenced regualr deployments to Europe in 1947.
During
> that year, nine B-29's of the 97th Bombardment Group were based at
> Giebelstadt, West Germany for a 30 day training/goodwill tour.

Two B-29 groups deployed to the UK in July 1948.

Brooks

>
> The first Boeing B-50A's were deployed to England in 1949. They were from
> the 43rd Bombardment Group.
>
> The 96th Bombardment Squadron operated the Boeing B-50A out of Lakenheath.
> The tail sported at black triangle with a black 'S' in the middle of it.
>
> Aircraft of the 8th Air Force carried a black triangle on the tail while
> those of the 2nd Air Force used a black square
>
> I have other tail codes of U.S.A.F. B-29/KB-29 and B-50 units based in
> England from 1947 onwards. I can post them if you want.
>
> Cheers...Chris
>
>

[Steve Hix]

In article . net>,
"Steven P. McNicoll" > wrote:

> "Mark and Kim Smith" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Unless I'm wrong ( which can happen quite often! ), the only B-29 to get
> > close to europe is the one that was flown to the Duxford (sp?) Museum
> > quite a few years back.
> >
>
> No, B-29s were in Europe during the Berlin Airlift and the RAF operated them
> as the Washington.

And at least one toured England in late 1944; it showed up in a picture
in an issue of National Geographic from that year. (Now, if my son would
return the NG CD-ROM collection to me, I could verify which issue...)

[Peter Twydell]

In article >, Moose
> writes
>Hi Peter
>
>The first visit to England took place in the Spring of 1946 when three
>aircraft were sent on a training/goodwill visit to R.A.F. Station Marham.
>In November 1946, six B-29's deployed to Rhein-main, WestGermany. Strategic
>Air Command B-29's commenced regualr deployments to Europe in 1947. During
>that year, nine B-29's of the 97th Bombardment Group were based at
>Giebelstadt, West Germany for a 30 day training/goodwill tour.
>
So it could have been the Rhine in the photo.

>The first Boeing B-50A's were deployed to England in 1949. They were from
>the 43rd Bombardment Group.
>
>The 96th Bombardment Squadron operated the Boeing B-50A out of Lakenheath.
>The tail sported at black triangle with a black 'S' in the middle of it.
>
Which unit used the Triangle V?

>Aircraft of the 8th Air Force carried a black triangle on the tail while
>those of the 2nd Air Force used a black square
>
>I have other tail codes of U.S.A.F. B-29/KB-29 and B-50 units based in
>England from 1947 onwards. I can post them if you want.
>
That would be interesting.

>Cheers...Chris
>
>
Thanks, Chris, this is the most information I've seen so far.
--
Peter

Ying tong iddle-i po!

[Cub Driver]

On 08 Sep 2004 15:49:00 EDT, Mark and Kim Smith
> wrote:

>Unless I'm wrong ( which can happen quite often! ), the only B-29 to get
>close to europe is the one that was flown to the Duxford (sp?) Museum
>quite a few years back.

A 29 or two flew to Britain before the end of the European war. It
(they?) cheered up the Brits and presumably dismayed the Krauts.

I doubt they were risked anywhere near the Rhine, however.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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