Boeing YRB-29K Superfortress

Started by b29r, December 26, 2018, 09:55:55 AM

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b29r

Following the close of hostilities in August 1945, the USAAF recognized a need for a more advanced reconnaissance platform.  The new advances in radar technology would lend themselves well to the recon role.  To this end, 54 RB-29K aircraft were ordered to follow the close of standard B-29 production in May of 1946.  While still recognizable as part of the B-29 family, noticeable changes included the V-tail group and the tandem truck landing gear arrangement.  This landing gear change of course reconfigured the fuselage bomb bays, but made the inner wing nacelles and nose wheel bay available for ordnance and/or equipment.  In-flight refueling capability was another new feature made operational.

With the advent of the Korean War, elements of the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron were deployed to Itazuke Air Base in Japan to provide target mapping, weather reconnaissance, and post raid target evaluation.  The RB's were very successful in this role, and the new AN/APQ-21 search and AN/APQ-26 targeting radars made life very hazardous for Communist night fighter pilots.  RB-29 crews were credited with 21.5 kills without loss, earning the sobriquet of "D***ed Porcupine".

The RB-29's were also very active during the early Cold War years in monitoring Eastern Bloc and Soviet military activities.  Again, the RB's were able to do their job with total impunity, especially so as increasingly effective ECM equipment became available.  Less well known is their role of Hurricane Hunters using their AN/CPS-9 weather radar until more capable aircraft became available.

RB-29K's were still active in the early years of the Vietnam War in the weather recon and damage evaluation roles.  On several missions, they also served as pathfinders, locating and illuminating targets for strike aircraft.  But by this point in their career, they had reached the end of their useful lives, and following the crash and loss of two aircraft in theater, they were withdrawn and retired.  Sadly, no aircraft remain preserved today, and except for a few old pictures, little is left to remind us of their pioneering role in air reconnaissance.




















The old dog finally got finished up and into the books to close out 2018.  Wishing everyone the best for 2019  :thumbsup:

Best regards,
Kem

Jesse220


scooter

Quote from: b29r on December 26, 2018, 09:55:55 AM
The old dog finally got finished up and into the books to close out 2018.  Wishing everyone the best for 2019  :thumbsup:

Best regards,
Kem

You mean "Father of Old Dog"  :wacko:

Awesome work
The F-106- 26 December 1956 to 8 August 1988
Gone But Not Forgotten

QuoteOh are you from Wales ?? Do you know a fella named Jonah ?? He used to live in whales for a while.
— Groucho Marx

My dA page: Scooternjng

kerick

Great imagination and great execution.
" Somewhere, between half true, and completely crazy, is a rainbow of nice colours "
Tophe the Wise

sykotik

that is too cool - I love this  :wub: :wub:
great execution on the paint job to.
Well done

KiwiZac

Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

dumaniac


zenrat

Fred

- Can't be bothered to do the proper research and get it right.

Another ill conceived, lazily thought out, crudely executed and badly painted piece of half arsed what-if modelling muppetry from zenrat industries.

zenrat industries:  We're everywhere...for your convenience..

McColm


TheChronicOne

-Sprues McDuck-

FAR148


sandiego89

Looks great! Some additional photos of the landing gear and outriggers would be appreciated.
Dave "Sandiego89"
Chesapeake, Virginia, USA

Rick Lowe


b29r

Thanks, guys, I appreciate it very much!  And perhaps it would be more correct to say "the Great Grandfather of the Old Dog"  ;D.

Dave:  Will see if I can get some underside shots, totally forgot to do that during the photo session  :-\

And thanks too, for the nomination  :thumbsup:  Wishing everyone a great 2019!

Tophe

[the word "realistic" hurts my heart...]