Boeing YRB-29K Superfortress

[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they had reached the end of their useful lives, and following the crash and loss of two aircraft in theater, they were withdrawn and retired.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 

Best regards,
Kem

[Jesse220]

Awesome work. 

[scooter]

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

Best regards,
Kem

You mean "Father of Old Dog" 

Awesome work

[kerick]

Great imagination and great execution.

[sykotik]

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

[KiwiZac]

Jaw = dropped!!! WOW!

[dumaniac]

wow 

[zenrat]

Cool.

[McColm]

Great build

[TheChronicOne]

Far out, man!!!!   

[FAR148]

Nice paint 

[sandiego89]

Looks great! Some additional photos of the landing gear and outriggers would be appreciated.

[Rick Lowe]

Nice work. 

[b29r]

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

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    Wishing everyone a great 2019!

[Tophe]

Great!