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Recollections of an RB-29 crew in Japan

Mission — Outbound
Our mission, this late afternoon and tonight, is to fly the “Yoke”, a routine flight designed to plot Soviet coastal ship traffic, identify and locate radar sites, and keep an eye out for anything else of interest. Our route takes us west to the Sea of Japan, then north along the Japanese coast to northern Hokkaido, west again to just short of the Soviet coast, then down the coast just outside of the twelve mile limit, and then, eventually the left turn that would take us home.
Right: Merle Hahn, pilot, completes the climb out, on course. As he levels off at cruise altitude, Chuck Stone, A/C sets up the autopilot under the watchful eye of our passenger in the jump seat.
Left: Paul Jackson, Radar Operator, checks out and calibrates his equipment in the rear of the aircraft.

Below: Robert Barnhardt, Radio Man, checks in with his scheduled communications links. Selected radio and radar stations will be tracking our progress, within their limits.
Left: Fred Brackbill, Navigator, updates his plan to take us around the horn, get the job done, and still keep us out of trouble, if possible.

Lower Left: Bob Weisburn, Photo Navigator, fulfills a variety of roles, depending upon the mission. In every case he assists with navigation, keeps a sharp eye forward, is always available to operate the forward gun system and assists crew coordination.

Don Kleinkauf, Scanner Gunner Right), Dick Sniker, CFC Gunner (Below R), Ron Glowcheski, Scanner Gunner (2nd Below R), and Sam Farley, Tail Gunner (Below) take time to stretch and relax before moving into their combat positions. Relaxed or in the ready position, every crewmember is constantly alert with their sense of sight, sound and smell to keep track of the operational condition of our RB-29 — our home away from home.
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Home - Contact Us - Cold War Hist. - 91st SRS Hist. - Stardust 40 Mission Story
RB-29 Crew Hist. - Hiking Rural Japan - Extended Stories - Short Stories
Biographical Notes - Current Commentary - Art Gallery - Fun Stuff - Education
Programs - Locator- Reunions - Memorials - Cold War Museum Web Site