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Recollections of an RB-29 crew in Japan

Kwajalein Views
Kwajalein air field in sight, on time, on course. Weather looks good. We have had no experience landing or taking off from a runway that literally runs into the water at both ends. We circle the field once and set up an approach.
Kwajalein Island
On final approach
Parked & walking in
An overnight’s rest on Kwajalein. We hear stories of shark infested waters. In WW II a transport load of nurses crashed on take off with reportedly no survivors. We think of our two sick engines and plan our departure strategies.
Kwajalein Operations Building
We get a good night’s rest and wander around the ramps, admiring the variety of aircraft, either stationed here, or passing through. It appears that most of the island has been turned into a concrete pad for obvious reasons.

The B-29, with the refueling boom, portends things to come in the ever-evolving game of stretching the arms and legs of military aircraft.
B-29 tanker with boom
Seeing the US Navy flying boat gives us some comfort as we contemplate the odds for a ditching in the area.
Navy Flying Boat
The C-124 cargo aircraft seem to somewhat dwarf our B-29s. If there ever was an “aluminum cloud”, this must be it.
C-124 Cargo Craft
While the crane can easily swing an engine change, it seems it could equally rush out to the runway and drag a wounded aircraft out of the way, making room for the next arrival.
Runway-clearing crane
We have time to give our aircraft a serious pre-flight checkout as we do what we can to assure continuance of our trip on to Hawaii. If we have any trouble, it seems that better solutions could be found from resources at Hickam AFB.
Our turn to gas up
In our turn, we set sail for Hawaii, on a wing and a prayer.
Ready for departure for Hawaii

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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