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Author Topic: Kee Bird  (Read 429 times)

Offline soda72

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Kee Bird
« on: July 27, 2010, 10:21:45 PM »
Ran across this documentary on NOVA about an attempt to restore a B-29 called 'Kee Bird.  It was abandoned in 1947 after it had to make an emergency landing in Greenland.

http://video.pbs.org/video/1548962233

Warning though, the ending will make you sick to your stomach...

 :(

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Offline Beefcake

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Re: Kee Bird
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2010, 10:28:45 PM »
I saw that episode years ago, the ending made me really sick.  :( To be honest I was really mad that we lost that plane because they just "had" (rushed) to get that plane out of there.
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Retired Bomber Dweeb - 71 "Eagle" Squadron RAF

Offline MachFly

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Re: Kee Bird
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2010, 10:44:43 PM »
ending just sucks
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"Now, if I had to make the choice of one fighter aircraft above all the others...it would be, without any doubt, the world's greatest propeller driven flying machine - the magnificent and immortal Spitfire."
Lt. Col. William R. Dunn
flew Spitfires, Hurricanes, P-51s, P-47s, and F-4s

Offline oakranger

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Re: Kee Bird
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2010, 10:57:52 PM »
Look like in good condition after being in that environment for a long time. 
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Oaktree

56th Fighter group

Offline soda72

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Re: Kee Bird
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2010, 08:14:17 AM »
Yeah,

I don't understand why they didn't just disassemble it and ship it back piece by piece...
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Offline fbWldcat

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Re: Kee Bird
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2010, 09:54:11 AM »
Maybe they wanted it to be more difficult?
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Quote from: Shuffler on April 07, 2011, 10:37:33 AM
Landing is overrated.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I: I took the one less traveled by." - Robert Frost
"Uncommon valor was a common virtue." <S>

Offline Guppy35

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Re: Kee Bird
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2010, 02:40:37 PM »
Daryl Greenmeyer is/was one of the early legends of warbirds and air racing.  He did lots of stuff that went above and beyond.  They they got to where they did was a minor miracle.  The warbird gods didn't want that to work apparently.

I do believe in the end the plan to fly it out was based on costs to do that vs costs to take it apart and airlift it out.

tragic ending no doubt.
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Dan/CorkyJr
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Offline fbWldcat

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Re: Kee Bird
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2010, 03:44:02 PM »
Well at any rate the old pilot of the beautiful bird got his wish... The Kee Bird will stay where it has been, forever.
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Quote from: Shuffler on April 07, 2011, 10:37:33 AM
Landing is overrated.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I: I took the one less traveled by." - Robert Frost
"Uncommon valor was a common virtue." <S>

Offline 007Rusty

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Re: Kee Bird
« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2010, 09:45:35 PM »
watched it the other nite,very sad  :cry
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C.O. 444TH AIR MAFIA
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