Field Mod for P-51 Escorts

[MiloMorai]

Very interesting! What did they do to B-29s after they rolled off the assembly line to get them ready for combat?

Wiki can be our friend.

Changes to the production craft came so often and so fast that in early 1944, B-29s flew from the production lines directly to modification depots for extensive rebuilds to incorporate the latest changes. AAF-contracted modification centers and its own air depot system struggled to handle the scope of the requirements. Some facilities lacked hangars capable of housing the giant B-29, requiring outdoor work in freezing cold weather, further delaying necessary modification. By the end of 1943, although almost 100 aircraft had been delivered, only 15 were airworthy.

[DaveBB]

Wiki can be our friend.

Changes to the production craft came so often and so fast that in early 1944, B-29s flew from the production lines directly to modification depots for extensive rebuilds to incorporate the latest changes. AAF-contracted modification centers and its own air depot system struggled to handle the scope of the requirements. Some facilities lacked hangars capable of housing the giant B-29, requiring outdoor work in freezing cold weather, further delaying necessary modification. By the end of 1943, although almost 100 aircraft had been delivered, only 15 were airworthy.

Just like in Catch 22, you failed to deliver.  *WHAT* changes were made?

[MiloMorai]

Do your own research.

[DaveBB]

Do your own research.

About what I figured.

[Chalenge]

"Superfortress" by General Curtiss LeMay & Bill Yenne will answer all your questions and probably surprise you about the efficiency and discipline of an Air Force just coming of age.

[Squire]

"Field mod" can mean any number of things. Sometimes it represented a local or specialized modification. Sometimes not. In regards to the B-29 I would say not...in the way we are discussing that topic here. A mission ready B-29 was "the standard" B-29 wether the final work was done on it at Boeing or overseas. We have the "airworthy" B-29. Changes to a P-51 that were only done in England and not say, the CBI or Pacific would be more along the lines of what we are talking about.

[Ciaphas]

essentially you have:

Manufacturer level construction (original config and series upgrade configs)

Depot level modifications (think along the lines of recall repairs and major config upgrades)

Field level MX: everything else that does not require extensive airframe dismantling.

Exception: modifications that require prolonged downtime will often be accomplished by a mobile Depot team or contractors.




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