The project which turned into a complete desaster
involved a B-29 dubbed the Kee Bird. There was a documentary about the subject produced for one of the enlightenment channels.....it may have been discovery. I try to make it a point to not discuss this project because it leaves such a bad taste in my mouth...but today I was rummaging around in the film and video archieves and came across a video tape shot by those who were inroute to the Kee Bird crash site for the very first time. To make a short story even shorter, the video shows one segment where these clowns are trying to activate one of the engines by apparently hooking up electrical power to it and feeding it some high test gasoline.
Of course all of the propeller blades on the engines were bent back and damaged way beyond repair...but here were these salvagers trying to start this old engine....broken and bent propeller and all. I must say it was a bit comical to see this
beat up prop making a number of feeble turns, engine grinding its old insides away...and yes, exhaust smoke slowly broiling out the stacks for the first time in almost sixty years. Mind you, no work had been done to any of these engines up to this point. The guys just wanted to see if the old junkers would actually turn over...and possibly start...I guess. It is a video that never has hit the airwaves and was probably shot for the crews own enjoyment. Had they only known what tragidy lay ahead for one of their own.....and for the aircraft itself.
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