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.

GIVE US MORE INFO DOUG. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROJECT BEFORE, UNLESS IT WAS THE B29 THAT THEY DUG OUT OF THE ARCTIC ICE AND TRIED TO FLY OUT.

Yes that was the project. It was not buried in ice however. About 60 years ago it was ditched on an iced over body of shallow water. It sould have been left there!

Doug

The produced video tape may still be on sale. Its title is, "Frozen In Time". The video I have is not for public consumption.

Doug

I remember that project.

They did some crazy things and ultimately their stupidity got them an appropriate result.

They were lucky that none got burnt or killed in the end.

A great pity that the B29 was destroyed though.

By the way, the year it went down was 1947. The expedition first traveled to the site in 1993...according to information on the produced video dust cover.

I remember seeing the video of this. Forgot which channel. It isn't too uncommon for a bunch of guys to horse around a bit on a job site. They knew those engines were going to be replaced with fresh ones so why not satisfy their curiosity. I've evan been guilty of juvenile humor myself. Not to my credit but it happens. I forget the leaders name. Maybe Greenameir but I.m not sure but he was a successful unlimited racer which would indicate a degree of competence. If he haden't gone after that plane someone else would have. An intact B-29 is sooner or later going to be retrieved. I notice he had the fortitude to quietly watch a years work and money go up in smoke. That indicates guts. As I understand,the guy who died expired in a hospital. Don't think the salvage work had much to do with that. Now then the fire. As I understand,they left a hot,unsecured APU in the back. That was bad. If I had lived a blameless life,I might be tempted to say something. But I have'nt so I'll not
Lee McKinney

Sorry Lee,

This is one I won't let go of. Mistakes all the way
around beginning with planning regarding the
salvaging of the aircraft.

Disregarding the health of his mechanic...and also
should have had some knowledge of everyones
stamina and basic health issues.

Badly loaded advance expedition helicopter.

It just goes on and on. I have been around aircraft
and aircraft people a long time...and only once have
I come across incompetancy such as that which
surrounded the Kee Bird screw up. No plane, B-29 or
not is worth a persons life....and a disaster which came
very close to taking the lives of others.

Doug Vernon

I have this video (TV version) and have watched it a number of times. I especialy enjoyed watching the parts featuring the Caribou which was used as a support aircraft. I photographed this aircraft at Opa Locka, FL in 1998. I think it's now broken up... I have no comments as to wheter or not the people behind the salvage of Kee Bird were qualified for the job, so I'll leave it with that! The only thing I know, is that the story has a sad ending in many ways...

Nicolai

I watched the one hour special on this attempt to resurrect the key bird. Matt Jackson of van nuys, Darryl greenameyer and other legends in aviation were responsible for this extraordinary effort. A law suit followed the tragedy, as lots of money went up in smoke. The conditions they worked in were terrible and the short time period put more pressure on them to get the job done...If it was my money I would have changed the rubber fuel lines, installed some batteries, given the carburetors a jewish overhaul, new tires bleed the brakes lite it up with a couple of full power run-ups and go for it...The runway was pretty rough and shook the hell out of everyone and led to the destruction of a good airplane! They were in too much of a hurry.

I met 3 guys from texas that fired up an at11 beech 18 that had been sitting for about 32 years up in alaska. They put the wings back on, got it fired up without going thru the engines and ferried it back to texas!

Thanks Sky King. BTW. I remember the radio program of that name. I hesitate to criticize that operation because of my own history. I have made some real bad decisions because of the pressure of the circumstances. I have also undertaken projects for which I was unqualified. Sometimes I have evan succeeded. The knowledge of my own failures tempers my criticism. Daryl attempted a difficult project. For that I commend him. I wish you had been consulted, I think you had the outline most likely to have succeeded. I also understand the motivation to change out the engines. After sudden stoppage,changing engines is required. Thankyou for articulating
sentiments that I felt but was unable to say.
Lee McKinney

If you knew how many of these war birds had been bellied in..., and how many guys threw on a set of props, and flew them away, it would amaze you. I asked several engine shops and some old time round engine mechanics about how often they found crankshaft damage or other internal damage with power off belly in's they candidly said..., don't tell anyone I said this but the engine is probably OK. The reason I asked is because my plane had suffered a gear collapse. The inspector pilot that did the booboo said that it was not sudden stoppage. There was 11 slashes in the fresh newly applied asphalt and that meant the prop did 5 or 6 revolutions before it stopped. This is another grey area of faa reg's.

At one time I owned an R-680-13 lyc. from an SR9-C Stinson. The engone had experienced a sudden stoppage. I checked the prop splines out at the end with a dial indicater. I measured .010 of an inch runout at that spot. that was an SAE 20 shaft. The shaft on a 3350 is I think an SAE 60 which is somewhat stronger. If I remember correctly the plane had run out of fuel so that its possable they weren.t turning at impact. Apart from prop shaft runnout,the crankshaft should be removed and the throws degreed. You might want to check the con rods for straightness. At that point,it would seem prudent to Zyglo and magnaflux all the usual suspects. I shall never forget my power plant instructer admonishing me to "assume nothing but verify everything"
Lee