Pullman became Silverplate became Saddletree (Baugher says Saddleback) in May 1947 before all of the final batch of B-29 had been converted, in turn Saddletree became part of the Gem program.
Constituted as 509th Composite Group on 9 Dec 1944 and activated on 17 Dec, Wendover Field, Utah, 17 Dec 1944-26 Apr 1945; North Field, Tinian, 29 May-17 Oct 1945; Roswell AAFld, NM, 6 Nov 1945-16 Jun 1952.
46 B-29 built before the end September 1945 reported modified to Silverplate status, by November 1946 four had been lost, 19 more modified in 1947 from exiting stocks as project DOM-515. Then came the B-50 and B-36 modifications. Looking at Baugher, the aircraft cards and delivery logs gives the following list of 46 done by end 1945, block, serial, acceptance date,
B-29-5-BO 42-6259 30-Nov-43
B-29-5-MO 42-65209 24-Aug-44
B-29-10-MO 42-65216 15-Sep-44
B-29-10-MO 42-65217 16-Sep-44
B-29-15-MO 42-65234 18-Oct-44
B-29-15-MO 42-65235 18-Oct-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65236 24-Oct-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65237 26-Oct-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65238 26-Oct-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65239 26-Oct-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65240 31-Oct-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65258 13-Nov-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65259 11-Nov-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65260 14-Nov-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65261 14-Nov-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65262 14-Nov-44
B-29-20-MO 42-65263 15-Nov-44
B-29-25-MO 42-65264 15-Nov-44
B-29-35-MO 42-65384 15-Feb-45
B-29-35-MO 42-65385 15-Feb-45
B-29-35-MO 42-65386 15-Feb-45
B-29-35-MO 42-65387 15-Feb-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27295 19-Mar-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27296 19-Mar-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27297 19-Mar-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27298 20-Mar-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27299 20-Mar-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27300 2-Apr-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27301 2-Apr-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27302 2-Apr-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27303 2-Apr-45
B-29-35-MO 44-27304 2-Apr-45
B-29-40-MO 44-27353 20-Apr-45
B-29-40-MO 44-27354 20-Apr-45
B-29-45-MO 44-86291 18-May-45
B-29-45-MO 44-86292 18-May-45
B-29-50-MO 44-86346 15-Jun-45
B-29-50-MO 44-86347 15-Jun-45
B-29-55-MO 44-86382 26-Jul-45
B-29-55-MO 44-86383 30-Jul-45
B-29-55-MO 44-86384 27-Jul-45
B-29-60-MO 44-86430 27-Aug-45
B-29-60-MO 44-86431 28-Aug-45
B-29-60-MO 44-86432 30-Aug-45
B-29-60-MO 44-86472 30-Sep-45
B-29-60-MO 44-86473 30-Sep-45
Joe Baugher gives the following list of 16 modifications done in 1947 out of 19 reported done.
B-29-55-MO 44-86401
B-29-60-MO 44-86437, 44-86439, 44-86440, 44-86443, 44-86444, 44-86445, 44-86447, 44-86448, 44-86451
B-29-90-BW 44-87752, 44-87771, 44-87774, 45-21736, 45-21739
B-29-95-BW 45-21818
Total B-29 production 3,960
3 XB-29 Boeing Seattle, accepted December 1942
14 YB-29 Boeing Wichita, accepted July to September 1943
1,620 B-29 Boeing Wichita, accepted September 1943 to October 1945
1,119 B-29A Boeing Renton, accepted January 1944 to June 1946
357 B-29 Bell, accepted November 1943 to February 1945, May to September 1945
311 B-29B Bell, accepted January to September 1945
536 B-19 Martin, accepted December 1943 to September 1945 (but only 5 built by end February 1944 then a two month pause)
Spitfire XIV squadrons from RAF Squadrons by Jefford, squadron, from, to, note
2 Nov-44 Jan-51 ETO
11 Jun-45 Feb-48
16 Sep-45 Apr-46 ex 268 sqn ETO
17 Jun-45 Feb-48
20 Nov-45 Dec-46
26 Jun-45 Apr-46 ETO
28 Oct-45 May-47
41 Sep-45 Sep-46 ETO
91 Mar-44 Aug-44 to F.21 Jan 45 , ETO
130 Aug-44 May-45 ETO
132 May-45 Apr-46 ETO
136 Feb-46 May-46 ETO
152 Jan-46 Mar-46
155 Dec-45 Aug-46
268 Apr-45 Sep-45 became 16 squadron, ETO
273 Nov-45 Jan-46
322 Mar-44 Aug-44 ETO
350 Aug-44 Oct-46 ETO
401 May-45 Jun-45 ETO
402 Aug-44 Jun-45 ETO
411 Jun-45 Mar-46 ETO
412 May-45 Jun-45 ETO
414 Apr-45 Aug-45 ETO
416 Sep-45 Mar-46 ETO
430 Nov-44 Aug-45 ETO
443 Jun-45 Mar-46 ETO
451 Aug-45 Jan-46 ETO
453 Aug-45 Jan-46 ETO
600 Oct-46 Nov-47 ETO
602 Oct-46 Oct-48 ETO
607 Nov-46 Mar-49 ETO
610 Jan-44 Mar-45 Also Nov 46 to Apr 49, disbanded Mar 45, reformed May 45, ETO
611 Nov-46 Aug-49 ETO
612 Nov-46 Oct-49 ETO
613 Dec-46 Dec-48 ETO
615 Oct-46 Jan-49 ETO
As units were rotated front/rear areas they could give up or gain the latest equipment. First Spitfire XVIII squadron service August 1946.