I am gathering information. (1 Viewer)

[kamioka]

It was found near a B-29 that crashed in 1945. It appears to be a 1.5cm thick iron plate (steel?). The back side has a distinctive shape. I couldn't find it no matter how hard I looked, so I'm asking here.

Message from Japan

 

[Sabrejet]

Makes me think engine or armament....

Which B-29 is it?

 

[Snautzer01]

Hello what was the crash location?

 

[kamioka]

Hello what was the crash location?

Thank you for your comment, I'm from Minami Kyushu.

 

[kamioka]

Makes me think engine or armament....

Which B-29 is it?

Thank you for your comment. I was in trouble because there was no one who knew about the parts at that time. I live in the southern Kyushu area.

 

[Sabrejet]

Yes but which B-29? Do you have a crew, date or serial number?

 

[Snautzer01]

On the night of June 17, 1945, the 314th bombardment wing of the Army Air Corps (120 B-29s) dropped 809.6 tons of incendiary and cluster bombs destroying 2.11 square miles (5.46 km2​) of Kagoshima (44.1 percent of the built-up area). Kagoshima was targeted because of its largely expanded naval port as well as its position as a railway terminus. A single B-29 was lost to unknown circumstances.

 

[cammerjeff]

While I am not sure, I think it may be the lower part of the Tail Bumper used to prevent a tail strike if the aircraft over rotated during landing or takeoff. I can not find a good picture of the tail bumper during a quick google search. But if it is part of a B-29 Crash I think it is a possible source for the following reasons.

1 - It is made of iron or steel, not many parts of an aircraft are. Used in High stress or if it is a tail bumper part strong for wear resistance.
2 - The smooth side looks to be a surface exposed to the slipstream during flight.
3 - The back side looks to have mounting surface for a Hydraulic or Pneumatic actuator. Meaning the part was designed to move in some way.

Not many parts of an aircraft meet all 3 of those items I circled the part I think it may be in the picture below. Source
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/comments/7fpnmi/the_lesser_known_defensive_armament_for_the_b29s/

And welcome to the site from someone who works for a US part of a Company based on your Island, but in Kumamoto Japan

 

[pb43]

It was found near a B-29 that crashed in 1945. It appears to be a 1.5cm thick iron plate (steel?). The back side has a distinctive shape. I couldn't find it no matter how hard I looked, so I'm asking here.

Message from JapanView attachment 821098View attachment 821099

 

[SaparotRob]

You guys are amazing.

 

[pb43]

While I am not sure, I think it may be the lower part of the Tail Bumper used to prevent a tail strike it the aircraft over rotated during landing or takeoff. I can not find a good picture of the tail bumper during a quick google search. But if it is part of a B-29 Crash I think it is a possible source for the following reasons.

1 - It is made of iron or steel, not many parts of an aircraft are. Used in High stress or if it is a tail bumper part strong for wear resistance.
2 - The smooth side looks to be a surface exposed to the slipstream during flight.
3 - The back side looks to have mounting surface for a Hydraulic or Pneumatic actuator. Meaning the part was designed to move in some way.

Not many parts of an aircraft meet all 3 of those items I circled the part I think it may be in the picture below. Source
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/comments/7fpnmi/the_lesser_known_defensive_armament_for_the_b29s/

View attachment 821118
And welcome to the site from someone who works for a US part of a Company based on your Island, but in Kumamoto Japan
View attachment 821119

 

[Sabrejet]

Oh good work!!!

Can you confirm the aircraft's identity?

 

[cammerjeff]

You guys are amazing.

No problem just glad to be of some help from time to time! I am glad that pb43 could confirm what I thought the part was. As I said I was not sure that is what it was, but I had a very strong suspicion that was what the part was. Just comes from 35+ years of working on Boeing products! And replacing those tail bumpers after my Pilots abused them. Most newer designs do not have them for weight considerations. You should see the damage that results when a tail strike occurs on a B757 or A320! Alot more work than just replacing a skid plate.

pb43 thanks for your work finding the drawing!

 

[Sabrejet]

So can the identity be tied to the post by Snautzer01 above? The two don't seem to have an obvious link.

 

[kamioka]

Thank you for all your comments. It seems that these metals were collected by residents as metal recycling after the war. I will refrain from mentioning the crashed plane here because it reveals where I live. However, it crashed in May 1945. Thank you to everyone.

 

[Sabrejet]

Kamioka: I'm interested because I have the flight logs of a B-29 pilot who was shot down in May 1945. I'd be very interested to know that the piece you've found is from his aircraft.

 

[SaparotRob]

No problem just glad to be of some help from time to time! I am glad that pb43 could confirm what I thought the part was. As I said I was not sure that is what it was, but I had a very strong suspicion that was what the part was. Just comes from 35+ years of working on Boeing products! And replacing those tail bumpers after my Pilots abused them. Most newer designs do not have them for weight considerations. You should see the damage that results when a tail strike occurs on a B757 or A320! Alot more work than just replacing a skid plate.

pb43 thanks for your work finding the drawing!

Go Boeing!