ODD B-29

[fubar57]

Searching for info about "Precious Cargo" and came across this...

...a B-29 used for gun placement tests. There was also a retractable gun turret under the tail and manned waist guns.

Geo

 

[Lucky13]

 

[fubar57]

Man, that sucker was armed for bear. Probably a weight thing that they chose not to pursue it.

Geo

 

[evangilder]

Not to mention the amount of drag those chin guns must have introduced!

 

[michaelmaltby]

The standard fire-control system for the B-29 was break-through analog computer stuff .... makes sense that they would evaluate the plane with more "conventional" manned positions as a Plan B ..... in case the centralized computer stuff didn't pan out.

 

[Capt. Vick]

There were actually TWO belly turrets and I've been trying to find drawings on those ERCO cheek Barbettes for ages...

 

[vikingBerserker]

American Combat Planes of the 20th Century by Ray Wagner has another interesting picture of a B-29 which alternate gun arrangement. (page 173).

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

I have a shot of Fubars first photo in book somewhere. Won't be home until Feb,10th though. Excellent info David and Jan. Thanks for sharing.

 

[syscom3]

In case the remotely operated gun turrets and sighting mechanisms didn't pan out, this is what was planned.

 

[Bian]

American Combat Planes of the 20th Century by Ray Wagner has another interesting picture of a B-29 which alternate gun arrangement. (page 173).

View attachment 252843

Attached are pics of Precious Cargo. Pretty sure these were taken on Okinawa.