A4K
Brigadier General
Nice one Glenn!
Jan, always loved the look of this bird myself...
According to 'Klonok Az Egen' (Clones in the sky) by Levente Huszka, 3 B-29s were captured by the Russians, to be copied 'exactly' as top secret project 'Product 421':
29 Jul' 44: USAAF XX BC/ 462 BG, 771 BS. Originally based at Piardoba, India, took off from Kiunghai airport, China for mission (against Anshan city steelworks, Manchuria if I understand rightly) . Air burst damage from AA fire sustained to right (starboard) wing, 3rd engine started to smoke, prop stopped. 4th engine lost too much oil. Pilot headed for Russia as no better option, landed Vozdvichenka Airport, near Vladivostok with Yak-9 'escort'. Aircraft arrived in almost perfect condition, was broken down into larger components and displayed in Moscow before Stalin and high ranking party leaders. Decided to be copied in every detail under top secret project 'Product 421'. Stripped down to last rivet for complete manufacture documentation.
11 Nov 44: 'General H.H Arnold Special' piloted by Captain Weston on it's 11th mission. Based Chengtu, China (if I understand correctly). Hit unfriendly fire Omura city, Kyushu Island. 67 aircraft caught in extremely stormy weather, including Weston's. Unable to reach Saipan, as too much fuel lost in turbulent conditions. Headed for China, eventually Vladivostok locality. Disobeyed orders for crews to bale out and let aircraft crash (issued since capture of first B-29), probably due to cold conditions. Landed closest Russian airbase with 'guidance' from AA warning shots and fighter 'escort'...
21 Nov 44: 'Ding Hao', 468 BG, 784 BS, piloted by Lt (or 2/Lt: same rank in Hungarian) William J. Micklish. Bombed Omura with radar guidance, sustained hits from fierce fighter resistance. Chose a shorter route rather than trying to reach base, headed Vladivostok direction. While circling an airport at low altitude, noticed another B-29 parked up, decided to land next to it. It was of course the 'General H.H. Arnold Special'. When almost touched down, Russian AA warning shots opened up 150 m from them, and 6 Yak fighters appeared, to ensure crew did not change their minds.
This and the previous bird were also broken down and distributed to the 3 designated production centres, and production was begun. Over 105,000 components had to be analysed and copied first though, the largest problem (apart from the metric/inches conversion and adaptation) the lack of technical documentation for the components (specifically compounding, temperature handling, surface protection, etc). Everything had to be tried and tested.
An interesting anecdote is the copying of the 'General H.H. Arnold Special'. Captain Weston loved cigars, and had his ground crew install an ash tray in the instrument panel, for use while flying low altitude when no oxygen mask was required. As 'exact and precise' copies were to be made of the machines, this detail was also incorporated!
Jan, always loved the look of this bird myself...
According to 'Klonok Az Egen' (Clones in the sky) by Levente Huszka, 3 B-29s were captured by the Russians, to be copied 'exactly' as top secret project 'Product 421':
29 Jul' 44: USAAF XX BC/ 462 BG, 771 BS. Originally based at Piardoba, India, took off from Kiunghai airport, China for mission (against Anshan city steelworks, Manchuria if I understand rightly) . Air burst damage from AA fire sustained to right (starboard) wing, 3rd engine started to smoke, prop stopped. 4th engine lost too much oil. Pilot headed for Russia as no better option, landed Vozdvichenka Airport, near Vladivostok with Yak-9 'escort'. Aircraft arrived in almost perfect condition, was broken down into larger components and displayed in Moscow before Stalin and high ranking party leaders. Decided to be copied in every detail under top secret project 'Product 421'. Stripped down to last rivet for complete manufacture documentation.
11 Nov 44: 'General H.H Arnold Special' piloted by Captain Weston on it's 11th mission. Based Chengtu, China (if I understand correctly). Hit unfriendly fire Omura city, Kyushu Island. 67 aircraft caught in extremely stormy weather, including Weston's. Unable to reach Saipan, as too much fuel lost in turbulent conditions. Headed for China, eventually Vladivostok locality. Disobeyed orders for crews to bale out and let aircraft crash (issued since capture of first B-29), probably due to cold conditions. Landed closest Russian airbase with 'guidance' from AA warning shots and fighter 'escort'...
21 Nov 44: 'Ding Hao', 468 BG, 784 BS, piloted by Lt (or 2/Lt: same rank in Hungarian) William J. Micklish. Bombed Omura with radar guidance, sustained hits from fierce fighter resistance. Chose a shorter route rather than trying to reach base, headed Vladivostok direction. While circling an airport at low altitude, noticed another B-29 parked up, decided to land next to it. It was of course the 'General H.H. Arnold Special'. When almost touched down, Russian AA warning shots opened up 150 m from them, and 6 Yak fighters appeared, to ensure crew did not change their minds.
This and the previous bird were also broken down and distributed to the 3 designated production centres, and production was begun. Over 105,000 components had to be analysed and copied first though, the largest problem (apart from the metric/inches conversion and adaptation) the lack of technical documentation for the components (specifically compounding, temperature handling, surface protection, etc). Everything had to be tried and tested.
An interesting anecdote is the copying of the 'General H.H. Arnold Special'. Captain Weston loved cigars, and had his ground crew install an ash tray in the instrument panel, for use while flying low altitude when no oxygen mask was required. As 'exact and precise' copies were to be made of the machines, this detail was also incorporated!
