What do you think of Darryl Greenamyer's attempt to salvage the B-29 KeeBird from the arctic (ref: NOVA, PBS)?

Question

What do you think of Darryl Greenamyer's attempt to salvage the B-29 KeeBird from the arctic (ref: NOVA, PBS)?

Answer 1

I saw the program about Darryl Greenamyer's attempt to salvage the B-29 KeeBird from the arctic. It was very disappointing to see that beautifull airplane reduced to a burnt out hulk at the end.

Answer 2

Thats what happens when amateurs try to show the world they are just as good as the proffesionals. A priceless war relic is lost forever if you don't really know what your doing don't s***w with it!

Answer 3

I hadn't heard of it but the idea of salvaging a 60 year old War Bird in pristine condition intrigued me.  I found this story of the last flight, the crews ordeal and the rescue, http://www.b29keebird.net/main.html  The way they performed every necessary step to insure their survival in 55 degree below zero is amazing.

My only concern with the salvage is with metallurgy of the day airframes would develop stress fractures if they made several deep temperature cycles.  That's why they had to stop using the P2V Neptune in support of Operation Deep Freeze.  So if the ambient temperature at that location has a significant range, the frames would have to be replaced at significant cost,

Note - Glacier Girl along with the other Five P-38's and two B-17's have been packed in Ice since their crash-landings so they didn't experience temperature cycles. You can find their story here. http://p38assn.org/glacier-girl.htm

I hope you enjoy the website and thanks for tweaking my interest.

Answer 4

He was an absolute idiot.  Lost a priceless warbird from stupidity.

The B-29's from day one, had engine fire problems.  It's in any book you can find, about B-29's.

What did that dumbshit NOT have on hand?  Fire extinguishers.

Answer 5

For those of you who are not fimilar with all of the story let me fill you in on a few details / urban legends I was told on the ramp while working in Southern California restoring another unique aircraft.

1st) Greenamyer was so ill prepared he cost one person his life.  The mechanic who died as a result of what I believe was a pendictis, could not be flown out for medical treatment - because Greenamyer was using a old de Havilland Caribou that was in such poor mechanical shape that it broke down at this critical time.

2) If you want the true story on the fire put the word STUPIDITY with it.  To fuel the auxilary generator in the back of the Kee Bird, they hung by bungees a 5 gallon gas can to gravity feed into the unit.  When they all got excited and started the taxi test the shook the can loose and raw gasoline feel onto the auxilary generator causing the fire.

3) After they all bailed out and walked away from what was left of the Kee Bird - they left all the old engine, tires, oil drums and what was left of the aircraft right were it sat - littered across the ground.  It is my understanding he is being sued for the damages he did to the country side.

Greenamyer is a squirrely character - he did it for greed and nothing more.  Ask him about his bail out over the Pacific in a F104 (rumor is he did it to get the insurance money)

All in all I wish the Kee Bird had survived but Cowbiy rescue operation like this just cost us the history and hurt people who are really trying to save a unique artifact.  Treasure hunter is a better word for Mr. Greenamyer.

Answer 6

Great posts above.  This parallels everything I've been told about Greenamyer from people that have worked with him on various projects.

Nice insight into the unfortunate loss of the Kee Bird.

Answer 7

I admire any attempt to recover old war birds from the artic.

I saw the P-38 recovered from the artic, at Sun and Fun last year.  It's awesome.  One of only two flying.