Convair B36 over Bovingdon Hertfordshire
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Convair B36 over Bovingdon Hertfordshire
Having seen one entry on this subject I remember seeing a B36 at low level over Chesham Bucks at low level and escorted by two Meteor 8's. It was heading in roughly a W to E direction and heading in the general direction of Bovingdon Airfield. Does anyone know whether it landed at Bovingdon or was escorted to another base?
I would have thought that the B36 probably overflew Bovingdon rather than landing there - the main runway at Bovingdon being barely 5000 feet long. Although the original specification for the B36 was that it could operate off a 5000 foot runway I doubt that this was ever achieved.
I witnessed 'a big aeroplane with 6 propellors at the back' (don't remember a Meteor escort though); from my home in Chesham in the '50s, I suppose I was about 5 years old. It was heading towards Bovingdon.
I ran indoors and told my older brother who hit me as he was in Germains School ATC and thus knew everything about planes and there was no such plane in England!
I ran indoors and told my older brother who hit me as he was in Germains School ATC and thus knew everything about planes and there was no such plane in England!
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Wish I could find my old log books. Waaaay back - probably late 50s - I saw a B36 apparently routing LYD-EPM-WOD Green 1. Saw a few later when we visited Wright Patterson Air Base in the mid-60s but they were non-flying pieces. Remarkable aeroplane and I'll never forget the sound..
Remarkable aeroplane and I'll never forget the sound..
It reminds me of the AN22 and TU95 to the ear
A big ol' beast and visually intimidating to the enemy no doubt.SHJ
I used to see and hear them overflying Prestwick when I was a youngster and I agree that they were never to be forgotten.
I also remember seeing the one and only passenger version, the XC-99, outside Kelly AFB, Texas when I was driving Belfasts for Mrs Windsor. It was impressive but not particularly attractive or practical and I could well see why it never caught on.
I also remember seeing the one and only passenger version, the XC-99, outside Kelly AFB, Texas when I was driving Belfasts for Mrs Windsor. It was impressive but not particularly attractive or practical and I could well see why it never caught on.
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"It was impressive but not particularly attractive or practical and I could well see why it never caught on."
What never caught on? The XC-99, or driving Belfasts for Mrs Windsor?
What never caught on? The XC-99, or driving Belfasts for Mrs Windsor?
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In I think it was 1956 I rushed out of my home on the Wirral to see what was creating so much noise. It turned out to be 11 B36s en route to Burtonwood a very impressive sight and sound.
Hen ddraig
Hen ddraig
Ah yes, the noise! Living in Cornwall, we rarely saw them but frequently heard them - unmistakeable!! ... from memory, (pretty ropey source, nowadays) it was a bit like a swarm of motorbikes
.
Sometime in the 50s, one, inbound from the States, lost an engine and (rumour has it) SAC required total abandonment for such condition! Crew baled out and the beast continued on its own for about 45 minutes before crashing on three county boundaries, near Lechlade. My brother was sent out from Colerne on guard duty on the wreckage.
. Sometime in the 50s, one, inbound from the States, lost an engine and (rumour has it) SAC required total abandonment for such condition! Crew baled out and the beast continued on its own for about 45 minutes before crashing on three county boundaries, near Lechlade. My brother was sent out from Colerne on guard duty on the wreckage.
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Sometime in the 50s, one, inbound from the States, lost an engine and (rumour has it) SAC required total abandonment for such condition!
On very long range missions it was not uncommon to lose two engines and still carry on.
Curtis LeMay was very protective of his B-36s. Any aircraft commander that crashed a B-36 usually lost a grade in rank and faced possible court martial unless it was proved that the loss was totally beyond their control.
