The Chinese Kong Jiang-1 – The B-29 Superfortress AWACS

One of the stranger stories in aviation history is how the Boeing B-29 Superfortress became an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft – not for the USAF, but for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force.

For most of the Second Word War Japan and the Soviet Union were at peace. One of the stipulations of the Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact obliged the Soviets to intern American aircraft which landed Russian territory as a result of conducting combat missions against the Japanese. The Soviets honored the treaty to the letter, seizing three American B-29 Superfortresses and their crews which had diverted to the Soviet Union after various emergencies. This is the first Superfortress to divert, B-29-5-BW serial 42-6256 “Ramp Tramp” at Tsentralnaya-Uglovaya in July 1944.

In total three Superfortresses landed intact and one crashed. In addition to Ramp Tramp, B-29A-1-BN serial 42-93829 “Cait Paomat II” crashed, B-29-15-BW serial 42-6365 “General H.H. Arnold Special” landed on 11NOV44, and B-29-15-BW serial 42-6358 “Ding Hao!” landed on 21NOV44. All were based in China and diverted due to either combat damage or fuel exhaustion. The crews were interred, but later allowed to “escape” via Iran. The aircraft were not returned, but were studied by the Soviets. This is Ding Hao! In the markings of her new owners.

The B-29 was years ahead of anything the Soviets had on the drawing boards. Stalin directed that the Superfortress was to be reverse-engineered for Soviet production, a priority project second only to the development of atomic weapons. After a monumental effort the first Soviet Tupolev Tu-4 “Bull” made its first flight on 19MAY47. A total of 847 were produced in several versions and served into the 1960s. Pictured is one of fifty Tu-4K versions produced for the Soviet Navy with an AS-1 Kennel anti-ship missile under each wing.

In 1953 the Soviets transferred twenty-five Tu-4 to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force. The Chinese flew these aircraft in front-line units as bombers until 1978 and in reserve units for more than a decade later. In the early 1970s their Ash-73TK radial engines of 2,400 hp were replaced with Al-20M turboprops, each producing 4,250 hp. Pictured is one of the turboprop Bulls with a WuZhen-5 (WZ-5) recon drone under each wing. The similarity to the AQM-34N “Firebee” is not coincidental, the WZ-5 is a Chinese copy.

One airframe was converted to the Airborne Warning and Control System role by plant No. 5702, located in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. In addition to the turboprop engines, the aircraft featured a prominent circular radome for the prototype Type 843 radar. The bombay was converted into crew space for the radar operators and all defensive armament systems were removed.

The Kong Jiang-1 made its first flight on 10JUN71, and began a flight test program which eventually reached several hundred hours. Problems quickly became apparent. While the thrust of the engines was much greater, empty weight had increased by five tons and the new radome and other antennas had greatly increased drag. Excessive vibration was induced by both the engines and the radome, and the aircraft had problems with lateral stability. Adjustments to the engines and a redesign of the radome improved the situation but never totally eliminated the problems.

While the Type 843 radar was able to detect targets out to approximately 200 miles the Chinese were never able to solve the problem of differentiating low-flying aircraft in the radar’s ground clutter. This ultimately doomed the project and the Kong Jiang-1 never entered serial production.

A close-up of the Al-20M turboprop which produced 4,250 hp. The turboprop engines were a great deal longer and much narrower than the radials they replaced. The new engines projected 90 inches (2.3 meters) further forward, and the complexity of fairing them into the nacelles is apparent.

The Kong Jiang-1 was limited to a single prototype, but that airframe is preserved as an outdoor display at the China Aviation Museum near Beijing.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress Gunship

USAAF policy during WWII required the evaluation of a gunship variant of heavy bomber designs to provide long-range escort beyond the range of fighter aircraft. While the YB-40 gunship based upon the B-17 Flying Fortress proceeded to the operational evaluation phase, gunship variations of the B-24 Liberator and B-29 Superfortress were one-off modifications.

The fourth Superfortress developmental airframe, YB-29-BO Serial Number 41-36957, was chosen for the modifications. Standard Superfortress armament was ten .50 caliber machine guns and one 20mm cannon for a total of eleven guns, the B-29 gunship was to carry a total of twenty-five weapons. (World War Photos)

The nose was fitted with twin .50s in an ERCO ball turret. Four Emerson Model 126 barbettes were fitted to the fuselage sides forward and aft of the wing, each mounting another pair of .50s.

The standard Superfortress was equipped with four remotely sighted turrets, each fitted with a pair of .50 caliber machine guns (the four-gun dorsal turret came later). These turrets were replaced with new improved versions which augmented the pair of .50s with a 20mm cannon.

Tail armament was also increased. The standard 20mm cannon was replaced with a 30mm, while retaining the existing pair of .50s. That makes twenty .50 caliber machine guns, four 20mm cannon, and one 30mm cannon in total.

The modifications were evaluated but never put into production. Notably, 41-36957 does not appear to have sighting blisters for the gunners, so it is possible the new turrets were not integrated into a centralized fire control system. Still, this is a unique conversion opportunity for an ambitious modeler as has already been suggested by a few of you!

Project S68 – The Manned Turret B-29 Superfortress

Project S68 was an effort to evaluate the operation of manned turrets on the Boeing B-29 Superfortress in the event of difficulties with the General Electric remote turret system.

A single airframe, B-29-25-BW serial number 42-2441, was modified in October 1944. Nose armament was a unique pair of Emerson Model 136 barbettes, each mounting a single .50 caliber gun.

Upper remote turrets were replaced with Martin manned turrets, while the lowers were fitted with a Sperry Model A-2 ball turret forward and a semi-retractable A-13 aft.

The sighting blisters on the fuselage sides were replaced with single .50 caliber guns on flexible mounts, similar to other USAAF heavy bombers. Tail armament remained unchanged.

The General Electric remote system proved to be excellent in operational service and there was no need for the manned turret installation to proceed beyond the evaluation phase. Still, this is an interesting variation and the model would make for a unique conversion project.

Douglas Boston IIIs of No. 24 Squadron South African Air Force Color Photographs

Color photographs of Douglas Boston IIIs of No. 24 Squadron South African Air Force taken at Zuwarah (also spelled Zuara), Tripoli, March 1943. The squadron was originally equipped with the Martin Maryland, but converted to the Boston in late 1941 when these became available. They flew the Boston until December 1943 when they converted to the Martin Marauder. (IWM)

A line of No. 24 Squadron Bostons with engines running, AL683 nearest to the camera. Aircraft often began their take-off runs into the wind in line abreast to avoid the inevitable dust clouds kicked up by the prop wash. (IWM)

Aircrew are briefed outside the Operations tent as a formation of Bostons passes overhead. Note the various combinations of uniform items on display.

A series of photos of a Boston formation in flight. This photo is particularly interesting as it demonstrates the relative effectiveness of the camouflage over a sample of the North African terrain. (IWM)

Supermarine Spitfire Vb of No. 40 Squadron SAAF Color Photographs

A short but excellent series of original color photographs featuring a Supermarine Spitfire Vb of No. 40 Squadron, South African Air Force.  These were taken in March 1943 while the squadron was operating from Gabe, Tunisia.  All feature WRD serial ER622.  No. 40 Squadron had just converted from the Hawker Hurricane in February, so these Spitfires had been in service for approximately one month.  Enjoy!

A beautiful aerial shot of WRD with WRC in the background.

A crop of the previous photo to show detail.

A similar perspective with the wingman in the distance. (IWM)

ER622 on the ground.

Interesting details of the pilots’ flight gear. Note the SAAF orange in place of the RAF red on the fin flash and roundel, as well as the gear down indicator on the wing.

Douglas SBD Dauntless Color Photographs Part 5

A pair of SBD-5 Dauntlesses from USS Yorktown (CV-10) in 1944. (LIFE Magazine)

All 57 of the original SBD-1 variants were delivered to the Marine Corps. This example in the Yellow Wings scheme was assigned to the Squadron Commander of VMB-2 during 1940.

The Radioman on the SBD was also responsible for operating the aircraft’s defensive armament, a pair of .30 caliber Browning machine guns. Here a crewman mans his guns for a photographer aboard aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVL-22), 30APR43. (80-G-K-787)

Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo bombers and Douglass SDB Dauntless dive bombers prepare for launch aboard an escort carrier. The large yellow “buzz numbers” indicate a training command.

A nice detail shot of the main landing gear being inspected, another example of an aircraft assigned to a training command.

SBD-2s spotted on the deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6), the markings of the aircraft indicate the photograph was taken in late 1941 or very early in 1942. Note the color of Enterprise’s deck, U.S. aircraft carriers stained their flight decks Deck Blue in the months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Screenshot from John Ford’s documentary “The Battle of Midway” from May 1942. These are SBD-3s of VB-8 from the USS Hornet (CV-8).

Dauntless production at Douglass’ El Segundo plant during the summer of 1943.

A sailor on the cowl of a Dauntless showing details of the propeller.

A pilot identified as F.J. Jayce poses with a can of pineapple juice prior to boarding his Dauntless, showing details of his uniform and equipment. Photograph taken aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10) during the summer of 1943.

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2019/05/15/douglass-sbd-dauntless-color-photographs/

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 301st Bomb Group Color Photographs

A series of beautiful color shots of B-17s of the 301^st Bomb Group taken by famed photographer Robert Capa.  These were taken at RAF Westover, many of these aircraft arrived in England in August 1942.

A peaceful scene as cows graze near B-17F-1-BO serial 41-24359 “Turd Burd” was assigned to the 325th BS. The aircraft survived the war, fate of the cows is unknown.

Nose of B-17F-1-BO serial 41-24361 “Wabash Cannon Ball”, a common name for aircraft due to a song popular at the time. Assigned to the 348th BS, survived the war. Note the canvas cover over the Norton bomb sight and .30 caliber nose gun.

Crew gathers under the nose of B-17F-1-BO serial 41-24363 “Bad Penny” of the 32nd BS. She went Missing in Action 28NOV42 over Bizerte, Tunisia.

Another photo of “Bad Penny” undergoing maintenance.

A fine view of B-17F-1-BO serial 41-24366 “The Puffin’ Hussy II”. She crash landed on 19AUG44 and was salvaged.

Additional photos of “The Puffin’ Hussy II”.

“The Puffin’ Hussy II”

“The Puffin’ Hussy II”

B-17F-5-BO serial 41-24407 “The Goon”, which was another common aircraft name. She was assigned to the 346th BS and survived the war.

B-17F-5-BO serial 41-24422 “Dickie Doodle II” of the 352nd BS. She survived the war.

An unidentified Fortress on the taxiway.

More B-17 color photographs here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2019/05/29/color-b-17g-flying-fortress-nose-art-of-the-490-bomb-group/

Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea

In late 2016 the Iranian Motor Vessel Saviz entered the Red Sea. Officially described as a merchant ship by Iran, it was soon obvious that the ship was not transporting cargo. It did not proceed through the Red Sea, but instead loitered in the shipping lanes where 15 percent of the world’s global trade passes. Iran subsequently admitted that the Saviz was operated by the Republican Guard and was on a mission to “counteract piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.”

The Iranian explanation proved to be ironic, as the Saviz did not participate in any international effort to counter piracy. Instead, the Saviz was outfitted with an array of surveillance and communications equipment, and maintained position near the shipping lanes to visually identify passing ships which may have turned off their transponders. The Houthis, an Iranian proxy group fighting in Yemen, soon began launching missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea. The satellite photo shows the Saviz drifting in the shipping lanes.

On 01OCT16 the Houthis hit the United Arab Emirates transport ship Swift with an Iranian-supplied Noor anti-ship missile, which damaged the ship but caused no casualties. The U.S. Navy dispatched warships to the area. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Mason (DDG-87) was attacked by Houthi missiles on three separate occasions, but managed to shoot them all down without damage. The U.S. responded by destroying three Houthi radar sites which were involved in the attacks.

Saviz rotated crew and resupplied from passing Iranian merchant ships. Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IIRC) personnel passed on intelligence and directed the Houti attacks. The Saviz operated small boats from her deck to smuggle military equipment and IIRC advisors to the Houthis. On 06APR21 Israeli Defense Force frogmen planted several limpet mines which disabled the Saviz, which was towed back to Iran and eventually decommissioned.

The Iranians replaced the Saviz with a sister ship, the Behshad, which is also configured for intelligence gathering and surveillance, as well as operating as a mothership for smuggling operations. After the 07OCT attacks on Israel by Hamas (another Iranian proxy group) the Houthis intensified their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. IIRC officers provide tracking, target identification, and coordinate Houti attacks from the Behshad. To date, more than one hundred attacks have been launched by the Houthis, many of those have been directed against U.S. Navy warships. Unfortunately, the Behshad was the victim of a cyber attack in February, but the extent of degradation to her capabilities has not been publicly disclosed.

On 19NOV23 the Japanese NYK Line car carrier Galaxy Leader was hijacked by Houthi pirates and taken back to Yemen, the ship and her predominantly Filipino crew are still being held hostage. The ship had been operating with her transponder off to hide her identity, but had passed within visual range of the Behshad hours before.

The Houthis have been provided with a wide variety of Iranian missiles and drones for use in their attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea. These are typically reverse-engineered copies of foreign designs or their derivatives. Prominent in this photo is a Quds-1 cruise missile, which comes in land attack or anti-ship versions. It is a derivative of the Russian Kh-55. To the left rear are a several UAVs of various designs, to the right rear is a Tankil ballistic missile.

The Houthis employ a range of Iranian drones, many of which can be configured for either surveillance or attack missions. This is the Samad UAV, which has a wingspan of approximately 20 feet and carries a payload of 40 pounds. While these have been used in a number of attacks, they are slow and their small payloads are unlikely to cause significant damage to a ship.

Another type of drone used by the Houthis is the Shahed 136, which carries a 110-pound warhead. It is considered to be a loitering munition, able to circle above an assigned area and search for a target. The Iranians have also supplied these to the Russians for use against Ukraine, this one was photographed attacking Kiev.

This photograph shows damage to the superstructure of the MV Genco Picardy, a U.S. bulk carrier, likely a hit from a drone on 18JAN24. Note the razor wire hung from her lifelines to discourage boarders. The Indian Navy has also played a prominent role in countering the Houthi attacks, this photo was taken from an Indian Navy helicopter which had responded to the Genco Picardy’s distress call.

Many of the Houthi missiles and drones are launched from field-erected rails or mobile platforms such as this truck, seen here launching an Iranian Noor anti-ship cruise missile. The Noor is a copy of the Chinese C-802, itself a copy of the French Exocet. While U.S. and British aircraft and ships have conducted several strikes against Houthi launch sites, one military officer has likened the strikes to “bombing a junkyard” and they have not deterred the attacks.

There are many types of ballistic missiles which the Iranians have supplied to their proxies. These missiles boost to altitude, then fall back down onto their targets. This is the Mohit, which is a copy of the Russian SA-2 anti-aircraft missile.

The Iranians reinforced their presence on New Year’s Day when the frigate IRIS Alborz entered the Red Sea. She is a British Vospers Mark V design and has been in commission since 1971. While small for a warship, her surveillance and communications capabilities will allow the Iranians to continue their operations despite the potential damage to the Behshad’s capabilities.

Avro Lancaster Color Photographs Part I

A selection of color photographs which show details of the Avro Lancaster useful for modelers. 

A Lancaster crew from No. 50 Squadron by the nose of their aircraft at Swinderby. The Lancaster normally carried a crew of seven: Pilot, Navigator, Wireless Operator, Bomb Aimer, Flight Engineer, Mid-Upper Gunner and Rear Gunner. Note the open sliding cockpit side windows and bomb bay doors. This was a common practice when aircraft were parked to reduce internal heat and the build up of gasoline fumes.

Armorers load a 4,000 pound high capacity bomb, giving another view of the nose. Note the overall condition of the bomb and the three fuses in the nose. A potential problem with any bomb or projectile is the fuse can be crushed or sheered off at impact before it can detonate the bomb, thus the fitting of redundant fuses.

A ground crewman posed next to a main wheel, showing its size and details of the struts. These are from a series taken of Lancaster BI R5540 taken at Waddington, Lincolnshire in September 1942.

A ground crewman touching up the code letters KM-O, showing details of the markings and dorsal turret. She was assigned to No. 44 Squadron.

A similar perspective. R5540 was lost in January 1943.

Another photograph from the same series.

A series of photographs taken of a No. 207 Squadron Lancaster at Bottesford in June, 1942, showing details of the Merlin engines.

The cowling panel can be seen on the wing. Note the absence of any tools and that only the nearest man is wearing coveralls, likely these are posed pictures. (IWM)

Detail of the tail gunner’s position of R5540. Interesting details of the gunner’s armor plate.

Curtiss XP-46 Color Photographs

The XP-46 was an attempt by Curtiss’ chief engineer Donovan Berlin to improve the basic P-40 design based upon European design concepts. The XP-46 was to have a more powerful engine, heavier armament, and be slightly smaller than the Warhawk. The USAAC ordered two prototypes on 29SEP39 which were given the serial numbers 40-3053 and 40-3054.

Armament was to be two .50 caliber guns mounted in the lower nose and four .30 caliber guns in each wing, inspired by British designs. To speed the test program both prototypes were delivered without armament or radios, although the USSAC added requirements for self-sealing fuel tanks and 65 pounds of pilot armor. 40-3054 was the first to fly on 15FEB41.

Power was provided by an Allison V-1710-39 twelve-cylinder inline engine which developed 1150 hp. The airframe was smaller and lighter than the Warhawk, due to the higher wing loading Curtiss designed wing slats similar to those of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The design missed its performance goals, and handling was more sluggish than the Warhawk. Note the starboard inner wheel well door has failed to retract.

Given the mediocre performance of the XP-46 prototypes the USAAC decided to direct Curtiss to emphasize improving performance of the Warhawk already in production. The P-40D was designed around the Allison V-1710-39 to take advantage of the higher horsepower.

Curtiss sold testing data from the P-40 and XP-46 designs to North American, who used the information to help design their NA-73X prototype which eventually evolved into the P-51 Mustang. North American had already begun design of the NA-73X at the time, so there is debate as to how much influence the Curtiss data actually had.

In the end there was not anything revolutionary in the design of the XP-46, and incremental improvements to the P-40 design did yield increased performance while not requiring tooling up for production of a new design. Opinions vary as to the aesthetics of the design, but it does not look out of place compared to its contemporaries.