Photo taken from Canadian Military C130 during Operation Boxtop on frozen lake north of Thule AB, Greenland. This aircraft was later made airworthy by a group of aircraft enthusiasts, but as it was taxiing on the frozen lake for its recovery flight out, the APU broke loose in the tail and caught fire, which quickly engulfed the whole fuselage and destroyed this priceless aircraft.
A B-29…..
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By: Arabella-Cox - 25th March 2002 at 13:01
RE: Pic Of The Day-25/03/02!!
The Treasure of the Humboldt Glacier.
Most heartbreaking thing was the death of engineer Rick Kriege. 🙁
The whole thing was extremely ambitious in my opinion, and in a way I’m glad it ended the way it did. Let me explain that statement – the fire in the tail was started by a loose fuel can being bumped by the aircraft taxiing out, spilling fuel over the hot APU. Failing to secure a loose fuel can, and even having the thing next to a hot piece of machinery smacks of extremely bad airmanship in my opinion. Thankfully the aircraft hadn’t got airborne – imagine the fire starting on climbout…
By: neilly - 25th March 2002 at 08:40
RE: Pic Of The Day-25/03/02!!
I remember seeing on TV, a few years ago, a documentary on this aeroplane. I think it was called something like ‘B-29 on Ice’. Very interesting & heartbreaking programme. I have seen the video advertised, now & then, well worth getting if you’ve not seen the programme, before.
Neilly
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March 25, 2002 at 6:44 am