The FReeper Foxhole Profiles General of the Air Force Henry "Hap" Arnold - Jan. 26th, 2004

www.centennialofflight.gov ^ | Pamela Feltus

[Iris7]

Of course, after the Pratt R-2800, another engine would be needed to keep the big Pratt company. I have another soft spot for the Pratt R-4360 used in the B-36. Now that was a lunker, four rows of seven cylinders and 4,000 horse power. Fifty-six mechanical valve tappets to set. Fifty-six spark plugs. Beautiful. Wonder if I could find one?

My wife just loves this sort of talk!!! hehehe! Just kidding, Honey!

[SAMWolf]

It'll be interesting to see what happens. maybe just a major re-shuffling of responsibilities

[SAMWolf]

I have been discussing this hobby with my wife, who has been encouraging me to find a suitable pastime, so that I will be less in her hair, and for some reason she is not enthusiastic.

Be just the thing for those sleepless nights. One thing is for sure, the earthquake start and awesome roar of a Pratt R-2800 (my personal favorite!), would get my neighbors off to a fine early start to their days!

Let me know if she relents, I love the sound of the prop jobs. :-)

[SAMWolf]

The B-36 stayed on-line for 10 years. It rapidly faded from the scene when the B-47 and B-52 were ready. In the end, no one really knows if the B-36 would have been able to do its mission. Critics point to hundreds of problems with the B-36, and say it would have been toast when put up against a jet fighter. Supporters counter that B-36 flew higher than any contemporary jet fighter, and it would have been able to drop bombs on target before the fighters were able to climb to altitude. And SAC never did base the B-36 in the Artic region, which is where it would have needed to be to fly round-trip to central Russia. Whether or not it was the billion dollar boon-doggle, it was still a remarkable giant.

Of the 385 aircraft produced from the B-36 chassis, only 6 survive.

Serial Number	Aircraft Type	City	State	Location	Notes
42-13571	YB-36	Newbury	Ohio	Walter Soplata Collection	Was on display at USAF Musuem. Cut up for scrap when the museum moved in 1972. Purchased by Walter Soplata, and is laying in pieces at his farm, some parts are being used as storage sheds.
43-52436	XC-99	San Antonio	Texas	Kelly USA	Was on display outside of Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas, in the hands of a private individual. After being neglected for many years, the plane was taken over by the USAF Museum. The XC-99 was moved to the former Kelly AFB, now Kelly USA since Kelly was shut down as an active Air Force base. The XC-99 is awaiting eventual restoration.
51-13730	B-36H	Atwater	California	Castle Air Museum	Displayed outside. Formerly on display at Chanute AFB in central Illinois.
52-2217A	B-36J	Ashland	Nebraska	Strategic Air Command Museum	Displayed indoors. Formerly on display at the old SAC Museum at Offutt AFB, just south of Omaha, NE.
52-2220	B-36J	Dayton	Ohio	US Air Force Museum	Displayed indoors. Just moved out of the WWII hangar and into the new display building. The Peacemaker is back on display as of July, 2003.
52-22827	B-36J	Fort Worth	Texas	Southwest Aerospace Museum	Formerly on display at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth. Underwent a ground-up restoration in the 1990's. Still disassembled and waiting to be put on display at a proposed museum at the Alliance airport.

Maybe you could talk one of these guys out of an engine ;-)

[carton253]

I wanted to tell you all about a new book that I have discovered.

Damage Them While You Can by George Walsh. It's a history of the Army of Northern Virgina.

It's pretty good... but a surface book. Walsh accepts the "spin" of Freeman, i.e, Jackson during the Pennisula or Stuart at Gettysburg. That's a strike in my book...

But, it is interesting as we learn more about Pender, Hampton, Gordan, etc.

But I have a question. Besides one throw away line in one book about a Florida regiment, I have yet to read about Florida regiments in the ANV. Nor have I read about Arkansas troops either. Did Florida and Arkansas sit out the war, or did their troops go to Tenessee?

What have you heard?

[SAMWolf]

I think Florida raised about 15,000 troops. I've heard of the Florida Brigade at Gettysburg. They fought at the Peach Orchard on the 2nd as part of Andersons's Division.

Not famliar with any Arkansas units in the ANV.

[SAMWolf]

History has not been kind to the legacy of Florida’s Confederate soldiers. Too often they appear as little more than a footnote in accounts of the American Civil War. Nevertheless, Florida troops were present at Gettysburg and they fought bravely along side their comrades from Alabama and Georgia on July 2 and 3, 1863.

Florida was represented at Gettysburg by a brigade of three infantry regiments in Major General R.H. Anderson’s Division of A. P. Hill’s III Army Corps. By the summer of 1863, these soldiers had become seasoned veterans typical of the Army of Northern Virginia. The 2nd Florida Infantry had experienced heavy combat in several battles during the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. The regiment fought at Yorktown, followed by a delaying action at Williamsburg where the regiment's first colonel was killed. At a swampy Virginia crossroads called Seven Pines, the 2nd, then attached to Brigadier General Samuel Garland’s brigade, fought a brutal contest through mud, heavy vegetation and waist deep water. There the 2nd Florida gained everlasting glory when it charged and captured a battery of Federal artillery while sustaining over 50% casualties. After the Seven Days’ battles the battered 2nd was joined by the 5th and 8th Florida Infantry regiments. The Floridians fought at Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, and time and again they proved themselves to be tough soldiers full of courage and fight. Following the battle of Sharpsburg, Maryland in September 1862, the three regiments were consolidated into a single Florida brigade under Brigadier General Edward Aylesworth Perry of Pensacola.

Jim Studnicki

[SAMWolf]

More than 30 infantry regiments, a dozen cavalry regiments, and a host of assorted battalions, companies, and batteries were raised in Arkansas for Confederate service during the War Between the States. Most of these units, regretfully, have never had a spokesman or a historian. Researching the history of Arkansas's Confederate forces is made doubly hard by the fact that shortages of supplies, including paper, after the summer of 1862 kept many regiments and companies from keeping detailed records. And most regrettably, for the Arkansans who served in the Confederate Army of Tennessee and Army of Northern Virginia, the intensity of combat and harsh life in the field left few survivors to tell their tales.

Only one Arkansas regiment, the 3rd Arkansas Infantry, served with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the eastern theater of the War. Mustering at Lynchburg, VA in late July, 1861, the 3rd Arkansas saw its first engagement in the Seven Days Campaign, and served in all the campaigns of Lee's army until the surrender at Appomattox in April, 1865. Fagan's 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment served briefly with the Confederate Army of the Potomac (as the Army of Northern Virginia was known before July, 1862) near Fredericksburg and at the Battle of 1st Manassas, but was transferred to Albert Sydney Johnston's army near Corinth, Mississippi in February, 1862. Bronaugh's 2nd Arkansas Infantry Battalion also served in Virginia, but was consolidated with the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment following the Seven Days' Campaign.

[carton253]

Yeah...let's hear it for Arkansas...

As I've read about the ANV, I've heard about Virginians, North and South Carolinians, Georgia was there, as was Mississippi, who could fight. The Tigers from Louisiana were a hard fighting lot as was the Alabamians. And don't get me started on Texas.

But, hardly anything mentioned about Arkansas. Thanks to you... they have been put on the roll of honor where they belong.

Now, how about those Floridians?

[carton253]

Whoa missed this post in my last post to you... That's what I get for not reading in order.

The Floridians were a tough bunch if they were at the Peach Orchard. In Anderson's Division under Longstreet. That's probably how I missed them since I've concentrated more on the 2nd Corps under Jackson.

[Professional Engineer]

One thing is for sure, the earthquake start and awesome roar of a Pratt R-2800 (my personal favorite!), would get my neighbors off to a fine early start to their days!

I had the pleasure to be standing 150ft behind an F4U as the engine was fired a few years ago. Both the plane and I were between two metal hangers. Incredibly loud. I'm sure I was grinning at least from ear to ear.

[Professional Engineer]

52-22827 B-36J Fort Worth Texas Southwest Aerospace Museum Formerly on display at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth. Underwent a ground-up restoration in the 1990's. Still disassembled and waiting to be put on display at a proposed museum at the Alliance airport.

WHOA! I didn't know about this one. Practically in my front yard.

[SAMWolf]

When they put it together you can get some pics of it for us.

[Professional Engineer]

I have another soft spot for the Pratt R-4360 used in the B-36. Now that was a lunker, four rows of seven cylinders and 4,000 horse power. Fifty-six mechanical valve tappets to set. Fifty-six spark plugs. Beautiful. Wonder if I could find one?

In my AF days, I read the entire aviation section of the base library. One of the books on aviation adventures told the story of a B36 flying out of a base in Colorado. It was one of the later models with the 4 turbojet engines, in addition to the 6 turboprop pushers.

The plane had just taken off, and was climbing out. They had an engine flameout. then another, and another, until finally ALL TEN had flamed out. The pilots were able to get it turned around and brought it in for a successful deadstick landing back at the base. The post flight investigation showed the load of JP4 in the fueltanks was contaminated with water.

[Professional Engineer]

I'd be my pleasure Sam.

[SAMWolf]

They had an engine flameout. then another, and another, until finally ALL TEN had flamed out.

That crew had to be thinking they were the unluckiest people in the world right then.

"Six Turnin and Four Burnin"

[Darksheare]

I'm in,
Finally.

[snippy_about_it]

There you are! Good to see you Darksheare.

[colorado tanker]

I don't know much about Arkansas Civil War units, either, Sam. But I betcha one thing - Bill Clinton's ancestors found a way to get out of serving in them.

[SAMWolf]