[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?

[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.