Diving the B-29Superfortress

Joel SilversteinScuba Training and Technology Inc.

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B-29 SuperfortressB-29s were built during WWII

Designed for trans-Atlantic flight to bring bombs to Europe should England surrender to Germany

Fabricated from aluminum alloys and fabric it was the largest plane built for high-altitude flight

Modular design for easy fast fabrication

Most expensive weapon built for WWII

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B-29 Superfortress

Cost over $3 Billion

18 cylinder twin row 2,200 HP engines

3,250 mile range carrying 10,000 lbs of bombs

Fully loaded weighed 140,000 pounds

Top Speed of 358 miles per hour

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Killing Machine – WW IIAugust 1944 – August 1945 190 missions flown over Japan 34,000 individual flights 160,000 tons of bombs

dropped 371 B-29s lost August 6, 1945 “Enola Gay”

drops 9,000 lbs atomic bomb on Hiroshima

August 9, 1945 “Bock’s Car” drops 10,000 lb atomic bomb on Nagasaki

Japan Surrenders

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Cold WarFollowing WW II a new geopolitical drama begins creating 50 years of stalemate between the USA and the USSR ensuring “mutually assured destruction”

While bigger and better weapons were developed the B-29 remains a research and recon tool for upper atmospheric research.

B-29s were fit with “sun trackers” for targeting bombs and missiles. Used to launch high altitude bombs

Determine payload separation and missile accuracy.

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Ooops ... July 21, 1948 Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab’s

modified a B-29 and fitted it with a “Sun-Tracker”

Test Mission called for ascent to 35,000 feet and then descent as “low as possible” recording the data from the sun-tracker

Mission starts in China Lake, California and goes over Lake Mead, NV

At an airspeed of 230 knots the pilot lost depth perception and crashed the B-29 into Lake Mead

5 man crew survived and were rescued by the National Park Service

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Korean War

1950 the B-29s were the backbone of the Strategic Air Command June 1950 war erupts in Korea B-29s flew 21,000 combat missionsDropped 167,000 tons of bombsBy mid 1950s B-29s were replaced with B-47 jet bombersB-29s become “reconnaissance” and “photo” planes

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B-29s were in surplus after WWII and many were using them for research.

There is no documented history of trying to raise or even find the B-29 in Mead until 1986 when the surviving Co-Pilot mounted a submersible robotic search for the plane.

NPS claimed it was gov’t property.

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1994 NPS gets sued for salvage rights. NPS wins but is now forced to go find it.

1997 NPS does not find it.

2000 private individual finds B29 illegally. NPS puts it on National Registry and imposes restrictions on site.

Depth of water is 250 feet at the time.

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Archeological Surveys2002 ROV Survey NPS with conducts ROV survey of the site. Gather 8 hours of video and document current state.

2003 Diving Operations 21 days on site using technical diving protocols. Film, Map, Measure, and Sketch “Deep Sea Detectives” shoot show on “Sun Tracker”

2005 Diving Operations 7 days install 4 mooring blocks shoot HD video documentation

2006 Diving Operations Final Site inspection before initiating Permits to Dive

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LAKE MEAD – OVERTON

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2007 CUA After years of the “local” community wanting access to the B-29 NPS puts out highly restrictive application for CUA to conduct “Guided Technical Dives” on B-29CUA is for 6 months if awarded 4 dives per week must be guided requires technical certification documentation required orientations required big NPS fees

Application included 80 pages of material.CUA was granted in June to start July 15th two operations awarded

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Diving the B-29Protected Archeological SiteNorth East area of Lake Mead35 miles from marinaCurrent depth 145 feet 1100 foot elevationAir or light mixRequires decompression Water temps 50sVisibility 10-40 foot depending on time of year “Night” dive conditionsMoon dust bottomConservation of the Cultural Resource is Primary Issue

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Site Plan

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Engines

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Diving the Site

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2007/2008

Evaluation of site after 100 divesMinor damage occurred from inexperience divers NPS closes siteNo future opening is planned. The B-29 is a new site that will be studied for deterioration of shipwrecks in fresh water.As water level decreases this site will become more dangerous.

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2014 - 2015

NPS prepares for 150th AnniversarySeeks to put parks in the forefront of the American Public.Sees B-29 as a Media Attraction Opens up Request for new CUASTT/TDL Applies - December 2014STT / TDL Granted Permit April 2015

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Back on the B-29

Dive Depth now average 105 feet.Quagga mussels have covered most of the plane. More ambient light allows for more exploration.Decompression is minimal.Environmental Conditions Challenging Air temp 100f, water 80f, 72f, 58f

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Lake Mead is in Drought

1074 elevation1225 is full poolDown 150 feetAt 1050 Federal DroughtHas dropped 10 feet since January

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Media Darling of the NPS

Fox 10 PhoenixNBC Las VegasNPR RadioNew York TimesLA TimesNBC PhoenixNBC NationalCBS In the Morning

Focus on the Dive and the Drought

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2015-2016 Permit

100 dives per yearMust be guidedRelaxed Experience Level AOW & Nitrox = no stop dive Technical needed for long dives

NPS is our new best friend! Promotion of the Park is KeyBooked out till October !

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www.divetheb29.com

http://www.divetheb29.com/

Diving the B-29�SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressSlide Number 4Killing Machine – WW IISlide Number 6Cold WarOoops ... Korean WarSlide Number 10Slide Number 11Archeological SurveysSlide Number 13Slide Number 142007 CUA Diving the B-29Site PlanSlide Number 18EnginesSlide Number 20Slide Number 21Slide Number 22Slide Number 23Slide Number 24Slide Number 25Slide Number 26Slide Number 27Slide Number 28Slide Number 29Slide Number 30Slide Number 31Slide Number 32Slide Number 33Slide Number 34Slide Number 35Slide Number 36Slide Number 37Diving the Site Slide Number 392007/2008Slide Number 412014 - 2015Back on the B-29Lake Mead is in DroughtMedia Darling of the NPSSlide Number 462015-2016 Permit The Latest Video! Slide Number 49