B-36 pilot Dave Flaming started his Air Force career as the copilot in an RB-29 Superfortress over Korea. Here are his recollections of that Korean War duty: ua-cam.com/video/ELRcib8c6uQ/v-deo.html
Hi, I am currently in the search for Dave Flaming on behalf of my father and a friend who sincerely wishes to get in touch with him and are unaware if he has passed away or not. He was close friends with my grandfather who was in the airforce, and we currently have no way of getting in touch with him. If you have any information whatsoever, please reply so we can get something worked out. Thank you so much!
My father was involved with the B-36 program from '47 thru '53, mostly as a co-pilot. He had convinced me, by age 10, that the Peacemaker was "just about the best aircraft ever made". Even during my 12 year stint as a KC-135 (three variants) pilot, I remained (at least partially) convinced that the 36 was a superior aircraft to just about any other in our arsenal. In November of '90, about six months prior to his passing, I took him to the Air Force Museum at Wright - Patterson (he was very frail by this time). Beginning with the front gear, and heading down the port side, he began pointing out each feature of the aircraft, and within about five minutes, a crowd formed, and followed him as he explained everything about the aircraft. That tour lasted about 30 minutes. Just prior to his talk about the vertical and horizontal stabilization of the aircraft, an E6 pulled me aside to ask if we could return the next morning before the museum opened, to allow him to see the inside of the aircraft. It took three of us to raise him into the cockpit, however, for that brief fifteen minutes, he had no aches, pains, or cares. I saw a 20-something version of him, with a smile from ear-to-ear. I hear that same tone, and see that same 'spark' in David Flaming's presentation in this video. Thanks for reminding me of day's gone bye...
Videos like this should make any American proud of our country and the men who sacrificed their young lives to make us great. Coming from a 61 year old man.
I remember the B-36's flying over southern Manitoba in the 1950's during the cold war. Even at their high altitude, the rear prop 6 engines were very visible. A few years ago we were going to Phoenix, so I made a point of checking the PIMA Air Museum to see if there was one there. Then I made sure we went to the museum and also checked the SR-71 and one of my favorite passenger planes, the Super Constellation. It was a great visit.
I've gone to the Pima Air Museum more than 2 dozen times over 30 years, seen a lot of changes, but never disappoints. If you're down this way again make a trip to the Titan Missile Museum, 40 minutes south of Tucson, AZ. You get to go 6 stories down to the underground command center and see the missile from the bottom up.
In 1943, when I was 8 years old, I got a chance to tour the plant in Fort Worth, where the B-36 was being built. I remember the assembly line was a mile long, and to get the aircraft in that building, they had to put the fuselage at an angle so that they could get the wings on without hitting the sides of the building, and they had to jack the nose up high in order to attach the vertical stabilizer (the tail) so that it wouldn't stick out through the roof of the the building. The first main landing gear wheels were gigantic in diameter, but were replaced by 4 smaller wheels for the production run. To hear a B-36 come over hour house was unmistakeable - their sound was unique.
Those were probably B-29s. (Boeing didn't make all the B-29s, the work was farmed out to several manufacturers) BTW, I was on that assembly line in 1984, they were making F-16s. Man you just keep walking to the end and never seem to get there.
My dad was a photographer and electronics specialist on the B-36 out of Ellsworth in the early 50's. It was by far his favorite plane. My dad was discharged in 1953.
Dave Flaming must have known my father (Robert Quint) who also piloted the RB-36 at Rapid City from 1952 to 1955, following 3 years flying it at Travis. Great Interview!
Know an old boy (father of a friend of mine) who started his USAF career in 1950 as an enlisted man, went to OCS and earned his commission and then wings in 1954. His first aircraft was the B-36 which he flew for 3 years. He was then moved to the B-52 in 1958 and was with the first group that came to Ellsworth that year. He flew the B-52D from 1958 to 1980. It's exciting to listen to his flying tales...from Cold War service to Vietnam.
We lived in Fort Worth in 1950-51, and our house was near TCU, in the base leg for Carswell AFB. The B-36s would fly over our domicile at a very low altitude and speed and rattle our back porch windows and doors almost daily. It was comforting to know that they were up there for us, what a grand old aircraft! One of my early fond memories that later led me to a career in the B-52.
I see this kind of footage of that particular generation and I tend to wonder if we will ever see their like again. Moulded in adversity, quiet unassuming folk with enormous depths of character. Thank God we captured these video histories. Will it take another Cold War to craft more in their image?
That will never happen. The only one that could possibly be returned to flight is the one at the USAF Museum in Dayton. The one now in Pima had the engines stripped out in the late '70's in Ft. Worth. (I was there.) In service, with the entire logistics and support organization of the USAF behind it, the B-36 consumed 90 hours of maintenance for every hour of flight time. That's 90 maintenance-crew hours, not man-hours. Spark plugs? Bring a gross. Oil? 3,600 gallons. Look at what goes into keeping Doc or Fifi in the air, and up that by an order of magnitude. Sigh...
Corrie, never say never. While not likely to ever happen, the fact that a P-38 was made airworthy after being under ice for so long proves that if enough money and time is thrown at something, it can be done. And right now a Pennsy T1 is being built from scratch. And the Brits did it with a loco called Tornado.
The problem with making a B-36 flyable is that it is a nuclear capable rated aircraft and if flyable, it would have to be counted as such according to various treaties.
MY UNCLE WAS STATION AT ELLSWORTH IN HE MID 50'S, I REMEMBER DRIVING FROM ILLINOIS IN THE SUMMER , BEFORE INTERSTATES....ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES OF MY YOUNG LIFE
What a pleasure to see the 36 again. I was stationed at Rapid City from Feb 54 to Oct 54 and then transferred to Ramey in Puerto Rico until Nov 57. The missions were 24+ hours and the short notice missions (being ready to go anywhere at any time) were less than fun, especially when we had five gunners and four countermeasure operators crammed in the aft compartment. The 36 was a good plane and I would do it again.
I was stationed at Ellsworth as an enlisted airman from July 15,, 1952 until August 2, 1955. I had been trained at Lawry Air Force Base in Denver. . for 18 months on the Armament and Electronics on the RB-36. I was in the 28th Armament and Electronic Maintenance Squadron at Elsworth. We had so many airmen in my squadron that I was sent back to Denver for gunnery training. At Ellsworth we had 3 RB-36 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadrons, , the 77th,, the 717th and the 718th. My Squadron was sent TDY to Andersen AFB from March 1955 through June 1955. The Chinese were shooting up Matsu and Qumoy islands that belonged to Taiwan. Our r econ missions were to make sure there was no troop build up got an invasion. There wasn't. I was the Nose gunner on the RB-36. It was quite different from the other turrets, The nose cannons and the tail cannons were stowed outside the aircraft, the upper forward and aft along with the lower aft turrets were hidden within the aircraft under the aircraft cowling. Turrets were opened from inside by the gunners. The sound made by those six piston driven engines and the 4 jets was the most beautiful ever made by an aircraft. There are so many other things I could tell but it would take a book.
Now imagine the problem trying to yank the average millenial out of his smartphone long enough to learn how to fly one of these, or do the maintenance, etc.
I remember hearing and seeing a group of B-36's at high altitude looking like tiny silver crosses glinting in the sun when I was a kid in Milwaukee, WI.
I salute you sir and all the historical survivors of warfare that being born in 1960 I was fortunate enough to hear their testimonials first hand through the years. My father and all his brothers served in war and one of my uncle's was a career member of the U.S. AIR FORCE from 42-72 and flew as a Gunner on the B-29, B-36 and lastly the B-52 from Carswell AFB Fort Worth Texas 7th BBG. "Mors Ab Alto".
Great memories of the greatest prop driven /jet heavy bomber ! When i was around 4 years old we lived about halfway between cincinnati and dayton , i was in the yard playing on a warm late spring sunny afternoon when i heard this rumbling noise coming towards me heading north , i looked up and saw 3 36's flying to dayton i think , and not very high i remember the props being on the backside of the wings , the huge shining in the sun light orange tails and the deafening roar of the 6 turning ! while not my first memory of an aircraft (boxcar ) these birds are certainly my fondest !!! sure would be great to see one fly again ! but i'm sure it would cost millions to make a bird airworthy these days !!! thanks for the great interview with someone who's been there to live it !!!!!
Thanks for posting this... brave and skilled group of fellows, those guys. A B-36 crashed in the forest north of here back in the day, all hands were lost.
I grew up in South Dakota east of Rapid City. When working in the field I remember seeing these humongous planes fly over. My Dad had no idea even though he flew bombers WWII out of Wisconsin. But to me these planes were magical.
My Father was a Hydraulics Specialist he was a crew chief on a B-36 in Ft. Worth at Carswell AFB where I was born, then Biggs AFB in El Paso, where my brother was born and then in 1957 was transferred to Ellsworth AFB to work on the B-52's. He was in the 28th Field Maintenance Sq. He served from Dec. of 1942 to Jan. 1963 - He traveled the entire world in the Army Air Corps and Air Force, my dad was TDY to Guam from Biggs, I remember he was gone a lot in 1953 to 1954 TDY always brought back coconuts, White Horse Whiskey and such... Silk embroidered jackets - I don't know what happened to mine... had an 8th Air Force insignia on it. wow Thanks for the memories!!
airailimages glad I could. I am doing a search for the '53 - '54 Biggs AFB yearbook - there is a fellow that was a missile specialist from Ft. Bliss that worked on the base whose image is in that book. I am hoping to find that persons image and full name - I only remember he was a tech sgt(army) and his name was 'Casey' - if he is still alive I need to find him. There are so many things that come back to a person if the right memories are triggered - just amazing. Anyway thanks for your comment.
As a born 1946 kid in 1956-1958 I went full summers to Camp Red Cloud (girls' camp was Red Wing) in Plattsburg NY on Long Point (now Point Au Roche State Park). Plattsburg Air Force Base maybe 6 miles away. Constant sightings of B-47s , B-36s, and B-52s. Grew up in Stratford CT near the Sikorsky plant. Every darn helicopter made flew low up and down the Housatonic River close by. A regular cold war air show every day. Also saw quite a few blimps! Amazing times...
I lived in Houston from 1955 to 1966. I probably heard a B-36 once in a while without knowing what it was. I didn't discover the plane until shortly after they had been retired. In about 1962 I visited the one that was on display at Amon Carter airport in Ft. Worth. It's my favorite airplane. Thanks for this interview, it was very interesting.
I got to Travis in Nov. 1962. Too late for the B-36, but worked for some of the crew chiefs that worked on them, and never heard anything but praise for the mighty bird. The B-52 that replaced it was a maintenance nightmare back then due to the amount of tube operated gear, but it should be a far better now because of modern electronics. Lots of respect for the people who maintain and fly the aircraft.
I also came to Travis in Dec 1962 to work on C-135s and later c-130s. I was in 1501st Maintenance Squadron, The 1501st was later changed to the 60th FMS, the largest squadron in the AF at the time. We used a B-36 hanger to overhaul engines. What squadron were you in? Long time ago.
Loved this, most of the real time information I had on this beast is from Gen Jimmy Stewart and his Movie Strategic Air Command.. I have always had a love of theses big guys since I was a kid. But they were gone before I could get much information like this until now. Thank you Mr Fleming for your service and much needed insights on this great plane.
Wow... Fascinating to hear from a guy who actually flew one... The one at Chanute AFB, Illinois was an RB-36 when I was in tech school in the 1980s. When Chaute closed, it was dismantled and moved out to California, where I live, except it's up in Northern California. While at Chanute I saw two old couples pull up to that display in their car, get out and look at it. One of the old guys was kind of starry eyed, like he had flown on one. I kick myself for never getting for any names. You could tell that they made a special trip to see this '36. Perhaps one of the men flew on it. I'll never know, unless there is a visitor's log archived.
It's cool when a bomber pilot can tell several interesting stories and none of them have to do with combat. "Peace through Strength", that's what I always say.
I lived as a kid in far northern Vermont from the early to the late 'fifties. We must have been on the flight path between Presque Isle Maine and bases farther west, because B-36's flew over a lot, and at high altitude. My strongest memory is that the sound of those six prop engines was so low, that I could feel it in my chest as much as hear it.
Bruce Melton This interview with Dave Fleming reminded me of when I worked at RCA Computers (YES - RCA attempted to compete w/IBM). I sat behind a former B-36 pilot, John Clauke (sp?). He always equated flying the plane was like driving a great big truck. As you stated, the long endurance flights were rough - Texas to Alaska roundtrip. had stated that he also served on General Curtis LeMay's (?) staff. As a kid, I remember seeing occasionally flying over Gainesville, FL on the way to Tampa, I assume. It was my favorite airplane at the time because of its enormous size. I have seen the one at Wright-Patterson Museum, which was really impressive.
Thanks for the great interview! I am fascinated by the B 36 so this was like crack to me! And consider this: David and many others like him helped win the cold war! On my plate is a Monogram 1/72 scale model of the B 36. The darned thing is HUGE for a plastic scale model!! 39 inch wingspan! I even have a 1/72 scale resin Mk 17 thermonuclear device to put in the bomb bay! The real device was 25 feet long and 5 feet wide! I read somewhere the combat load out (at the time) was one Mk 17 and one Mk 6 atomic weapon. I could get the 1/72 scale Mk 6, but this would require me to open up the second bomb bay on the model with a razor saw. I'm not to keen to do that.
I am still fascinated with the B36. Saddest day of my B36 life was when, as a young boy, I bought a huge model of this beast and my father made me return the model because “It was too difficult for me.”
I sympathize with you. In my case, as a kid I longed for the old Revell model of the P-39 Airacobra; never got it; I still lust after that quirky airplane. Glad you found our video interview with Dave Flaming about the B-36.
I worked with a gunner named Louie Lowe on the B-36 while I was @ P&W East Hartford Connecticut in 1966 and he tells me stories of the B-36 loosing ALL 6 of the 4360's in a couple flights due to a combination of engine malfunction and running out of oil and the ONLY thing that saved the plane was the four J-47's that powered the aircraft to the nearest runways..
My father was a B-36 flight engineer in the USAF 1951-1955. When he got out, Pratt and Whitney East Hartford hired him and worked there from 1955 to 1990, mostly on 3rd shift. He worked in experimental department. He passed away in 2010. When he graduated from high school he was awarded a full scholarship for engineering at the University of Maine. It was taken away because of the Korean War. He was never bitter about it because he joined the USAF. I have many pictures of his USAF career. He kept a scrapbook.
I was stationed at FT Bliss which is where BIGGS AAF is located. There are still hangers and ramps for the B-36 still today. Very interesting place to look around. I was military so I could get into places civilians couldn't
Tell the truth , they sent you to check on the rear most plugs, or at least wish they could. Bet all the mechanics wished they had a little helper. imagine 300 + spark plugs
The B-36 reminded me of an aircraft caught between to periods of time in aviation history, post-Korea and pre-Vietnam. A mixture of propeller power and jets, but with six backward engines. It was certainly unique in many ways. I really liked the interview with the former pilot, good old guy who I would love to listen to more of his experiences and insight into this aircraft. I just watched the restoration video of the last B-36 manufactured, it left off when it was being transported to it's final resting place in Tucson. Kind of a sad story that I will go back to the comments section to find out more about the status of the aircraft now. I say sadly that it was moved after those dedicated volunteers put in so much unbelievable time and effort into the restoration only to see it ripped out from under them and sent elsewhere. It sounded like, but I could be wrong, the plane didn't get the financial support from the region to finish the project and have a proper place to store it. Now I want to know if it was restored to just be a museum piece, sitting out in the blazing sun rotting away, or was the intent to make it flyable in the original plan? Thank you for putting this video together, well done!
Unfortunately the Pima B36 will never fly again. The restoration was to only restore the outer skin and other things. The instruments are mostly silk screen replica. There is a lot of original equipment on her and replica equipment. That they were all made of magnesium is the main obstacle of getting her to ever fly. The USAF and FAA will not allow one to ever be airborne. They have ran the engines on the Pima B36. But there is only one complete set of gauges. Also believe they used a portable fuel and oil tank. I'm with you in I would love to see her fly. But memories and movies is all we have. At least we still have four of them.
It looks like he's in the Western Wshington area. Fir trees and Milgard windows. Their were B-36's in Ft Bliss El Paso Texas. My dad was flew on the B-36 and I was born there.
He went to work for Boeing, interesting that I knew a man, father of a classmate in the 4th grade, who went from Northrop on the flying wing bomber designs who also went to Boeing as an engineer in Wichita, probably about 1950. The man was actually a flight engineer on some of the first of the X/YB-35s that took to the air. Used to see the B-36s flying over the plains of Kansas about then, you could hear the mournful drone of the propellers from many miles before they came into view.
It's great when people add their remembrances of what the B-36 sounded like. I heard that as a kid in Arlington, Texas, not too far from Carswell AFB. I'll never forget it. Sometimes dishes in the kitchen cabinet would rattle and buzz a bit; the B-36s were quite low overhead. Thanks for watching and commenting.
My Dad was stationed at South Dakota Air Force Base in 1952 till 1954 and was a flight crew on a B-36 known as the Mighty Mites due to their stature.He was an rear turret operator and an electrician and later he transffered to another crew due to navigator or pilot bringing alcohol on board during flights which was a big Problem !!! his earlier crew flew the ill fated crash with General Ellsworth which all crew perished.. Later my dad went to work on Atlas Missle systems in 1957 and as a Civilian Retired from Rocketdyne in 1987!!!
Great uncle flew one "sac" in a.f. He also flew B17, B29 during ww2, and ended up at March AFB flying kc 135 air tanker where he retired out of after 30 yr. career in U.S.A.F.
You are exactly right. He's no longer with us, but I knew him for many years and he is just the way he comes across in the video. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Excellent video! Too young to remember these, but my dad flew a couple of times in the XC99 outta KAFB. I understand it was moved to Wright Pat for restoration, but has been put in hold?? Hope to make it up there soon. Thanks for posting this great video.
In early 1950's the Base was known as South Dakota Air Force Base with B-36,s serving the Srategic Air Command Force. Later changed base name to Ellsworth Air Force Base Due to the General's Death on a B-36 flight.
An aviation joke I once heard may have been inspired by the B-36. A pilot 👨✈️ was supposed to have said he wanted to fly an airplane that when he looked to the left he saw nothing but engines and to the right nothing but copilots. When the Aircraft Commander called, “Feather number 6,” the copilot would reply, “Which wing sir?”
I can't imagine purposely retiring from flying one of these positively awesome and majestic aircraft to work on the ground. On a lighter note, the crew of 'two turning, two burning, two choking, two smoking, and two unaccounted for' would be kind of relieved that a guy with the last name of 'Flaming' was no longer flying with them!
If I recall, he told me a different time that B-36s with augmented crews had fewer hands-on flying opportunities than some aircraft; I'm guessing there was more sitting and less piloting than he was used to, and a career in aerospace beckoned. Definitely a neat guy.
@@airailimages My elder sister was born while Dad was in SAC, he'd spend half the night working a second job while Mom worked as well to make ends meet. While I expect officers did get paid better than the enlisted personnel, I'd still believe someone with an engineering degree would be looking at a sizable increase in salary if they put it to use in the private sector. That's a pretty powerful incentive for someone with a wife and family to provide for. I know Dad enjoyed his time in the service, but didn't look back once it was over.
My father was a flight engineer on the RB36 at Travis AFB, and rotated to Guam and Elstworth, they may have known each other. Myself father passed on back in the late 80's.
He seems a wonderful guy, a pilot who was good at his job, and didn't get killed. But I would not use the term hero, sorry HERO. That is for those who make a great sacrifice in the face of danger.
B-36 pilot Dave Flaming started his Air Force career as the copilot in an RB-29 Superfortress over Korea. Here are his recollections of that Korean War duty: ua-cam.com/video/ELRcib8c6uQ/v-deo.html
Hi,
I am currently in the search for Dave Flaming on behalf of my father and a friend who sincerely wishes to get in touch with him and are unaware if he has passed away or not. He was close friends with my grandfather who was in the airforce, and we currently have no way of getting in touch with him. If you have any information whatsoever, please reply so we can get something worked out.
Thank you so much!
Thank you very much 👍 he is a great inspiration for everyone 😀👍
My father was involved with the B-36 program from '47 thru '53, mostly as a co-pilot. He had convinced me, by age 10, that the Peacemaker was "just about the best aircraft ever made". Even during my 12 year stint as a KC-135 (three variants) pilot, I remained (at least partially) convinced that the 36 was a superior aircraft to just about any other in our arsenal. In November of '90, about six months prior to his passing, I took him to the Air Force Museum at Wright - Patterson (he was very frail by this time).
Beginning with the front gear, and heading down the port side, he began pointing out each feature of the aircraft, and within about five minutes, a crowd formed, and followed him as he explained everything about the aircraft. That tour lasted about 30 minutes. Just prior to his talk about the vertical and horizontal stabilization of the aircraft, an E6 pulled me aside to ask if we could return the next morning before the museum opened, to allow him to see the inside of the aircraft. It took three of us to raise him into the cockpit, however, for that brief fifteen minutes, he had no aches, pains, or cares. I saw a 20-something version of him, with a smile from ear-to-ear.
I hear that same tone, and see that same 'spark' in David Flaming's presentation in this video. Thanks for reminding me of day's gone bye...
Thanks for sharing your story. Yes, it is great to hear Dave Flaming talk about his time in B-36s too.
you made my day & funny I think I got something in my eye …….
Thank you. That was beautiful to read.
@@THOMAS81Z Me too.
Thanks for sharing your story! Letting him go back "home" for that brief period of time the next day was probably very therapeutic for him too.
I love these interviews with the real people that flew them.
Swept wing B-47 was faster and only required a crew of 3 men... in service between 1947 and 1969 even 1977 for the EB-47 version !
Videos like this should make any American proud of our country and the men who sacrificed their young lives to make us great. Coming from a 61 year old man.
That was a great interview. Thank you for your story Sir and your service.
I remember the B-36's flying over southern Manitoba in the 1950's during the cold war.
Even at their high altitude, the rear prop 6 engines were very visible. A few years ago we were going to Phoenix, so I made a point of checking the PIMA Air Museum to see if there was one there. Then I made sure we went to the museum and also checked the SR-71 and one of my favorite passenger planes, the Super Constellation. It was a great visit.
I've gone to the Pima Air Museum more than 2 dozen times over 30 years, seen a lot of changes, but never disappoints.
If you're down this way again make a trip to the Titan Missile Museum, 40 minutes south of Tucson, AZ.
You get to go 6 stories down to the underground command center and see the missile from the bottom up.
In 1943, when I was 8 years old, I got a chance to tour the plant in Fort Worth, where the B-36 was being built. I remember the assembly line was a mile long, and to get the aircraft in that building, they had to put the fuselage at an angle so that they could get the wings on without hitting the sides of the building, and they had to jack the nose up high in order to attach the vertical stabilizer (the tail) so that it wouldn't stick out through the roof of the the building. The first main landing gear wheels were gigantic in diameter, but were replaced by 4 smaller wheels for the production run. To hear a B-36 come over hour house was unmistakeable - their sound was unique.
Those were probably B-29s. (Boeing didn't make all the B-29s, the work was farmed out to several manufacturers)
BTW, I was on that assembly line in 1984, they were making F-16s. Man you just keep walking to the end and never seem to get there.
@@331SVTCobra Yup, no B-36's in production anywhere in 1943, but it may be a typo; perhaps Frank meant to type 1953.
My dad was a photographer and electronics specialist on the B-36 out of Ellsworth in the early 50's. It was by far his favorite plane. My dad was discharged in 1953.
Dave Flaming must have known my father (Robert Quint) who also piloted the RB-36 at Rapid City from 1952 to 1955, following 3 years flying it at Travis. Great Interview!
Know an old boy (father of a friend of mine) who started his USAF career in 1950 as an enlisted man, went to OCS and earned his commission and then wings in 1954. His first aircraft was the B-36 which he flew for 3 years. He was then moved to the B-52 in 1958 and was with the first group that came to Ellsworth that year. He flew the B-52D from 1958 to 1980. It's exciting to listen to his flying tales...from Cold War service to Vietnam.
We lived in Fort Worth in 1950-51, and our house was near TCU, in the base leg for Carswell AFB. The B-36s would fly over our domicile at a very low altitude and speed and rattle our back porch windows and doors almost daily. It was comforting to know that they were up there for us, what a grand old aircraft! One of my early fond memories that later led me to a career in the B-52.
Thanks for sending your recollection.
Thank you, Derek. It was Nice to read you!
I see this kind of footage of that particular generation and I tend to wonder if we will ever see their like again. Moulded in adversity, quiet unassuming folk with enormous depths of character. Thank God we captured these video histories. Will it take another Cold War to craft more in their image?
Six turning and four burning. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
This was fantastic. I love the 36. I still hold out hope, one day, one of the remaining 4 will be made airworthy.
Thank you. David Flaming, like so many veterans, is a really great guy to know.
That will never happen. The only one that could possibly be returned to flight is the one at the USAF Museum in Dayton. The one now in Pima had the engines stripped out in the late '70's in Ft. Worth. (I was there.)
In service, with the entire logistics and support organization of the USAF behind it, the B-36 consumed 90 hours of maintenance for every hour of flight time. That's 90 maintenance-crew hours, not man-hours. Spark plugs? Bring a gross. Oil? 3,600 gallons.
Look at what goes into keeping Doc or Fifi in the air, and up that by an order of magnitude.
Sigh...
Corrie, never say never. While not likely to ever happen, the fact that a P-38 was made airworthy after being under ice for so long proves that if enough money and time is thrown at something, it can be done. And right now a Pennsy T1 is being built from scratch. And the Brits did it with a loco called Tornado.
The problem with making a B-36 flyable is that it is a nuclear capable rated aircraft and if flyable, it would have to be counted as such according to various treaties.
So is the B-29 I would think
MY UNCLE WAS STATION AT ELLSWORTH IN HE MID 50'S, I REMEMBER DRIVING FROM ILLINOIS IN THE SUMMER , BEFORE INTERSTATES....ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES OF MY YOUNG LIFE
It is fun to see how videos like this can bring back good memories for a lot of folks. Thanks for watching and commenting.
What a pleasure to see the 36 again. I was stationed at Rapid City from Feb 54 to Oct 54 and then transferred to Ramey in Puerto Rico until Nov 57. The missions were 24+ hours and the short notice missions (being ready to go anywhere at any time) were less than fun, especially when we had five gunners and four countermeasure operators crammed in the aft compartment. The 36 was a good plane and I would do it again.
I was stationed at Ellsworth as an enlisted airman from July 15,, 1952 until August 2, 1955. I had been trained at Lawry Air Force Base in Denver. . for 18 months on the Armament and Electronics on the RB-36. I was in the 28th Armament and Electronic Maintenance Squadron at Elsworth. We had so many airmen in my squadron that I was sent back to Denver for gunnery training. At Ellsworth we had 3 RB-36 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadrons, , the 77th,, the 717th and the 718th. My Squadron was sent TDY to Andersen AFB from March 1955 through June 1955. The Chinese were shooting up Matsu and Qumoy islands that belonged to Taiwan. Our r econ missions were to make sure there was no troop build up got an invasion. There wasn't. I was the Nose gunner on the RB-36. It was quite different from the other turrets, The nose cannons and the tail cannons were stowed outside the aircraft, the upper forward and aft along with the lower aft turrets were hidden within the aircraft under the aircraft cowling. Turrets were opened from inside by the gunners. The sound made by those six piston driven engines and the 4 jets was the most beautiful ever made by an aircraft. There are so many other things I could tell but it would take a book.
Thanks for your story! It adds to the knowledge about that era in the Air Force. And thanks for watching.
Langdale, You got there about the time I was being born in the Agana Naval Hospital. :-)
6 turnin' 4 burnin'
Unless you had a problem plane where it was 6 burnin and only 4 turnin.
Now imagine the problem trying to yank the average millenial out of his smartphone long enough to learn how to fly one of these, or do the maintenance, etc.
I remember hearing and seeing a group of B-36's at high altitude looking like tiny silver crosses glinting in the sun when I was a kid in Milwaukee, WI.
I salute you sir and all the historical survivors of warfare that being born in 1960 I was fortunate enough to hear their testimonials first hand through the years. My father and all his brothers served in war and one of my uncle's was a career member of the U.S. AIR FORCE from 42-72 and flew as a Gunner on the B-29, B-36 and lastly the B-52 from Carswell AFB Fort Worth Texas 7th BBG. "Mors Ab Alto".
My Dad was a B-36 mechanic in the early 50's. He loved the plane and loved SAC.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
Great to hear this story. So little first hand accounts seem to be out there on the B 36.
Great memories of the greatest prop driven /jet heavy bomber ! When i was around 4 years old we lived about halfway between cincinnati and dayton , i was in the yard playing on a warm late spring sunny afternoon when i heard this rumbling noise coming towards me heading north , i looked up and saw 3 36's flying to dayton i think , and not very high i remember the props being on the backside of the wings , the huge shining in the sun light orange tails and the deafening roar of the 6 turning ! while not my first memory of an aircraft (boxcar ) these birds are certainly my fondest !!! sure would be great to see one fly again ! but i'm sure it would cost millions to make a bird airworthy these days !!! thanks for the great interview with someone who's been there to live it !!!!!
Great piece of history in that interview. What a massive airplane it was. Pretty impressive crews and aircraft.
Thanks for posting this... brave and skilled group of fellows, those guys. A B-36 crashed in the forest north of here back in the day, all hands were lost.
And thank you for watching and commenting.
Thanks for sharing the experience from the old days sir.
I grew up in South Dakota east of Rapid City. When working in the field I remember seeing these humongous planes fly over. My Dad had no idea even though he flew bombers WWII out of Wisconsin. But to me these planes were magical.
36 hrs of flying is in deed a long time 😮😮
My Father was a Hydraulics Specialist he was a crew chief on a B-36 in Ft. Worth at Carswell AFB where I was born, then Biggs AFB in El Paso, where my brother was born and then in 1957 was transferred to Ellsworth AFB to work on the B-52's. He was in the 28th Field Maintenance Sq. He served from Dec. of 1942 to Jan. 1963 - He traveled the entire world in the Army Air Corps and Air Force, my dad was TDY to Guam from Biggs, I remember he was gone a lot in 1953 to 1954 TDY always brought back coconuts, White Horse Whiskey and such... Silk embroidered jackets - I don't know what happened to mine... had an 8th Air Force insignia on it. wow Thanks for the memories!!
And thanks for sharing your story.
airailimages glad I could. I am doing a search for the '53 - '54 Biggs AFB yearbook - there is a fellow that was a missile specialist from Ft. Bliss that worked on the base whose image is in that book. I am hoping to find that persons image and full name - I only remember he was a tech sgt(army) and his name was 'Casey' - if he is still alive I need to find him. There are so many things that come back to a person if the right memories are triggered - just amazing. Anyway thanks for your comment.
As a born 1946 kid in 1956-1958 I went full summers to Camp Red Cloud (girls' camp was Red Wing) in Plattsburg NY on Long Point (now Point Au Roche State Park). Plattsburg Air Force Base maybe 6 miles away. Constant sightings of B-47s , B-36s, and B-52s. Grew up in Stratford CT near the Sikorsky plant. Every darn helicopter made flew low up and down the Housatonic River close by. A regular cold war air show every day. Also saw quite a few blimps! Amazing times...
Yes -- the experiences we had as kids definitely shaped our lives and interests. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I lived in Houston from 1955 to 1966. I probably heard a B-36 once in a while without knowing what it was. I didn't discover the plane until shortly after they had been retired. In about 1962 I visited the one that was on display at Amon Carter airport in Ft. Worth. It's my favorite airplane. Thanks for this interview, it was very interesting.
And thank you for watching and commenting.
😎🇺🇸👍🏼 Thank You For Your Service Salute
I got to Travis in Nov. 1962. Too late for the B-36, but worked for some of the crew chiefs that worked on them, and never heard anything but praise for the mighty bird. The B-52 that replaced it was a maintenance nightmare back then due to the amount of tube operated gear, but it should be a far better now because of modern electronics. Lots of respect for the people who maintain and fly the aircraft.
Thanks for watching and adding your comments.
I also came to Travis in Dec 1962 to work on C-135s and later c-130s. I was in 1501st Maintenance Squadron, The 1501st was later changed to the 60th FMS, the largest squadron in the AF at the time. We used a B-36 hanger to overhaul engines. What squadron were you in? Long time ago.
Walk softly, but carry a big stick. Convair B - 36 “ Peacemaker “.
I love the way he speaks plain and easy to understand just meat and potatoes 👍
Yes. He's a really nice guy.
Loved this, most of the real time information I had on this beast is from Gen Jimmy Stewart and his Movie Strategic Air Command.. I have always had a love of theses big guys since I was a kid. But they were gone before I could get much information like this until now. Thank you Mr Fleming for your service and much needed insights on this great plane.
Thank you for watching and commenting. Yes, Dave Flaming is a great guy, and easy to talk with.
I sincerely wish all young people would see things like this and come to appreciate the sacrifices and dedication of those during the "Cold War"!
Thank you for your service sir .
Great interview!
The Golden age of American Aviation. Young men proud of their Country and the Service.
Wow... Fascinating to hear from a guy who actually flew one... The one at Chanute AFB, Illinois was an RB-36 when I was in tech school in the 1980s. When Chaute closed, it was dismantled and moved out to California, where I live, except it's up in Northern California. While at Chanute I saw two old couples pull up to that display in their car, get out and look at it. One of the old guys was kind of starry eyed, like he had flown on one. I kick myself for never getting for any names. You could tell that they made a special trip to see this '36. Perhaps one of the men flew on it. I'll never know, unless there is a visitor's log archived.
It's cool when a bomber pilot can tell several interesting stories and none of them have to do with combat.
"Peace through Strength", that's what I always say.
I served at Ellsworth during the 70's when they were flying B-52's, and we still did TDY's to Anderson in Guam.
It hasn't stopped. Just B-1s now. China still the problem.
I lived as a kid in far northern Vermont from the early to the late 'fifties. We must have been on the flight path between Presque Isle Maine and bases farther west, because B-36's flew over a lot, and at high altitude. My strongest memory is that the sound of those six prop engines was so low, that I could feel it in my chest as much as hear it.
Bruce Melton
This interview with Dave Fleming reminded me of when I worked at RCA Computers (YES - RCA attempted to compete w/IBM). I sat behind a former B-36 pilot, John Clauke (sp?). He always equated flying the plane was like driving a great big truck. As you stated, the long endurance flights were rough - Texas to Alaska roundtrip. had stated that he also served on General Curtis LeMay's (?) staff. As a kid, I remember seeing occasionally flying over Gainesville, FL on the way to Tampa, I assume. It was my favorite airplane at the time because of its enormous size. I have seen the one at Wright-Patterson Museum, which was really impressive.
Thanks for watching and commenting -- appreciate the added stories in these comments.
Really enjoyed this. Thanks for posting.
And thank you for watching and commenting.
I love this guy and how he tells the stories.
My father was a crew chief on a B36 from 1955-1957. He was stationed at Carswell AFB in Texas.
Seems like he got a lot of joy talking about that plane. Imagine being in control of something that big.
Thank you for your service
I used to see these in the sky above me when I was a kid a very distinctive look and sound I miss them
This American salutes you, Flight Commander David Flaming!!
Thanks for the great interview! I am fascinated by the B 36 so this was like crack to me! And consider this: David and many others like him helped win the cold war! On my plate is a Monogram 1/72 scale model of the B 36. The darned thing is HUGE for a plastic scale model!! 39 inch wingspan! I even have a 1/72 scale resin Mk 17 thermonuclear device to put in the bomb bay! The real device was 25 feet long and 5 feet wide! I read somewhere the combat load out (at the time) was one Mk 17 and one Mk 6 atomic weapon. I could get the 1/72 scale Mk 6, but this would require me to open up the second bomb bay on the model with a razor saw. I'm not to keen to do that.
Dave's recollections are a treasure. And that 1/72 scale B-36 -- one hangs over my desk.
I am still fascinated with the B36. Saddest day of my B36 life was when, as a young boy, I bought a huge model of this beast and my father made me return the model because “It was too difficult for me.”
I sympathize with you. In my case, as a kid I longed for the old Revell model of the P-39 Airacobra; never got it; I still lust after that quirky airplane. Glad you found our video interview with Dave Flaming about the B-36.
I worked with a gunner named Louie Lowe on the B-36 while I was @ P&W East Hartford Connecticut in 1966 and he tells me stories of the B-36 loosing ALL 6 of the 4360's in a couple flights due to a combination of engine malfunction and running out of oil and the ONLY thing that saved the plane was the four J-47's that powered the aircraft to the nearest runways..
My father was a B-36 flight engineer in the USAF 1951-1955. When he got out, Pratt and Whitney East Hartford hired him and worked there from 1955 to 1990, mostly on 3rd shift. He worked in experimental department. He passed away in 2010. When he graduated from high school he was awarded a full scholarship for engineering at the University of Maine. It was taken away because of the Korean War. He was never bitter about it because he joined the USAF. I have many pictures of his USAF career. He kept a scrapbook.
What a wonderful, well written and executed video. Thank you.
Thanks for watching. Dave Flaming is a really neat guy and interesting to talk with.
I was stationed at FT Bliss which is where BIGGS AAF is located. There are still hangers and ramps for the B-36 still today. Very interesting place to look around. I was military so I could get into places civilians couldn't
My dad was a USAF Line Chief...I climbed through a B-36 at Offutt AFB in 1951; when I was 4 ...lol
Tell the truth , they sent you to check on the rear most plugs, or at least wish they could. Bet all the mechanics wished they had a little helper. imagine 300 + spark plugs
In the 80s I met a man in San Antonio that was a mechanic , engines etc. He really liked the planes
You Sir, had big balls to have flown something as big as that
just a wonderfull old guy , id listen to him all day
Great stuff! Thank you.
A B-36 FLEW OVER ME ON WALLER STREET IN SAN FRANCISCO AROUND 1952.
The B-36 reminded me of an aircraft caught between to periods of time in aviation history, post-Korea and pre-Vietnam. A mixture of propeller power and jets, but with six backward engines. It was certainly unique in many ways. I really liked the interview with the former pilot, good old guy who I would love to listen to more of his experiences and insight into this aircraft. I just watched the restoration video of the last B-36 manufactured, it left off when it was being transported to it's final resting place in Tucson. Kind of a sad story that I will go back to the comments section to find out more about the status of the aircraft now. I say sadly that it was moved after those dedicated volunteers put in so much unbelievable time and effort into the restoration only to see it ripped out from under them and sent elsewhere. It sounded like, but I could be wrong, the plane didn't get the financial support from the region to finish the project and have a proper place to store it. Now I want to know if it was restored to just be a museum piece, sitting out in the blazing sun rotting away, or was the intent to make it flyable in the original plan? Thank you for putting this video together, well done!
Unfortunately the Pima B36 will never fly again. The restoration was to only restore the outer skin and other things. The instruments are mostly silk screen replica. There is a lot of original equipment on her and replica equipment. That they were all made of magnesium is the main obstacle of getting her to ever fly. The USAF and FAA will not allow one to ever be airborne. They have ran the engines on the Pima B36. But there is only one complete set of gauges. Also believe they used a portable fuel and oil tank. I'm with you in I would love to see her fly. But memories and movies is all we have. At least we still have four of them.
I believe the reason it was moved was because the city couldn't raise the money for a building to store it in.
Visit the Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio,they have a B36 it is magnificent, and those who flew them ; heroes all !
thanks dave really good video
Dave is a great guy. Thank you for watching and commenting.
It looks like he's in the Western Wshington area. Fir trees and Milgard windows. Their were B-36's in Ft Bliss El Paso Texas. My dad was flew on the B-36 and I was born there.
This video has the only pictures of tail number 717 I've ever found, I have the pilot's seat out of her in my office!
So much interesting stuff!😀
Every bit of it!
Thank you for watching and commenting. Dave passed away last year, and this video is a great reminder of him.
@@airailimages I was thinking of Dave studying engineering with a slide rule in the 1930's. Great story teller. Thank for sharing him!
He went to work for Boeing, interesting that I knew a man, father of a classmate in the 4th grade, who went from Northrop on the flying wing bomber designs who also went to Boeing as an engineer in Wichita, probably about 1950. The man was actually a flight engineer on some of the first of the X/YB-35s that took to the air.
Used to see the B-36s flying over the plains of Kansas about then, you could hear the mournful drone of the propellers from many miles before they came into view.
It's great when people add their remembrances of what the B-36 sounded like. I heard that as a kid in Arlington, Texas, not too far from Carswell AFB. I'll never forget it. Sometimes dishes in the kitchen cabinet would rattle and buzz a bit; the B-36s were quite low overhead. Thanks for watching and commenting.
My Dad was stationed at South Dakota Air Force Base in 1952 till 1954 and was a flight crew on a B-36 known as the Mighty Mites due to their stature.He was an rear turret operator and an electrician and later he transffered to another crew due to navigator or pilot bringing alcohol on board during flights which was a big Problem !!! his earlier crew flew the ill fated crash with General Ellsworth which all crew perished.. Later my dad went to work on Atlas Missle systems in 1957 and as a Civilian Retired from Rocketdyne in 1987!!!
Thanks for sharing that story.
Great uncle flew one "sac" in a.f.
He also flew B17, B29 during ww2, and ended up at March AFB
flying kc 135 air tanker where he retired out of after 30 yr. career in U.S.A.F.
And a salute to him! Thanks for watching.
What a great guy who has a good personality 😊
You are exactly right. He's no longer with us, but I knew him for many years and he is just the way he comes across in the video. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@airailimages God bless him and his family 😞🙏☮️🌎
I hope to get out to Pima Air and Space Museum and see it. I saw the B-29 and want to see the B-17.
You will be impressed with its size.
Excellent video! Too young to remember these, but my dad flew a couple of times in the XC99 outta KAFB. I understand it was moved to Wright Pat for restoration, but has been put in hold?? Hope to make it up there soon. Thanks for posting this great video.
You are welcome. Thanks for watching and commenting.
It was moved to Tucson afb in 2011 but don't believe their are any plans in the near future to restore it.
What a great insight
What a AWESOME video!
In early 1950's the Base was known as South Dakota Air Force Base with B-36,s serving the Srategic Air Command Force. Later changed base name to Ellsworth Air Force Base Due to the General's Death on a B-36 flight.
10:18 ...he could have been a double for Harrison Ford
I wish we had one in flyable condition.
All veterans should tell their stories from these times before they are gone..
An aviation joke I once heard may have been inspired by the B-36. A pilot 👨✈️ was supposed to have said he wanted to fly an airplane that when he looked to the left he saw nothing but engines and to the right nothing but copilots. When the Aircraft Commander called, “Feather number 6,” the copilot would reply, “Which wing sir?”
Love this video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
A real man, American style.
What a sound, Wow !!
great film, well done !
How interesting.
My dad flew the rbs, Rapid City
I like it when veterans and their families find these videos. Thanks for watching and commenting.
My father (Robert Quint) piloted the RB-36 as well - at Travis (49-52) and Rapid City (52-55), following the RF-80 in Japan (46-49).
Perhaps they knew each other, amzing
Flew the rbs? The Really Big Suckers?
Yeah, from when i was a kid i barely remember seeing him
I can't imagine purposely retiring from flying one of these positively awesome and majestic aircraft to work on the ground.
On a lighter note, the crew of 'two turning, two burning, two choking, two smoking, and two unaccounted for' would be kind of relieved that a guy with the last name of 'Flaming' was no longer flying with them!
If I recall, he told me a different time that B-36s with augmented crews had fewer hands-on flying opportunities than some aircraft; I'm guessing there was more sitting and less piloting than he was used to, and a career in aerospace beckoned. Definitely a neat guy.
@@airailimages My elder sister was born while Dad was in SAC, he'd spend half the night working a second job while Mom worked as well to make ends meet. While I expect officers did get paid better than the enlisted personnel, I'd still believe someone with an engineering degree would be looking at a sizable increase in salary if they put it to use in the private sector. That's a pretty powerful incentive for someone with a wife and family to provide for. I know Dad enjoyed his time in the service, but didn't look back once it was over.
About 400 of these Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" were produced, only 2 or 3 remain on display 🤨
The picture of him when he was young looks like a young Harrison Ford
Big chrome steel beauty, engineering marvel
Very interesting 👍
He's talking about the B-36 but the model shown with him in the frame looks more like a B-50.
He did two interviews that day; one was about his time in RB-29s over Korea. That's what the model is.
@@airailimages Thanks.
My father was a flight engineer on the RB36 at Travis AFB, and rotated to Guam and Elstworth, they may have known each other. Myself father passed on back in the late 80's.
HERO.
Yes he is. And an all-around nice guy.
He seems a wonderful guy, a pilot who was good at his job, and didn't get killed.
But I would not use the term hero, sorry HERO. That is for those who make a great sacrifice in the face of danger.
Where's the B-36 that was at Chanute AFB?
At Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.
God bless this American Hero!!
Interesting and beautiful plane...
Indeed it is!
Hey im 68 and rented cessna 152's since '75......i'm like you 🇺🇸....kick some ass ! 😎
Que máquina linda!