Veteran of 33 Missions in Pacific,
Bomber is Readied for New Duties

"We know not what name it will carry into battle. Its identity may be lost as the thunder of its engines blends with those of other B-29's in the dangerous skies over Japan. But wherever it goes - whatever its mission - the No. 1,000 Superfortress will bear on the glistening span of its great silver wings the pride and spirit of those who built it: the men and women of Boeing-Wichita." - From Boeing Plane Talk, February 16. 1945.

Old "Boeing-Wichita 1000" is back home! She moved through the B-29 modification lines at Plant II last week and is now ready for flight test and a new role with the United States Air Force - ready, as she was in 1945, to once more "hear on the glistening span of her great silver wings the pride and spirit of those who built her: the men and women of Boeing-Wichita! Still dimly seen on the right side of her nose is the legend, "Boeing-Wichita 1000"; still dimly 24 bombs, seven symbols representing fighter escort missions over Japan and two symbols for super-dumbo (or rescue) missions.

Boeing-Wichita 1000, flew in the Pacific during the war as "The Antagonizer," is probably the most famous of the 1,644 B-29 Superfortresses produced at the plants here. She was delivered on the Plant II north apron February 14, 1945 in the presence of four AAF generals, high Boeing officials, and more than 20,000 Boeing-Wichita employees.

A Money-Laden Bomber

Plastered on the wings, tail and fuselage of the plane during this historic delivery ceremony was $10,343.38 in currency and coins, voluntary contributions of Boeing employees toward the national infantile paralysis fund. Standing beside the B29 during the ceremony and delivered at the same time was the 10,346th, and last, equivalent Boeing Kaydet primary trainer to be built here. The little Kaydet had $218.85 plastered on its fuselage.

Boeing-Wichita 1000 winged its way to the Pacific war theater and was assigned to a crew under a young lieutenant from Ohio, Stephen Franko. From a plaque placed inside the plane's cabin at Boeing-Wichita, this crew learned that it had a "really special" airplane to fly into battle. Lieutenant Franko, proud of his B-29, wrote letters back to the plants containing glowing accounts of "The Antagonizer's" missions over Japan. Twenty-four times she smashed her bombay loads down upon selected Japanese targets.

Escort Fighter Planes

Then, an unusual job was assigned to the plane. Moved up and based on historic Iwo Jima, the B-29 took off seven times to serve as an escort mother ship in leading United States fighter squadrons on special missions over Japan.

Her two search-rescue missions were special, too. Their exact nature has never been revealed publicly but they were important enough to be named "super-dumbo."

After Japan was defeated - and with 33 missions to her credit - Boeing-Wichita 1000 was flown back to the United States and its identity was lost among the hundreds of B-29's placed in reserve at various storage depots. Plane Talk long ago heard the No. 1000 was at Warner Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia. But after that, no word of the plane was received at all.

Discovered in Plant Here

Then, just two weeks ago yesterday, Robert W. Pearson (2430), a former B-29 flight engineer with 33 missions over Japan to his credit, happened to notice the legend Boeing-Wichita 1000 on the nose of a Superfort going through the Plant II modification lines.

The legend was dim because practically all paint had been removed from the plane. Pearson told Elmer Blanchat (541) of his discovery. Immediate investigation revealed that the plane was - and is - old "Boeing-Wichita 1000th."