B-29 Frozen in Time
Season 23 Episode 3 | 53m 54sVideo has Closed Captions
In Greenland, a deserted B-29 bomber awaits rescue for more than fifty years.
NOVA accompanies famed test pilot Darryl Greenamyer and his intrepid crew on a perilous mission to repair and re-fly a B-29 bomber stranded on the Greenland icecap since 1947. In the face of incredible hardships, the team struggles to bring the old warbird back to life.
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B-29 Frozen in Time
Season 23 Episode 3 | 53m 54sVideo has Closed Captions
NOVA accompanies famed test pilot Darryl Greenamyer and his intrepid crew on a perilous mission to repair and re-fly a B-29 bomber stranded on the Greenland icecap since 1947. In the face of incredible hardships, the team struggles to bring the old warbird back to life.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipNarrator: TONIGHT ON NOVA, A B-29 FLYING A COLD WAR SPY MISSION CRASH-LANDED IN THE ARCTIC.
HER CREW WAS RESCUED, BUT THE KEE BIRD WAS LEFT BEHIND.
NEARLY HALF A CENTURY LATER, A NEW TEAM WANTS TO BRING HER HOME.
Man: JUST LIKE NEW AGAIN.
IT'LL FLY.
YOU BET IT'LL FLY.
Narrator: BUT CONDITIONS ARE HARSH, THE WORK EXHAUSTING.
THEIR SHARED DREAM BECOMES A LIFE-AND-DEATH DRAMA AS THEY STRUGGLE TO FREE "THE B-29 FROZEN IN TIME."
MAJOR FUNDING FOR NOVA IS PROVIDED BY THE F Narrator: A C-141 LIFTS OFF FROM THULE AIR FORCE BASE.
ONCE A VITAL STAGING POST FOR THE NUCLEAR BOMBER FLEET, THULE IS NOW A RELIC OF THE COLD WAR.
WHILE ITS RADAR DOMES STILL PROBE THE HORIZON, IT IS EERILY QUIET AND ALMOST DESERTED.
ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE AND ISOLATED OUTPOSTS OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, IT LIES ON THE INHOSPITABLE BARREN SHORE OF NORTHWEST GREENLAND, DEEP INSIDE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.
THE CLIMATE IS HARSH AND UNFORGIVING.
EVEN IN SUMMER, WHEN THE SUN NEVER SETS, IT REMAINS SO COLD THAT THE SEA IS LITTERED WITH ICEBERGS.
INLAND, A VAST UNBROKEN ICE CAP STRETCHES FOR 800 MILES.
THE WEATHER CHANGES HOURLY FROM BRIGHT SUN TO DARK, MENACING STORM CLOUDS WITH GALE FORCE WINDS.
250 MILES NORTH OF THULE LIES ANOTHER RELIC OF THE COLD WAR-- AN ALMOST INTACT B-29 BOMBER.
THIS PLANE, NICKNAMED THE KEE BIRD, BECAME LOST AND CRASH-LANDED WHILE ON A SECRET MISSION.
THE CREW WAS RESCUED, BUT THE KEE BIRD WOULD LIE HERE ABANDONED FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS.
WHEN THE B-29 FIRST FLEW IN 1942, IT COULD GO HIGHER AND FARTHER THAN ANY OTHER BOMBER.
IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN, IT TRAVERSED THE PACIFIC AND CRESTED THE HIMALAYAS.
THE CULMINATION OF THE B-29's MILITARY SERVICE WAS WHEN THE ENOLA GAY DROPPED THE ATOMIC BOMB ON HIROSHIMA, ENDING THE WAR.
NEARLY 4,000 OF THESE PLANES WERE BUILT, BUT NOW LESS THAN A HANDFUL REMAIN.
IF THE KEE BIRD COULD BE RECOVERED FROM THIS ARCTIC WILDERNESS, IT WOULD BE A UNIQUE TREASURE OF AVIATION HISTORY-- PROBABLY WORTH A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY.
DARRYL GREENAMYER, A FORMER TEST PILOT, HAS BEEN WORKING ON A BOLD PLAN TO RESCUE THE B-29 AND FLY IT BACK HOME.
DARRYL HAS FLOWN HIGHER AND FASTER THAN MOST OTHER LIVING PILOTS.
HE HAD ONCE BEEN A TEST PILOT ON THE U2 SPY PLANE AND ITS REPLACEMENT, THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD.
IN THE '70s, HE BUILT HIS OWN STARFIGHTER JET FROM SPARE PARTS TO GAIN A LOW-ALTITUDE SPEED RECORD, WHICH HE STILL HOLDS.
AN ACCOMPLISHED PILOT AND ENGINEER USED TO TAKING RISKS, IF ANYONE COULD PULL THIS OFF, IT WAS DARRYL.
Greenamyer: IT REALLY IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
IT MAY BE THE ONLY AIRPLANE IN THE WORLD THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT'S BEEN SITTING SOMEWHERE FOR 50 YEARS THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY GET IN AND POTENTIALLY FLY.
IT'S JUST IN A FARAWAY PLACE.
THAT'S THE REASON IT'S AVAILABLE.
( ship's horn blows ) Narrator: BUT GETTING THE KEE BIRD INTO THE AIR REQUIRES MORE THAN SKILL AND BOLDNESS.
THE BULK OF THE HEAVY SUPPLIES AND MACHINERY THAT DARRYL WOULD NEED HAS TO BE CARRIED TO THULE ON THE ANNUAL SUPPLY SHIP.
A FIVE-TON BULLDOZER WILL BE NEEDED TO BUILD A RUNWAY FOR THE B-29.
BULKY NEW TIRES AND PROPELLERS ARE ALSO REQUIRED ALONG WITH FOUR MASSIVE RECONDITIONED RADIAL ENGINES.
ALL OF THIS EQUIPMENT HAS TO BE CARRIED NORTH OVER THE 250 MILES OF DESOLATE ARCTIC LANDSCAPE THAT SEPARATES THULE FROM THE BOMBER.
DARRYL'S SOLUTION TO THIS IS A 1962 CARIBOU-- ANOTHER OF HIS SALVAGED WONDERS.
Man: IT'S BASICALLY A SHORT FIELD, YOU KNOW, A SHORT LANDING AND TAKE-OFF AIRPLANE, AND IT'S MADE FOR UNIMPROVED FIELDS.
THEY USED IT IN VIETNAM A LOT.
AND IT'S A PRETTY RUGGED AIRPLANE.
IT'S IDEAL FOR THIS SORT OF THING-- FLYING THESE ENGINES IN AND IT'LL CARRY A PRETTY GOOD LOAD.
( pounding metal ) Narrator: RICK KRIEGE, WHO HAD BEEN DARRYL'S CHIEF ENGINEER FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING HIS PLANS WORK.
WITH THE CARIBOU'S ARRIVAL IN MID-JULY, DARRYL'S TEAM IS COMPLETE.
CECILIO GRANDEE HAS BEEN RICK'S ASSISTANT FOR THREE YEARS, LEARNING ON THE JOB.
VERNON RICH IS A TOOLMAKER AND MACHINIST AND BOB VANDERVEEN, AS WELL AS BEING ANOTHER PAIR OF HANDS, IS GOING TO DO THE COOKING.
ROGER VON GROTE, A RETIRED AIRLINE PILOT AND A DISTANT RELATIVE OF BARON VON RICHTHOFEN, WILL FLY THE CARIBOU.
DARRYL AND THE OTHERS TAKE OFF FROM THULE.
( man speaking over radio ) THEIR FLIGHT TAKES THEM OVER UNCHARTED MOUNTAINS AND GLACIERS 250 MILES NORTH.
IT IS A RISKY JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN WHERE THE CHANCES OF RESCUE ARE SLIM.
FINALLY THEY COME TO THE VALLEY WHERE THE B-29 CAME TO REST.
THEY FLY LOW OVER THE VALLEY FLOOR.
ROGER LOWERS THE WHEELS AND MAKES A BRIEF TOUCHDOWN TO TEST HOW FIRM THE SURFACE IS.
IT SEEMS FINE, SO THEY GO ROUND AND COME IN TO MAKE A LANDING.
IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG NOW, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE FATAL.
BUT THEY MAKE IT.
Man: YEE-HA!
Man: YEE-HA-HA!
Man: YEAH!
Man: ALL RIGHT.
FANTASTICO!
FANTASTICO, YEAH.
Narrator: THE RELIEF AND EUPHORIA SPILL OUT AS THEY EXAMINE THEIR LANDING STRIP.
IF WE CAN GET THE THING TURNED AROUND IN THIS SOFT DIRT.
Man: OH YEAH, WE CAN.
I FELT THIS IS THE FIRST REALLY SOFT STUFF WE HIT.
LOOK BACK THERE.
( all laughing ) Man: YOU LIKE OUR VEER OF APPROACH?
Narrator: THE TEAM BEGINS TO SET UP CAMP AS BEHIND THEM THE B-29 GLEAMS LIKE NEW IN THE CHILL ARCTIC SUNSHINE-- A TIME CAPSULE PRESERVED IN THIS REMOTE VALLEY.
ALL AROUND IS EVIDENCE OF THE REMARKABLE STORY OF THE KEE BIRD'S LAST CREW.
FOR THEM, LANDING HERE HAD BEEN NOTHING TO CELEBRATE.
IT HAD BEEN THE START OF A FRIGHTENING THREE DAYS.
I HONESTLY DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO GET OUT OF IT.
I HAD MADE UP MY MIND ON THE WAY DOWN THAT THIS IS NO DREAM, THIS IS REALITY, FACE IT, AND, UH...
ACCEPT IT.
Man: YOU KNOW, WE REALIZED ONCE WE WERE OUT THE PLANE WAS NOT ON FIRE, THAT WAS THE MAIN CONCERN.
ARNETT MADE A HELL OF A GOOD LANDING AND, UH...
THE AIRPLANE WAS INTACT.
Narrator: NOBODY WAS HURT IN THE CRASH LANDING, BUT THEY WERE STRANDED IN A DEADLY CLIMATE MILES FROM ANYWHERE NOT KNOWING IF THEY WOULD BE RESCUED.
Lesman: MY BIGGEST CONCERN...
I WAS TOO BUSY, FRANKLY, WANTING TO GET A POSITION IN TO THE SEARCH AIRPLANES SO SOMEBODY WOULD KNOW WHERE WE WERE.
THAT WAS THE BIG THING-- ESTABLISHING OUR POSITION AND FIND OUT WHERE THE HELL WE ARE, SO WE COULD BE RESCUED.
OUR SPIRITS WERE HIGH.
WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO GET OUT.
THERE WASN'T ONE GUY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT.
BUT I REMEMBER THE COLD AND NO PLACE TO GO TO GET WARM.
THAT'S THE THING THAT I REMEMBER MOSTLY ABOUT IT.
Narrator: ON THE SECOND DAY, AN AIR FORCE PLANE FOUND THE KEE BIRD.
THE GREATEST WE FELT WAS WHEN THEY...
WHEN THAT PLANE FLEW OVERHEAD WITH THE SUPPLIES.
AND THEY KNEW WHERE WE...
THEY HAD ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY SPOTTED US.
THAT WAS THE GREATEST FEELING.
Narrator: A DAY LATER A PLANE LANDED BESIDE THEM AND FLEW THEM OUT TO SAFETY.
NOW AT LAST THE KEE BIRD WAS GOING TO BE RESCUED, AS WELL.
I'VE GOT TORN FEELINGS.
EVERYBODY'S EXCITED ABOUT GETTING IT OUT.
THEY COULD MAKE A LOT OF MONEY ON IT APPARENTLY AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO LOOK AT THIS AIRPLANE-- IT'S GREAT AND ALL THAT-- BUT SOMEHOW IT'S SOMETHING LIKE GOING INTO AN INDIAN GRAVE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
I KIND OF FEEL LIKE IT BELONGS OUT THERE.
Narrator: NO LONGER CLAIMED BY THE AIR FORCE, THE KEE BIRD WAS NOW AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO COULD FLY HER OUT.
DARRYL AND HIS TEAM GO TO WORK.
KEE BIRD, KEE BIRD, OVER.
Narrator: THE RADIO LINK TO THULE IS ESTABLISHED...
THE TENTS SET UP... AND BOB STARTS WORK ON RE-COVERING THE DAMAGED RUDDER, WHICH, DESPITE THE ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION OF THE B-29, HAD BEEN COVERED IN FABRIC.
THEN AS THE CARIBOU TAXIES TO RETURN TO THULE, THEIR PRECARIOUS SITUATION IS BROUGHT HOME TO THEM.
Man: DARRYL WAS TRYING TO TAXI AROUND, I WAS OUT WATCHING HIM AND HE GOT GOING A LITTLE BIT AND THEN THE NOSE WHEEL JUST WENT ALL THE WAY 90.
BOTH TIRES ROLLED, ROLLED OFF THE RIM, LOST ALL THEIR AIR.
I THOUGHT, "WE'RE STUCK HERE."
Narrator: IT TAKES HOURS TO DIG THE WHEELS OUT OF THE STICKY MUD.
RICK'S IDEA TO USE PROPANE GAS FROM THE CAMP STOVE ALLOWS THE CARIBOU TO RETURN TO THULE EVEN THOUGH THE WHEELS COULD EXPLODE IF THEY GET TOO HOT.
THE PLANE TAKES OFF, LEAVING RICK, BOB AND CECILIO BEHIND.
ONCE AT THULE, THEY REFILL THE TIRES.
Rich: DON'T MAKE ANY SPARKS.
DON'T MAKE ANY SPARKS.
Narrator: IT IS VITAL TO GET THE BULLDOZER UP TO THE B-29 AND IMPROVISE A RUNWAY.
BUT THE CARIBOU WILL BE SERIOUSLY OVERLOADED AND AS DARRYL INCHES THE BULLDOZER INTO THE PLANE, ROGER IS CONCERNED.
Von Grote: IT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER RISK THAN I REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BECAUSE DARRYL MAXES EVERYTHING TO THE LIMIT.
IF BOTH ENGINES RUN, IT'LL GET OFF THE GROUND BUT IF ONE ENGINE QUITS WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO CRASH STRAIGHT AHEAD BECAUSE ONE ENGINE'S NOT GOING TO CARRY THE LOAD.
Narrator: THE CARIBOU, SLOW AND CUMBERSOME, RETURNS TO THE B-29.
RICK LIGHTS A BONFIRE SO THAT ROGER KNOWS THE WIND DIRECTION FOR HIS LANDING.
AS THE DANGEROUSLY OVERLOADED CARIBOU COMES IN TO LAND, PEOPLE ON THE GROUND DO NOT REALIZE THAT SOMETHING HAS GONE SERIOUSLY WRONG.
THE FLAPS HAD FAILED AND ROGER HAD NEARLY LOST CONTROL.
Von Grote: WE CAME IN WITH NO FLAPPER.
I CAME, I CAME... Man: I KNEW YOU... WELL, AT 90 KNOTS I STALLED AND I WAS IN THIS SHAKER AT 90 AND DARRYL SAID WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT ANY FLAPS AND, OH, I DON'T WANT TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO... WE'RE GETTING LOW ON FUEL.
Narrator: THE CARIBOU HAS PLOUGHED INTO THE SOFT EARTH.
ANOTHER INCH AND THE PROPELLERS WOULD HAVE SMASHED INTO THE GROUND.
DISASTER HAD BEEN NARROWLY AVERTED.
DARRYL PUTS THE BULLDOZER TO WORK ON THE B-29, IMMEDIATELY PROVING ITS WORTH.
THE KEE BIRD IS BACK ON DRY LAND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HALF A CENTURY.
WELL, I THINK WE GOT IT!
( hammering ) Narrator: WHEN THE GIANT B-29 CRASHED IN 1947, THE BOMB BAY DOORS SUFFERED THE MOST OBVIOUS DAMAGE.
THEY WILL BE TAKEN OFF TO BE REPLACED LATER.
WELL, THE SNOW REALLY CUSHIONED IT REAL WELL.
IT BUILT UP UNDER THE BOMB BAYS AND THE BOMB BAY DOORS TOOK ALL THE LOAD AND ABOUT 90% OF THE DAMAGE.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE ON THE FUSELAGE, BUT THAT'S... AND ON THE FLAPS, BUT THAT'S IT.
Narrator: THE PROPELLERS WERE BADLY BUCKLED BY THE CRASH AND THE MAIN ENGINE BEARINGS WERE TWISTED.
NEW ONES WILL BE PUT IN THEIR PLACE.
Greenamyer: THE KEY ELEMENTS ARE THE ENGINES BUT WE'VE GOT FOUR NEW ENGINES.
WE RAN TWO OF THEM ON THE TEST STAND.
THEY ALL RAN-- THEY RAN GREAT.
WE NEED TO GET THESE ENGINES ON AND TIDIED UP AND READY TO RUN AND THEN HANG PROPELLERS.
Narrator: THEY TAKE AN INVENTORY OF THE WORK NECESSARY TO GET THE PLANE AIRWORTHY.
THE TIRES, THEY LOOK GOOD, BUT THEY'RE RAYON AND RAYON DOESN'T AGE WELL, SO WE BROUGHT UP SOME NYLON TIRES TO CHANGE THEM OUT.
THE RUDDER AND THE ELEVATORS ARE GOING TO BE CHANGED OUT.
COMING ON OVER HERE TO THE AILERONS, THE CONTROL SURFACES WERE FABRIC AND THEY HAVE TO BE CHANGED.
THEY WERE PAPER THIN.
YOU COULD PUT YOUR FINGER RIGHT THROUGH THEM.
Narrator: THE SUMMER HERE IS VERY SHORT, SO TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AND DARRYL HAS A LIMITED BUDGET.
HE PLANNED TO MAKE A ROUND TRIP IN THE CARIBOU EVERY TWO DAYS TO FLY IN THE ENGINES AND PARTS FROM THULE.
THE WEATHER SO FAR HAS PREVENTED THIS.
DARRYL HOPED THE WHOLE PROJECT COULD BE FINISHED IN A MONTH.
BUT TWO WEEKS HAVE PASSED AND HE HAS YET TO FLY A SINGLE NEW ENGINE OUT OF THULE.
CAPTAIN DOUGAN, THE BASE MANAGER ASKS HIM ABOUT THE SCHEDULE.
...TRYING TO PLAN TO HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE... Greenamyer: THAT'S ASSUMING WE COULD FLY STRAIGHT THROUGH.
THE WEATHER UP HERE, IT MAY BE SUMMER, BUT IT'S NOT SUMMER LIKE IN THE UNITED STATES.
TALK TO THE MAN UPSTAIRS AND DO SOMETHING WITH THIS WEATHER.
TO GET IT THE SAME IN BOTH SITES WOULD BE UNIQUE.
THE WEATHER UP THERE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS HAS BEEN NICE.
IT'S GOOD UP THERE, NOT DOWN HERE.
IN FACT, IT'S HOT.
IT GETS ACTUALLY HOT SOMETIMES, LIKE 50 DEGREES.
AND NO WIND.
Narrator: BACK AT THE B-29, RICK, CECILIO AND BOB CONTINUE WORKING, STRIPPING OFF THE OLD TWISTED PROPELLERS.
RICK DESIGNED THE HOIST FROM OLD PHOTOS OF B-29s BEING FIELD-MAINTAINED DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
DARRYL AND ROGER RETURN WITH A NEW ENGINE AND THE OLD ONES ARE SLOWLY EASED OFF.
I LIKE THAT, JUST REAL EASY.
GO FORWARD.
Narrator: BEFORE THE NEW ENGINES CAN BE INSTALLED, A LOT OF COMPONENTS NEED TO BE STRIPPED FROM THE OLD ONES.
WELL, HOW DO YOU WANT TO DISMANTLE THIS THING?
WELL, FIRST WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THE CARBURETOR.
TAKE ALL THIS STUFF OFF.
THEN WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THE INJECTION PUMPS OFF, THEN WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THE CARBURETOR OFF.
THEN WE TAKE THE MOTOR MOUNT OFF.
Narrator: EVENTUALLY A SMALL PRODUCTION LINE IS SET UP AS OLD ENGINES ARE DISMANTLED TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THULE AND THE NEW ONES ARE MADE READY TO BE HOISTED INTO PLACE ON THE OLD ENGINE MOUNTINGS.
THE ENGINES THEMSELVES ARE MASSIVE 18-CYLINDER RADIALS-- THE MOST POWERFUL EVER BUILT.
CHANGING THESE HUGE ENGINES IN A WARM HANGAR IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH.
DOING IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARCTIC WILL BE A BACKBREAKING TASK.
RICK IS TIRELESS AND HIS WORKLOAD ISN'T ONLY CONFINED TO THE B-29.
THE CARIBOU ALSO PRESENTS PROBLEMS.
THE CARIBOU TAKES OFF ON ITS THIRD TRIP TO THULE.
IT CIRCLES AND RETURNS TO LAND.
ROGER THINKS THERE MAY BE AN ENGINE FIRE.
Von Grote: AS SOON AS I WENT TO CRUISE POWER, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS FLASHING.
I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY SMOKE OR ANYTHING BUT I WAS READING IN A BOOK WHERE THEY SAID YOU CAN GET SOME FIRES INTERNALLY WITH NO SMOKE EVIDENCE SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS PRUDENT TO COME BACK WHERE THE MAINTENANCE IS.
Narrator: RICK DISCOVERS THAT THE FIRE INDICATOR ON THE ENGINE IS FAULTY.
THE ABORTIVE FLIGHT HAS COST DARRYL MORE TIME.
IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING.
WHAT CAN I SAY?
IT'S...
HERE WE GOT TWO BEAUTIFUL DAYS OF WEATHER COMING UP AND WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF WORK TO DO, BUT IT'S JUST GOING TO... YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN'T TAKE OFF ON MONDAY, THEN WE ARE BEHIND.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE SITTING ON THEIR HANDS DOING NOTHING.
Narrator: THEN THE WEATHER CAUSES MORE DELAY.
A MONTH HAS PASSED AND IT IS NOW THE SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST.
SNOW IS BEGINNING TO SETTLE OMINOUSLY ON THE SURROUNDING HILLS.
RICK AND CECILIO KEEP WORKING, EVEN IN THE RAIN, HAMMERING ON THE EXHAUST COWLINGS.
THAT WAS EASY.
( laughs ) WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Man: HAVE YOU GOT ANY OF THOSE BOLTS?
HAVE YOU HEARD A REPORT FROM THE CASA ON THE TOPS OF THE CLOUDS AND ALSO IS IT SCATTERED OR BROKEN BACK THERE AT THULE?
Radio Operator: It's...
It's broken back here...
It's... scattered 1.7.
Narrator: DARRYL IS DESPERATE TO KEEP THE SHUTTLE FLIGHTS GOING AND FEELS THAT HE HAS TO RISK FLYING IN BAD WEATHER.
Radio Operator: ...so don't bother going in that direction.
Greenamyer: OKAY, I GUESS WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE IT A SHOT.
WE'LL COME AROUND AND THEN WE'LL TRY AND COME IN UNDER IT.
OKAY, COME DOWN WITH IT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO BACK UP WITH IT AGAIN.
OKAY, IS HE TURNING IT ON AND OFF?
TURN IT ON AGAIN.
Narrator: THE WORK IS PHYSICALLY DEMANDING.
REMOVING THE OLD TIRES TAKES HOURS, EVEN USING THE BULLDOZER TO SEPARATE THEM FROM THE RIM.
Narrator: RICK IS BEGINNING TO SHOW THE STRAIN OF THIS HARD WORK AND LOOKS EXHAUSTED.
MEALTIMES BRING SOME RESPITE AND ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL STORIES OF OLD EXPLOITS LIKE THE TIME DARRYL TRIED TO TAKE OFF IN PANAMA WITHOUT USING THE RUNWAY.
Greenamyer: THEY WANTED ME TO TAKE OFF ON THE RAMP SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO OPEN UP THE FENCE TO GET ON PANAMA PROPERTY TO USE THE RUNWAY.
SO I SAID, "WELL, NO PROBLEM."
BUT THEN THEY WANTED ME TO TAKE OFF A LITTLE BIT DOWNWIND BECAUSE IF I WENT THE OTHER WAY I'D BE FLYING OVER THE GENERAL'S HOUSE.
SO I SAID, "WELL, OKAY, I THINK SO."
IT WAS A DOWNHILL RUN AND THEN A SLIGHT TURN ABOUT 60 KNOTS AND THEN DOWN THE RAMP.
( laughter ) Man: HOW MUCH RUNWAY DID YOU HAVE ALL TOLD?
I DON'T REMEMBER, BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS I WENT DOWN THE LITTLE HILL AND MADE THE RIGHT TURN AND THEN IT STARTED BOUNCING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING KICKED OUT AND I TRIED TO HOLD IT AND THE...
I WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE FENCE AND SO IT KIND OF LIFTED OFF AND THEN SQUATTED RIGHT DOWN ON THE FENCE.
( laughter ) BUT I DIDN'T GIVE UP JUST THEN, I KEPT GOING.
( laughter ) Man: WORKING UNDER THE WING IN THAT SNOWSTORM IT WAS TOO HOT AND IT WAS COMING LOOSE BECAUSE OF THAT.
Narrator: BOB HAS FINISHED RE-COVERING THE RUDDER WITH FABRIC AND HE AND ROGER ARE NOW PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO IT.
VERNON HAS TO MAKE MANY OF THE SMALL COMPONENTS FOR THE RUDDER CABLES AND CONTROL SURFACES FROM SCRATCH.
WITHOUT BLUEPRINTS, IT IS NOT EASY.
AND THEN STICK...
DRILL THIS ONE OUT AND STICK IT IN THE OTHER END SO WE'LL HAVE THE SAME CONFIGURATION.
JUST LIKE WE MADE THE OTHER TWO?
WELL, YOU... YEAH, EXCEPT... NO, NO, WE'LL GO TO THIS SIZE BOLT.
RIGHT.
YEAH, YEAH.
SO WE'RE GOING UP.
JUST LIKE NEW AGAIN.
YUP, IT'LL FLY.
THIS IS THE REAL RECOVERY WORK HERE.
IT'LL FLY.
YOU BET IT'LL FLY.
Narrator: BY THE TIME THE RUDDER IS READY TO BE HOISTED BACK INTO PLACE, THE PROJECT HAS TAKEN FIVE WEEKS-- FAR LONGER THAN DARRYL'S ORIGINAL FORECAST.
Kriege: WHY DON'T YOU GIVE ME THAT, UH... Man: THE ROPE?
IS THAT THE CORRECT ONE UP THERE?
YUP.
Narrator: BUT THE SUN IS NOW BACK AND PEOPLE'S SPIRITS HAVE LIFTED AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT.
Man: BEAUTIFUL.
STICK A BOLT IN THERE AND I'LL WIGGLE IT AROUND.
CAN YOU TAP IT IN?
Von Grote: THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO NOW.
YOU SEE THE FLANGE IN FRONT?
IT'S GOT TO BE STRAIGHT WITH THIS.
...SEE THE FLANGE IN FRONT VERY WELL.
I MEAN IN BACK-- IN THE BACK OF THE FLANGE.
SEE, IT'S A FLAT SPOT?
YEAH, I SEE THE FLAT SPOT.
WELL, IT ISN'T LINED UP.
OH, IT ISN'T?
Von Grote: IT'S GOING.
YEAH, IT IS.
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.
Greenamyer: THAT'S IT!
WELL, TELL HIM.
ARE YOU CRYING?
ARE YOU SO HAPPY?
ARE THOSE TEARS OF JOY?
( laughter ) YOU GOT IT.
Narrator: THE WEEKS OF WORK ARE PAYING OFF.
THE RUDDER HAS BEEN FITTED AND FOUR NEW ENGINES ARE IN PLACE.
THE LAST MAJOR JOB IS THE PROPELLERS.
Greenamyer: THE PROPELLERS CAME OUT OF A PROP SHOP IN TUCSON AND THEY'VE BEEN OVERHAULED BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FINAL-ASSEMBLED YET.
WE'LL PUT THOSE TOGETHER AND HANG THEM ON.
BUT I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I'VE DONE THAT BEFORE AND THEY USUALLY GO TOGETHER PRETTY EASY.
THESE ARE AWFUL BIG PROPELLERS, THOUGH-- THE BIGGEST I'VE EVER DEALT WITH.
OKAY, COME ON, LET'S GO.
Narrator: CAREFULLY BALANCED IN A WORKSHOP BACK HOME, THEY HAVE TO BE ASSEMBLED IN THE RIGHT SEQUENCE OR THEY'LL RIP THE ENGINES APART.
OH, VERNON, I STEPPED RIGHT ON YOUR FOOT.
OKAY, GO ON IN.
OH, OH-- SPRING FELL.
OH, THIS WAY?
YEAH, PUT IT ON.
OKAY.
THAT THING NEEDS TO BE WIPED OFF.
IT'S PROBABLY GOT SAND ALL OVER IT NOW.
SET HER DOWN.
OKAY, DOWN.
HERE, LET ME HAVE IT.
ALL RIGHT.
UP, OKAY.
YOU GOT IT.
Man: ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO-- LET'S GO.
UP!
OKAY, SET HER DOWN.
( joyfully ): DAMN!
LOOK SEE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE THE FIRST TEAM IN.
OH... THAT'S RIGHT.
Man: PUSH!
Narrator: 16 FEET ACROSS AND WEIGHING ALMOST A TON, THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER.
OKAY, THAT LOOKS GOOD.
WHOA, WHOA.
( metal grinding ) Man: YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME DOWN ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF FIRST.
HOW'S THE FRAME, VERN?
Rich: Kriege: A LITTLE BIT MORE.
OKAY, HOLD IT.
Rich: OKAY, THAT'S IT.
Kriege: OKAY, NOW, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ROCK IT.
JUMP ON IT.
Narrator: NOW IT'S TIME TO START AN ENGINE.
( engine whirring ) Narrator: IT'S THE FIRST REAL TEST OF WEEKS OF EXHAUSTING WORK AND THE ENGINE REFUSES TO START.
RICK THINKS HE KNOWS WHAT'S WRONG.
CAN YOU GET ME A PAIR OF TIN SNIPS?
Kriege: THE CARBURETOR DOESN'T WANT TO WORK.
Narrator: THE CARBURETOR NEEDS ADJUSTING.
( men cheering ) Narrator: EVERYONE IS JUBILANT, BUT STILL ONLY ONE ENGINE HAS BEEN TESTED.
YOU GOT SCARED, HUH?
Narrator: TIME IS RUNNING OUT FAST AND VERNON IS STILL WORKING ON THE OTHER THREE.
WE'VE GOT TO HOOK EVERYTHING UP TO THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WORK.
GOT TO PUT THE MAGNETOS ON, THE GENERATORS, ALL THE FUEL SYSTEM, THE OIL SYSTEM.
IT PROBABLY TAKES 12, 14 HOURS AFTER THE TIME YOU STICK IT ON THERE PER MOTOR TO ACTUALLY GET THEM GOING AND THAT'S IN A NICE HEATED HANGAR WITH ALL THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED.
SO WHEN IT'S BLOWING...
BLOWING SNOW SIDEWAYS IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND WE'LL FIX IT.
WE'LL GET IT GOING.
Narrator: THE LAST MAJOR HURDLE IS A RUNWAY.
DARRYL USES THE BULLDOZER TO LEVEL THE GROUND, BUT THE HEAVY RAIN HAS LEFT THE TUNDRA WATERLOGGED WITH SHALLOW LAKES DOTTING THE SURFACE.
NORMALLY A B-29 WILL USE A RUNWAY OF OVER 5,000 FEET, BUT THE MOST DARRYL CAN HOPE FOR IS 2,000 FEET OF DRY EARTH TO TAKE OFF IN.
THIS IS THE WORST SPOT OF ALL RIGHT HERE AND IT'S REALLY AT A CRITICAL DISTANCE.
WELL, YOU KNOW LIKE YOU WERE SAYING TWO DAYS AGO, THERE WAS NO WATER HERE SO HOPEFULLY WITH THREE OR FOUR GOOD DAYS JUST LIKE THIS THIS WATER WON'T EVEN BE HERE.
Narrator: IT'S AUGUST 22, AND THE FIRST SUNSET AT MIDNIGHT SIGNALS THE APPROACH OF THE POLAR WINTER.
FINALLY ALL FOUR ENGINES HAVE THEIR CONTROLS AND FUEL SYSTEMS CONNECTED AND ARE READY TO BE TESTED.
DARRYL CLIMBS INTO THE COCKPIT AND THE FIRST ENGINE IS TURNED OVER.
Man: WHOO!
( man laughing ) THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!
BEAUTIFUL!
GOOD!
Narrator: THE ENGINES WILL HAVE TO RUN PERFECTLY TO LIFT THE GIANT BOMBER FROM SUCH A SHORT RUNWAY.
RICK KNOWS THAT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DOUBLE-CHECKED.
WHY DON'T YOU STAND OFF ON THAT SIDE AND SEE IF YOU CAN SEE ANY OIL LEAKS.
I'M GOING TO GO AROUND HERE AND SEE IF I CAN FIND ANYTHING.
( engine running, propellers turning ) ( engine slows down ) Narrator: WORK CONTINUES ON THE ENGINES, ELIMINATING OIL LEAKS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WILL WORK AS IT SHOULD.
THIS ONE'S GOT AN OIL LEAK.
THAT ONE'S GOT A LOOSE PUSH ROD TUBE.
Narrator: IT SEEMS THAT THE FLIGHT OF THE KEE BIRD WILL BE ONLY A FEW DAYS AWAY.
THE CARIBOU DEPARTS FOR THULE TO PICK UP MORE FUEL FOR THE BOMBER.
BUT JUST AS SUCCESS SEEMS WITHIN REACH, RICK HAS BECOME ILL. FOR SEVERAL WEEKS HE'S BEEN TAKING PAINKILLERS FOR WHAT HE'S INSISTED IS A BADLY TWISTED BACK.
MOST DAYS HE'S FACED THE GRUELING SCHEDULE IN GREAT PAIN.
HE HAS NOW COLLAPSED, AND CAN NO LONGER DO ANY WORK.
THEN THE CARIBOU RETURNS WITH A SERIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEM-- ONE THAT PUTS EVERYBODY'S SAFETY IN JEOPARDY.
WE LOST PARTIAL POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE OF THE CARIBOU AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY A CYLINDER PROBLEM AND THEN WHEN WE ARRIVED WE FOUND THAT WE HAD A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE AND IT WAS HITTING THE TOP OF THE PISTON AND WE NEED A CYLINDER TO GET OUT OF HERE WITH ANY KIND OF SAFETY AT ALL.
Narrator: THE WINTER FINALLY HITS BRINGING GALE-FORCE WINDS AND FREEZING RAIN.
THE TEMPERATURE PLUMMETS.
SOON LIFE HERE WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE.
IF THEY DON'T GET OUT NOW, THEY NEVER WILL.
THE FIRST OF THE WINTER SNOWS IS SETTLING ON THE CAMP.
AFTER TWO MONTHS, TIME HAS BEATEN DARRYL.
WORK ON THE KEE BIRD STOPS AS EVERYONE'S ATTENTION FOCUSES ON THE CARIBOU.
THE CARIBOU IS THEIR LIFELINE AND VERNON AND CECILIO STRUGGLE TO FIT A SPARE CYLINDER.
DESPITE INADEQUATE TOOLS AND FREEZING FINGERS, THEY MANAGE TO DO IT.
BUT THE ENGINE STILL HAS A SERIOUS OIL LEAK AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IT WON'T GIVE OUT ALTOGETHER AS THEY FLY OVER THE GLACIER BACK TO THULE.
YOU FLY THIS NOW?
YEAH.
IF WE CAN PUT OIL IN THE ENGINE WHILE WE'RE FLYING, THEN WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
Narrator: EVERY FLIGHT OF THE CARIBOU IS A FLIRTATION WITH DEATH.
THIS IS EVERMORE SO.
AS ICE IS KNOCKED OFF THE CARIBOU'S WINGS, DARRYL FACES UP TO THE FACT THAT HE CAN GO NO FURTHER.
I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND TAKE A LONG...
THINKING SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP.
WE'VE GOT TOO MUCH... WE'RE TOO CLOSE.
THE AIRPLANE IS ESSENTIALLY READY TO FLY.
WE NEVER DID GET A RUNWAY SUITABLE TO TAKE OFF THIS YEAR.
THE WINTER CAUGHT US.
RICK IS SICKER THAN A DOG.
WE'VE GOT TO GET HIM OUT OF HERE AND PROBABLY TO A HOSPITAL AND SO THINGS ARE COMING TO A SCREECHING HALT.
Narrator: AT LAST THEY'RE READY TO PULL OUT, LEAVING THE KEE BIRD WHERE IT HAS BEEN FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.
HALFWAY THROUGH THE FLIGHT THE CARIBOU'S RIGHT ENGINE LOSES POWER.
BUT THEY MANAGE TO STRUGGLE ON ONE ENGINE INTO THULE.
RICK IS CARRIED OFF INTO AN AMBULANCE.
( woman speaking on two-way radio ) Narrator: SUFFERING FROM INTERNAL BLEEDING, HE IS FLOWN TO A HOSPITAL IN CANADA AND RUSHED TO SURGERY.
TWO WEEKS LATER, THIS KIND AND GENTLE MAN, A RESOURCEFUL AND HIGHLY SKILLED ENGINEER, DIED OF A BLOOD CLOT.
DARRYL COULD BARELY COME TO TERMS WITH RICK'S DEATH, BUT HAVING COME SO FAR HE WAS NOT PREPARED TO GIVE UP HIS STRUGGLE TO RECOVER THE B-29.
IT WOULD MEAN BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT AND FINANCIAL DISASTER.
NINE MONTHS LATER, WITH THE CARIBOU STILL OUT OF ACTION AT THULE, DARRYL RETURNS TO THE KEE BIRD IN A CHARTERED TWIN OTTER.
HE HAS ENLARGED THE TEAM WITH THE INCLUSION OF MATT JACKSON... AND JOHN CATER, BOTH SPECIALISTS IN RADIAL ENGINES-- AN OLD FRIEND, AL HANSEN, AND THAD DULIN, A QUALIFIED B-29 FLIGHT ENGINEER.
THE TEMPERATURE NEVER RISES ABOVE 24 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
THE COLD MAKES THE WORK FAR MORE DIFFICULT, BUT DARRYL'S PLAN IS TO USE THE SURFACE OF THE FROZEN LAKE AS A RUNWAY.
WE WERE TRYING TO GET HERE AS LATE AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE ICE MELTED SO THAT WE COULD USE THE LAKE FOR THE RUNWAY AND, UH... AND YET, NOT HAVE MISERABLE COLD WEATHER.
Narrator: THE LAKE IS COVERED IN SNOWDRIFTS, BUT DARRYL'S MAIN CONCERN IS HOW LONG IT WILL REMAIN FROZEN.
Greenamyer: I'D SAY TWO WEEKS WE'VE GOT TO GET ON THAT LAKE OR WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
Narrator: THE SNOW HAS PILED UP AROUND THE KEE BIRD AND THE ENGINES NEED TO BE THOROUGHLY CHECKED AFTER THE WINTER.
THE NEW TEAM IS ALL BUSINESS.
THE BITING COLD IS A SPUR TO THEIR DETERMINATION TO GET THE JOB DONE.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THAT FITTING YOU TOOK OFF NUMBER ONE?
Narrator: DARRYL IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT THE COLD WILL HAVE ON THE ENGINES AND TAKES HIS TIME WARMING THEM UP.
HE'S RUNNING A LOW R.P.M.
UNTIL THE OIL TEMPERATURE GETS UP.
HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
TEN MINUTES.
Narrator: THEY DISCOVER A NUMBER OF OIL LEAKS.
WE'RE FIGHTING LITTLE GREMLINS-- MOISTURE AND COLD WREAKS HAVOC ON AN AIRPLANE.
YOU CAN BRING A BRAND NEW AIRPLANE UP HERE AND LET IT SIT FOR A WEEK AND YOU'LL HAVE THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS.
SCALPEL... Narrator: THE ENGINE COWLINGS HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF AND REPLACED EVERY TIME SOMETHING NEEDS FIXING IN THE ENGINES.
AND EVERY TIME AN ENGINE STOPS, GREAT CARE HAS TO BE TAKEN BEFORE IT CAN BE RESTARTED.
( engine sputters, stalls, and sputters anew ) ( engine humming ) AFTER A WEEK OF WORK, THE ENGINES ARE RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND THE OIL LEAKS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.
THE FLIGHT OF THE KEE BIRD IS APPROACHING AND DARRYL TURNS HIS THOUGHTS TO THE RUNWAY.
Greenamyer: WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE DRIFTS ON THE LAKE.
I TRIED TO... TO FLATTEN THEM OUT WITH A BULLDOZER AND THE GRADER THAT WE'VE GOT BUT I MAY HAVE CREATED MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN I CURED BECAUSE IT LEFT LITTLE MOUNDS.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE B-29 IS THERE'S NO NOSE WHEEL STEERING, SO WHEN I HIT ONE OF THESE MOUNDS WITH THE RIGHT GEAR IT'S GOING TO PULL RIGHT.
IT'S A PROBLEM, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO GET OUT AND TRY IT.
Narrator: THE ENGINES COOL QUICKLY IN THIS CLIMATE AND AN OIL-BURNING HEATER PIPES HOT AIR UNDER THE COWLINGS TO KEEP THEM CLOSE TO WORKING TEMPERATURE.
PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR THE FIRST FLIGHT.
DARRYL MUST BE READY AS SOON AS THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY, IT'S WARMER.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL START AT ONE END-- WE'RE PRE-HEATING ONE ENGINE NOW.
WE'LL START IT, AND WE'LL START THE NEXT ONE.
BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE THIRD ONE WE'LL PROBABLY GO BACK AND RUN THE FIRST ONE AND THEN GET... AND SO WE GET THEM ALL UP TO TEMPERATURE AT THE SAME TIME.
ONCE WE GET THEM UP THERE, WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THEM THERE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO CRITICAL, ONCE WE GET EVERYTHING WARMED UP AND READY TO GO, THAT WE DON'T DALLY-- WE GO.
OTHERWISE WE'VE GOT TO START THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN.
THAT'S BURNING FUEL, WHICH IS A PRECIOUS COMMODITY UP HERE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THE ENGINES ARE RUNNING, THERE'S A SURGE OF ADRENALIN, I WANT TO GET IN IT AND GO.
AND I THINK IT'LL MAKE IT.
Narrator: DARRYL STRIDES TO THE COCKPIT.
THE DREAM THAT HAS OBSESSED HIM FOR THREE YEARS IS JUST HOURS FROM BEING REALIZED.
THAD SITS AT THE FLIGHT ENGINEER'S CONSOLE TO START ALL FOUR ENGINES.
INSTRUMENTS THAT HAVE REMAINED DORMANT FOR 50 YEARS ONCE AGAIN REGISTER LIFE IN THE MACHINE.
THE GIANT RADIAL ENGINES CAN DELIVER OVER 2,000 HORSEPOWER EACH.
THAD MAKES LAST-MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE OIL PRESSURE AND THE CARBURETORS TO GET THE ENGINES RUNNING SWEETLY.
Dulin: DON'T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF NOSE OIL PRESSURE ON THREE, DARRYL...
IT'S COMING UP NOW.
MANIFOLD PRESSURE GAUGE JUST CAME LOOSE.
THERE SHE COMES.
Narrator: AS THE PROPELLERS SHIMMER IN THE SUNLIGHT, DARRYL PUTS THE COORDINATES FOR THULE INTO THE NEWLY INSTALLED SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
THE PLANE HAS FROZEN INTO THE MUD AND SNOW AND IT TAKES MAXIMUM POWER TO BREAK THE WHEELS FREE.
THE NOSE WHEEL CAN'T BE CONTROLLED, AND AT SLOW SPEEDS, DARRYL HAS TO ADJUST THE ENGINE POWER TO STEER THE PLANE.
FINALLY IT IS MOVING IN A WIDE CIRCLE OUT ONTO THE LAKE ON ITS WAY TOWARD THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
THE PLANE IS BOUNCED AND SHAKEN BY THE FROZEN SNOWDRIFTS.
SUDDENLY SMOKE CAN BE SEEN POURING FROM THE WINDOWS IN THE COCKPIT.
THE AUXILIARY POWER UNIT, A STANDBY GENERATOR, WAS THROWN FROM ITS MOUNTING IN THE REAR FUSELAGE AND CAUGHT FIRE.
Greenamyer: FIRE EXTINGUISHER!
Narrator: FORTUNATELY, THE CREW MANAGED TO JUMP CLEAR.
DARRYL SHOUTS FOR MORE EXTINGUISHERS BUT IT IS TOO LATE-- THE FIRE HAS ALREADY SWEPT THROUGH THE PLANE.
HE CAN DO NOTHING BUT STAND AND WATCH AS THIS IRREPLACEABLE PIECE OF AVIATION HISTORY IS CONSUMED BY FIRE.
WITH IT GO YEARS OF PLANNING AND HARD WORK BY SO MANY PEOPLE.
Greenamyer: IT'S GOING TO BURN TO THE GROUND.
( plane shattering ) Greenamyer: APPARENTLY THE A.P.U.
WAS LEFT RUNNING IN THE TAIL AND THE FUEL TANK BROKE LOOSE AND DUMPED FUEL ON THE A.P.U.
AND STARTED THE FIRE IN THE TAIL.
THAT'S WHERE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS, BUT WE COULDN'T GET TO IT.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE WHICH WAY WE TOOK OFF.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AIRBORNE A THIRD OF THE WAY ACROSS THE LAKE.
WELL, I ALMOST THREW MY BAG IN BEFORE YOU PULLED OUT BECAUSE I FIGURED WE WEREN'T GOING TO GO.
SO I JUST PUT MY TOOLS IN.
WHERE WERE THEY, UP FRONT?
NO, IN THE TAIL WHERE THE FIRE WAS.
OH.
GONE.
MY TOOLS ARE UP FRONT.
WASN'T AS IF YOU DIDN'T TRY... YEAH... ( plane continues collapsing) Greenamyer: IT WAS READY TO GO, THAT'S THE REAL TRAGEDY OF IT.
I MEAN, WE WERE SO CLOSE.
SUCCESS WAS RIGHT THERE, IT WAS RIGHT THERE.
BUT...
THIS IS MY GAME AND I'D DO IT AGAIN.
Narrator: DARRYL HAD FAITH THAT THE B-29 WOULD FLY ONCE AGAIN WITH HIM AT THE CONTROLS, BUT INSTEAD IT REMAINS ON THE FROZEN SURFACE.
WHEN THE ICE MELTS, WHAT'S LEFT OF THE KEE BIRD-- THE NEW ENGINES AND PROPELLERS-- WILL SINK AND COME TO REST ON THE DARK BOTTOM OF THE LAKE FOREVER.
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