USAAF
20th AF
6th BG
24th BS
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Aircraft History
Built by Glenn L. Marin Comany in Omaha, Nebraska. Delivered to
the USAAF on December 11, 1944. Assigned to the 20th Air Force, 6th Bombardment Group, 24th Bombardment Squadron. Assigned to pilot Bruce
R. Alger who nicknamed it "Miss America 62", for his new born daughter, who Alger
figured would
be eligible to be the winner of the Miss America pageant in 1962. Another regular crew member was central fire control Harold V. Jones.
Wartime History
Operated from North Field on Tinian.
Postwar
In October 1945 it returned to the United States and as assigned to the 4196th
Base Unit (Air Technical Services Command) at Victorville Field, CA.
Then, onto other bases including Robins Field, GA, Smokey Hill, KS,
Kindley
Airbase in Nashville, then was modified for weather reconnaissance
and served on Bermuda. Finally, she served as a target tug, Randolph
AFB
in Texas
when its service
ended.
Afterwards, sent to NAS China Lake for use as a target. Then stored there from 1960 - 1985.
Restoration
In
1984 plans were made for this B-29 to be restored. In 1986, the disassembled
and delivered to Travis
Air Force Base Museum for restoration. In 1994, after ten years and 120,000 volunteer restoration
hours, the bomber was put on public display as "Miss America
62". Alger's wife, Linda Jill Algers spoke at the dedication
of the aircraft on June 18, 1994.
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Last Updated
July 26, 2011
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B-29
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