Greetings. Here's a look at one of my favorite models. The "Kee Bird" was a B-29 Superfortress that took off from Ladd Field in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1947. The aircraft became lost during a secret Cold War surveillance mission over the Soviet Union and crash-landed in Greenland 580 miles from the North Pole. The crew was rescued but the aircraft was left in the deep freeze.

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Enter Darryl Greenamyer. During 1993, this world famous test/race pilot collected a group of deep pockets and set-off on the first of several expeditions to see if it was possible to salvage the "Kee Bird". Not take it apart- FLY it out! After fighting terrible arctic weather, logistical trouble, even the unfortunate death of one of the crew, the day had come to fly. The new motors (Ida, Norma, Pat and Polly) were running, the new
 props were spinning, the new wheels were rolling, the recovered fabric control
 surfaces ready to direct this bird back into the sky. What a moment!

At 20 to 25 knots, the aircraft was really getting bounced around taxiing across the frozen lake runway. In the rear fuselage, the APU was left running for "extra" power for the hydraulics'. The fuel line to the auxiliary power unit tore loose from all the bouncing and sprayed gas over the hot engine. The flash fire spread quickly throughout the fuselage.
 Everyone on board got out but there was nothing to do but watch her burn to the ground. They were SO CLOSE! The whole story inspired me to build the "Kee bird". I wanted her to look like she had made it to Thule Air Force Base. Hope you enjoyed my model.

Blue skies, 

Wiggy

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