"Overexposed" B-29 Aircraft, Bleaklow, Derbyshire

I visited this wreck recently, and was surprised at the amount of wreckage left. People speak of how little is left, but they are wrong, There is not a whole Superfortress by any means, but there is a large amont of metal over a large area.
The Plane belonged to the 91st Reconnaissance group of the USAF and came down in cloud in 1948, on a short flight delivering mail between two air bases. All 13 members of crew were killed. There is a small memorial at the site and there are numerous crosses made from wreckage. The plane was actually one of the observation aircraft from the Bikini Atoll Bomb tests, hence the name I suppose.


I am sure that no one will mind me posting access details as it is a war memorial, I am sure that this part can be removed if Admin objects, anyway, park next to snake pass (near the manchester end) next to a pool of water in a layby. Head up the pennine way towards Lower Shelf Stones, when you reach the ford, head west towards the summit of Shelf Stone. It is near there. Watch out for peat bogs.
Flash Earth Location

Crosses and wreaths


Fuel Tank in Good Condition


One of the engines, I could just imagine this thing powering around the mushroom cloud at the start of it's life


One of the massive wheels, with tyre in place


Remains of main landing gear


Nose wheel strut?


Weathered Message Over Wreckage


Boeing, Boeing, Gone.


Detail of Wheel


Two of the four mighty Wright-Cyclone engines


If you are feeling fit, and are up for a poignant (if surreal) explore, this is perfect. Combine it with a drive along one of Britain's best roads and you have a great day out.
Thanks for looking.

james.s said:

The plane was actually one of the observation aircraft from the Bikini Atoll Bomb tests, hence the name I suppose.

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Very nice thanks. Do you have a reliable link or reference to confirm this?

I have heard about this on several sites about the plane, it doesn't mention that is where the plane got it's nickname, but I assume so.

james.s said:

I have heard about this on several sites about the plane, it doesn't mention that is where the plane got it's nickname, but I assume so.

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It belonged to the 16th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 91st Reconnaissance Group, 311th Air Division, Strategic Air Command, USAF.

Annoyingly, Google haven't fully indexed the book, but this hints at the fact that James' post may be correct.

Thanks for that. I have heard about the whole nuclear thing from several sources so I assume it to be correct
Don't take my word for it though by all means

The trouble with internet sources is that they tend to copy one another so assumptions very quickly become fact. I never found anything out but hints, I rather think its a myth.


Thanks for the link Hypo boy, I will look into it, although I think I have read snippets from the book before.

On the Nuclear or not debate, LIO112's friend tested a small fragment of metal from the plane with a geiger counter and it is slightly over the UK's average background radiation level, so that could be a clue to determine whether it was the same plane that did monitor the Bikini Atoll tests.

james.s said:

On the Nuclear or not debate, LIO112's friend tested a small fragment of metal from the plane with a geiger counter and it is slightly over the UK's average background radiation level, so that could be a clue to determine whether it was the same plane that did monitor the Bikini Atoll tests.

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That's cool. I will borrow a geiger counter from work and go for a revisit.

It apparently gives off about 20 rads per hour. I haven't seen for myself so don't take my word for it. Please tell me what you find when you go again.

Excellent photos and write-up, James...a sad site but very nicely reported.

Personally I find it a shock so much remains after so many years.....

I think it is because it is quite well hidden, a few miles over peat bogs is enough to put the chavs and petty souvenir hunters off taking much. There was loads of small pocket sized fragments as well as the large stuff, even though this is one of the most popular wrecks in the area. I am surprised that 61 years of rain hasn't washed most of it away.

Macabre but brilliant!

Excellent pics James, I didn't realise so much was still left up there. I've been meaning to get up here for ages, but haven't got around to it - yet lol. There's loads of airplane wreckages in the Peak District. All sorts of planes, they're all to be found on Google Earth, so will have to spend quite a bit of time going around the area.

The Gun Turret was found quite a way away last year sometime. The Glossop Mountain Rescue Team went up and brought it back down. There's a story somewhere in the Glossop Advertiser complete with excellent pics. (It will probably be in the archives now though).

Cheers,

Sal

What a lonely place to meet your maker, very sad. Wayne

B29 crash site

This post brought back some memories... Went on a road trip to visit the site 3 years ago thinking 'how hard can it be to find a bloody superfortress on open moor land' incredibly hard apparently for 2 very hungover friends who were hopeless at walking and lacked any hint of sense of direction... Situation worsened when thick fog descended on us with no warning and we proceeded to walk round in circles growing more and more panic stricken.. We eventualy found our way back to the road,piss wet thru,covered in mud and exhausted.we both laugh when recalling the tale now but at the time it was potentialy a very serious situation and taught us a harsh lesson in planning and preparation...

Well, I can't say that I planned it very well, just went for a walk up as we were passing by. It took about 40 minutes to find it. Just below the summit. Quite easy to find if you come in from the right direction. Sorry to hear about your experience.

Here is the article about the gun turret

Good Picture of Site (not mine)

james.s said:

Well, I can't say that I planned it very well, just went for a walk up as we were passing by. It took about 40 minutes to find it. Just below the summit. Quite easy to find if you come in from the right direction. Sorry to hear about your experience.

Here is the article about the gun turret

Good Picture of Site (not mine)

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Its amazing how much remains.. Why was it left there? Was it just too difficult to remove all the damage because of its location?

I think it was because it belongs to the USAF and they cannot really be bothered to shift it. If it was the RAF there would be little trace of it I think.