Countryfile

Countryfile's article on the peak plane wreck sites may have been the cause of the massive spike in visitor numbers to the site over the weekend.

At least they sent out a competent presenter guided by a local MRT volunteer to the Shelf Stones Superfortress site, rather than the clueless floppy-haired double act possibility: Ben Fogle and Alan Clark. Imagine that if you will.
























Oh dear-here's that Mountain Rescue Team volunteer leading his colleagues in the "recovery" from the site of what is described as a gun turret, previously hidden by kids back in 1948.

I'd be interested to know whether they had a licence from the MOD for the operation. If they have, we could have told them where there was one in much better condition.

Boeing RB-29A Superfortress 44-61999

Took my brother and his kids out to the Superfortress yesterday. Had to turn back, as it started snowing heavily, and they were not as well clothed as might be desired. I noted however that the gun well/crawl tunnel previously recorded was nowhere near where it was at my last visit. If someone has indeed moved it, I hope that it is in the direction of the main wreck site.

Location: Unknown-hopefully not in someone's garage "museum"

Turret Assembly

Turret Assembly
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A complete turret assembly from a B29, courtesy of a US rebuilder of B29s. The ring inside the green one is the bit we found. Thanks Taigh..

Boeing RB-29A Superfortress 44-61999

B29-Shelf Moor
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

This item, 1/4 mile distant from the commonly visited wreck of "Overexposed", and described by some as an "engine casing", has eluded us a few times in the past. We finally got it today.

The B-29 rebuilder who gave us the photo in the post above thinks that it is a gun well, possibly the upper four gun turret, matching the ring assembly below this post. As the comment below shows, others think differently.

We heard this was here as a result of an abandoned effort at large-scale souvenir hunting.

Location:SK 09373 94622

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Boeing RB-29A Superfortress 44-61999

B29-Shelf Moor
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

This gun ring is part of the computer-controlled gun system from the Superfortress wrecked at Shelf Stones. For a complete original assembly see two posts above. We found it a full half-mile from the main wreck site.

Ours still has its original paint and part serial numbers. Under the black paint is green similar to that on the complete assembly above. The outer edge of the ring is studded with alternating parts marked with a General Electric logo, and "ASSEMBLY 8091147G "and "ASSEMBLY 80911610T".

Location:SK 09385 94461

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Boeing RB-29A (F-13A) Superfortress 44-61999

Went back to the Superfortress at Shelf Stones yesterday, for the sake of completeness. The moors were officially closed due to extreme fire risk, but neither of us were smokers, and it seemed everyone else was ignoring the advice too...
















The memorial at the top right of this pic (behind the radial engine) is at:

Location: SK 09042 94892.

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