| Andersen Air Force Base The old North and Northwest Fields -- B29 Base of Operations |
Andersen AFB now encompasses most of nothern Guam, and it has enveloped both of the WWII Army Air Corps
fields of North Field and Northwest Field (the third field, Harmon, is now a civilian industrial complex). The old
Northwest Field and B29 revetments are still there, but abandoned and used for Special Forces training and other
special missions. The final mission of WWII was launched from here. Not the atomic bonbs, but a mission that went
weeks later and was key in forcing the Japanese surrender.
The B29's flew over-fueled and overloaded to make it to Japan. The return trip was equally dangerous. Low on fuel
and trying to make a one-shot landing on a field atop a 500-foot high plateau, many planes simply hit the side of the
island. Two of these aircraft are known to remain. One, the Colleen, crashed at the base of Tarague cliff. It was
salvaged in 1998 after human remains were found. The other, an unidentified plane, rests at the top of Tarague cliff.
fields of North Field and Northwest Field (the third field, Harmon, is now a civilian industrial complex). The old
Northwest Field and B29 revetments are still there, but abandoned and used for Special Forces training and other
special missions. The final mission of WWII was launched from here. Not the atomic bonbs, but a mission that went
weeks later and was key in forcing the Japanese surrender.
The B29's flew over-fueled and overloaded to make it to Japan. The return trip was equally dangerous. Low on fuel
and trying to make a one-shot landing on a field atop a 500-foot high plateau, many planes simply hit the side of the
island. Two of these aircraft are known to remain. One, the Colleen, crashed at the base of Tarague cliff. It was
salvaged in 1998 after human remains were found. The other, an unidentified plane, rests at the top of Tarague cliff.
| Unidentified Boeing B-29 Superfortress crash site Tarague Cliff |
(Left and Below) the left-hand wing of an unidentified B29
SuperFortress bomber. Many planes that were junkers or
damaged were salvaged, and then tossed over the cliff by
both the Navy at Orote Point and the U.S. Army Air
Force. These debris, however, show more evidence of
being a real crash. 7 June 2003.
SuperFortress bomber. Many planes that were junkers or
damaged were salvaged, and then tossed over the cliff by
both the Navy at Orote Point and the U.S. Army Air
Force. These debris, however, show more evidence of
being a real crash. 7 June 2003.
and documented, and then matched against the historical record, these speculations will be nothing but
speculations. Perhaps none of the above theories, perhaps a combination of all? Archaeology is not an exact
science. Due to the often stupefying lack of evidence, much of a conclusion is based on deductive reasoning and
even plain guess work. Besides the Colleen, this is the only known B29 wreck remaining on Guam.
speculations. Perhaps none of the above theories, perhaps a combination of all? Archaeology is not an exact
science. Due to the often stupefying lack of evidence, much of a conclusion is based on deductive reasoning and
even plain guess work. Besides the Colleen, this is the only known B29 wreck remaining on Guam.
Looking at the portside main mount tire, still
snug in its well. Right inboard of this engine
(the #2 engine) you can see where the wing
was apparently ripped from its aircraft with
great force. 7 June 2003.
snug in its well. Right inboard of this engine
(the #2 engine) you can see where the wing
was apparently ripped from its aircraft with
great force. 7 June 2003.
(Right) The close-up of the tire shows the name
"Goodrich - Silvertown" still easily readable. In
fact, though this tire is flat, the rubber is not
dried, cracked, or rotting. Apparently the high
humidity of the jungle keeps the tire from drying
out and decaying. 7 June 2003.
"Goodrich - Silvertown" still easily readable. In
fact, though this tire is flat, the rubber is not
dried, cracked, or rotting. Apparently the high
humidity of the jungle keeps the tire from drying
out and decaying. 7 June 2003.
(Above) Another tire lying forlorn
on the jungle floor. (Right), more
debis. Is that circular cut in the
middle a window port? Or the
mount for an AA gun?. 7 June 2003.
on the jungle floor. (Right), more
debis. Is that circular cut in the
middle a window port? Or the
mount for an AA gun?. 7 June 2003.
(Left) What we guessed to be a gun
mount. (Below) Tim McDonald,
pastor and director of the Christian
Servicmen's Center, pauses by the
suspected gun-turret piece.
7 June 2003.
mount. (Below) Tim McDonald,
pastor and director of the Christian
Servicmen's Center, pauses by the
suspected gun-turret piece.
7 June 2003.
(Left) Eric, one of my best friends,
was also on this expedition with Tim
and I. He got this photo of me with
the wreck before we left for lunch.
7 June 2003.
was also on this expedition with Tim
and I. He got this photo of me with
the wreck before we left for lunch.
7 June 2003.
| Return to Tarague Cliff |
28 August 2004
A little over a year since the above photos were shot,
I took advantage of Typhoon Chaba having cleared
some of the brush and returned to the unknown B29
resting on the Tarague cliff. I discovered more of the
aircraft, enough to conclusively guess that this was a
crash. I, er, also took a 15-foot fall down the cliff
face when the loose soil gave way under my feet.
Gashed up my knee pretty good.
A little over a year since the above photos were shot,
I took advantage of Typhoon Chaba having cleared
some of the brush and returned to the unknown B29
resting on the Tarague cliff. I discovered more of the
aircraft, enough to conclusively guess that this was a
crash. I, er, also took a 15-foot fall down the cliff
face when the loose soil gave way under my feet.
Gashed up my knee pretty good.
Pictured above are file photos of B29 Superfortresses in flight.
(Above) An engine cowling caught in the trees. At the very right
of the photo is a part of the empenage--or tail section. This
structure included the tail, elevators, rudder, and tail-gunner
position (photo at right). The engine cowl lies in a tangle of
piping and hoses (below). These debris are just a few yards east
of the major wing fragment shown in the above section.
of the photo is a part of the empenage--or tail section. This
structure included the tail, elevators, rudder, and tail-gunner
position (photo at right). The engine cowl lies in a tangle of
piping and hoses (below). These debris are just a few yards east
of the major wing fragment shown in the above section.
In the photo at right, you are actually "inside" the fusalage, the
skin of which lies on the right side of the photo. You are looking
aft, and the red arrow is pointing at the tail-gunner's position.
The close up photo of it (above right) was taken from behind the
plane looking forward...or what used to be forward. During the
2003 expedition, we were literally feet away from the tail
gunner's position, but never saw it because the jungle was so
thick.
skin of which lies on the right side of the photo. You are looking
aft, and the red arrow is pointing at the tail-gunner's position.
The close up photo of it (above right) was taken from behind the
plane looking forward...or what used to be forward. During the
2003 expedition, we were literally feet away from the tail
gunner's position, but never saw it because the jungle was so
thick.
Using the file photos as a
reference, here are some
pointers to orientate you. In
the photo above you see where
the tail-gunner's position is on
an intact aircraft, and the engine
reference, here are some
pointers to orientate you. In
the photo above you see where
the tail-gunner's position is on
an intact aircraft, and the engine
and wing fragment that I suspect would be the same as the wing fragment and landing gear at the top of this
page. The photo above right shows that same engine again, as well as the window port on the aft port side.
In the upper part of this page I speculated whether a larrge circular hole was a window or gun mount? After
examining the wreck today and looking at these photos, I'm convinced that is the fusalage skin around the
highlighted window.
page. The photo above right shows that same engine again, as well as the window port on the aft port side.
In the upper part of this page I speculated whether a larrge circular hole was a window or gun mount? After
examining the wreck today and looking at these photos, I'm convinced that is the fusalage skin around the
highlighted window.
The area is littered with .50 cal shells and
shell casings. The port side main mount tire
is still settled in the wheel well of the engine
nacelle you are looking at; it was never
lowered prior to the aircraft's final, fateful,
landing. The engine is missing, however.
Dropped away down 300 feet of cliff to the
plateau, or removed and salvaged? Did this
aircraft belly-land and slide off the runway,
or run SMACK into the side of the cliff?
Unless an identifying feature can be located
shell casings. The port side main mount tire
is still settled in the wheel well of the engine
nacelle you are looking at; it was never
lowered prior to the aircraft's final, fateful,
landing. The engine is missing, however.
Dropped away down 300 feet of cliff to the
plateau, or removed and salvaged? Did this
aircraft belly-land and slide off the runway,
or run SMACK into the side of the cliff?
Unless an identifying feature can be located
