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B-29-25-MO "Miss America 62" Serial Number 42-65281

USAAF
20th AF
6th BG
24th BS

Aircraft History
Built by Glenn L. Martin Company in Omaha, Nebraska. On December 11, 1944 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-25-MO Superfortress serial number 42-65281. Ferried overseas to North Field on Tinian.

Wartime History
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.

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.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29-25-MO Superfortress 42-65281
"65281 converted to WB-29 while in service. Reported 1975 in storage at NAS China Lake, CA. Acquired by USAFM and delivered to Travis AFB, California in 1986. Displayed as "Miss America '62" at Travis AFB Museum."

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Last Updated
November 9, 2019

B-29

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