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wow that was some super videos.. its a shame that only one is left that is up an off into the blues ![A toast to MV's :beer: :beer:](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/beerchug.gif)
![A toast to MV's :beer: :beer:](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/beerchug.gif)
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If I recall correctly the fire was caused by a portable generator they were using as a APU. They had made some makeshift brackets to hold the generator/APU in the tail area of the aircraft. While taxing on the very rough tundra to their ice runway the generator/APU bracket broke and the generator/APU fell. It was either the heat from the engine or an electrical short that caused the fire.Didnt they dig one of these out of the ice in antarctica it took years and they retrofitted it with new engines and the battery cable came loose on takeoff and it burned up on the ice. I watched a documentary on it after years of digging it out and I believe the mechanic died too while working on it.
Didnt they dig one of these out of the ice in antarctica it took years and they retrofitted it with new engines and the battery cable came loose on takeoff and it burned up on the ice. I watched a documentary on it after years of digging it out and I believe the mechanic died too while working on it.
If I recall correctly the fire was caused by a portable generator they were using as a APU. They had made some makeshift brackets to hold the generator/APU in the tail area of the aircraft. While taxing on the very rough tundra to their ice runway the generator/APU bracket broke and the generator/APU fell. It was either the heat from the engine or an electrical short that caused the fire.
They had nothing but a few hand held fire extinguishers to try to fight the fire with and of course that was not nearly enough.
It was a real shame to watch the old lady burn to nothing more than a pile of melted structural parts. Once the runway melted (Ice covered lake) the remaining bits sank to the bottom of the lake.
I do believe you are correct about the death as well. Again, from memory, I think it was medical (Heart attack?) from exertion during the fire, not from smoke/flame. In any case it only serves to increase the level of tragedy that day.
On a much brighter note, does anybody have any information to share about the "Glacier Gal"? In contrast to the epic tragedy on the above noted B-29, the Glacier Gal story is truly amazing and I believe it is flying today....
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