![]()
The Palm Springs Air Museum will unveil its newest acquisition on Veterans Day. The new, rare B-29 Superfortress "Hot One" nose and cockpit section features the city of Palm Springs' logo on one side and the squadron's logo on another and is dedicated to a special veteran in the Palm Springs area.
"One exciting addition this year is the extremely rare B-29 Superfortress 44-69957 "Hot One" Nose andamp; Cockpit section," Museum director Fred Bell said. "She will be dedicated to the memory of Bob McKee, one of the Palm Springs Air Museum's beloved docents and to the City of Palm Springs."
McKee was a B-29 radar operator with the 479th Bomb Group, 20th Air Force. This particular B-29 flew with the 879th Bombardment Squadron of the 499th Bombardment Group out of Isley Field, Saipan. The aircraft returned to the U.S. after the war and was then converted into a SB-29 Search andamp; Rescue Aircraft. "Hot One" was sent to China Lake, California in 1960 to be used as a test target and took a direct hit during a weapons test. The shell of the nose and the salvageable parts have been restored by the Palm Spring Air Museum's restoration volunteers.
As well as the unveiling on Nov. 11, Heatwave Jazz Band will perform and cake will be served to the visitors. There will be vintage warbirds landing and taking off from the tarmac behind the museum and warbird rides for sale. Children 12 and under will get in free with paid adult admission. Veterans will receive free admission on Veterans Day.
The non-profit museum has over 73 vintage airframes from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the modern F-117 Stealth Fighter inside The Jim Houston Pavilion. The collection of aircraft are held in 91,000 square feet of open hangar space as well as on the tarmac. There are additional displays and memorabilia throughout the hangars. The upstairs library contains 12,000 volumes and flight simulators. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and Feb. 10, 2024.
On top of the special unveiling ceremony, the Palm Springs Museum is celebrating its 27th anniversary. The rare nose and cockpit will be unveiled on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the museum, thanks to the restoration team working to preserve aviation history.
"This is an extremely rare airplane and we are so happy to be able to give her a new lease on life," Bell said.