NOVA: B-29 Frozen in Time

I'm a documentary junkie, and it's so nice to add this one to my collection. I first saw it in December of 2004. However, be prepared for heartbreak. The work performed by those involved was between difficult and miserable, outside, in arctic conditions. Not in a well equipped aircraft hangar, bit in the dirt of a barren arctic tundra. I can't imagine the amount of money spent on this endeavor. Nonetheless, if you enjoy documentaries, especially aviation documentaries, I recommend this. A unique and determined attempt to save a historic aircraft. In remembrance of Rick Kriege, the engineer who oversaw most of this operation.

OK. How could you go wrong? If you're into adventures, near impossible 'field fix it up' challenges and conditions, WWII vintage aircraft and the B29 in particular, this is a good movie "documentary" for you. I use "documentary" loosely, though, because it really wasn't a thorough, well sequenced and covered factual story. It was more like a 'docu drama' or some half baked reality TV show with a bunch of sound bytes, snippets and tight photo/clip short shots -- mostly of their supply plane burrowing into the snow upon landing, etc. or 'so and so' grimacing in pain or frustration or worry. Many details were left out (back story, actual repairs made, etc.). They focused more on logistical problems (what did they expect with that old DeHaviland Caribou?) and primarily the engines, props, gear and recovering of the rudder. I think this version must have been truncated/edited down somewhat from the original TV airing...cause it simply seemed to jump around alot with no real cohency or focus. For example, when they first landed on the frozen artic lake to ressurect the Kee Bird, it looked like a lot of work had already been done to it. Certainly, it was sitting properly on it's gear, pointed in a good direction or a nice level cleared area (of snow), with a ladder next to one of the engines, etc. This DVD starts when they first land and only have a month or so to get her in flying condition....under the most demanding, crude, austere conditions! So there must have been previous prep work, no? I would have liked more 'back story' or previous activity details covered. In the end, this is a good story about the men themselves (though not much character development or focus) and how one man with a vision (and alot of $$$ backing) tried to save an intact and flyable virtually extinct (and very valuable) B29. Of course it was very SAD that their amicable lead master A&P mechanic died. Poor guy. You get the impression he was willingly pushed to the limit and the big guy in charge didn't really care or notice how sick he was till it was too late. But not enough time was spent on how the men lived in between work shifts, so it was hard to get the total 'hardship' context in better focus (hence my no doubt unfair sentiment). The ending was SAD too. More than. Haste makes waste...and so did that B29 get wasted...all due to a race against time and a seemingly impatient project leader/pilot who wanted "just to get it in the air" back to Thule before the WX turned bad and the money ran out. Too bad he didn't spend more time working on a proper runway surface....just watching it do a high speed taxi over 'off road terrain' was disburbing enough. It was a wonder that poor B29 didn't fail structurally from that alone. And the tragic resulting 'incident' probably saved the crew from being a smoking wreck at the end of that 'ice lake runway' that appeared to be too short anyway....even for that B29 in its former prime condition with strong new engines. In the end, the 'end' wasn't very uplifting at all. Kind of depressing actually. Nice try though guys. :-) Maybe you got some of your LLC investment back with this show. And maybe there was more to this story and 'plot' than we know...or were told. What did I learn from this DVD? Careful who's dream, challenge and business plan adventure you sign on board with ... especially if you're going to some remote hostile place like in the Arctic. BTW...I'm a long time USAF pilot/aviator...who obviously loves planes.

It is nice to know that there are still people around who deeply care about WW2 history. But it is equally sad when their efforts fail to achieve success. The B-29 bomber, is a part of WW2 history, and as such, deserves preservation. These men gave it their best efforts, but they came up short. They are to be saluted for their efforts, by all who study and enjoy WW2 history. There may well be many more wrecks out there, and this viewer hopes there are intrepid people willing to locate them, not for their personal sakes, but for the cause of history. I definitely recommend this dvd. JRV

I won't spoil the punchline to this NOVA special. The Kee Bird emergency landed in the early 1950s north of Thule Greenland on a frozen lake bed. Several times since then she has surfaced only to be buried under snow and ice. Warbird Classic (I think) did a multi-page page article on this ghost of Greenland during the mid 1980s. This video is at times tense, at times jovial and most of all, very enlightening from a historical standpoint. If you like the B-29 Bomber, or Aircraft in general, this is a great video to watch!

GOOD BOOK TO READ

My dad flew a B-29 Superfortress in WW II. I was dissappointed in the sad ending.

If you are a military history buff, this is for you.

A small team of men with a minuscule budget takes on a task that large aircraft companies would have to spend hundreds of thousands of Dollars - maybe millions of Dollars to do properly. It is field ingenuity and successful calculated risk assessment at it's best. This type of skill - long gone in many corporations, enables them to accomplish what they did. A study in brilliance and hard work, all under the most inhospitable conditions imaginable. This documentary chronicles human achievement at it's finest.

Unfortunately came in American format, but I very had it record to suit English DVD player, excellent film, sad ending!

What an inspiring tale of determination and courage - and ultimate heartache :(Have watched it over and over - hoping against hope for a different ending each time!Recommended for all aviation enthusiasts.