The John R. Buschmann collection contains materials related to the Museum of Flight's Boeing B-29 Superfortress known as "T-Square 54." The materials were collected by Lt. Col. Buschmann while researching his book T-Square 54, the Last B-29.
Series I is comprised of information about the B-29 and the 498th Bomb Group and 73rd Bomb Wing units associated with the plane. It contains six black-and-white photographs of the plane and crew members, information about the planes mechanics, and target records. These items informed the manuscript T-Square 54, the Last B-29, authored by Buschmann. There is also information about the Lowry Heritage Museum, where the plane was once housed.
Series II contains the interviews Lt. Col. Buschmann conducted when writing T-Square 54, the Last B-29. The series contains both the audiocassettes of the interviews as well as transcripts that he prepared. The interviews are with gunners, bombardiers, radio operators, and navigators, and are arranged alphabetically by interviewee.
Series I is comprised of information about the B-29 and the 498th Bomb Group and 73rd Bomb Wing units associated with the plane. It contains six black-and-white photographs of the plane and crew members, information about the planes mechanics, and target records. These items informed the manuscript T-Square 54, the Last B-29, authored by Buschmann. There is also information about the Lowry Heritage Museum, where the plane was once housed.
Series II contains the interviews Lt. Col. Buschmann conducted when writing T-Square 54, the Last B-29. The series contains both the audiocassettes of the interviews as well as transcripts that he prepared. The interviews are with gunners, bombardiers, radio operators, and navigators, and are arranged alphabetically by interviewee.
Dates
- 1944-1991
Creator
- Buschmann, John R. (Person)
Language of Materials
All materials are in English, with the exception of one document that is partially in Japanese.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.
Conditions Governing Use
The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.
Extent
0.9 Cubic Feet (1 full-width legal-size document box, 1 half-width legal-seize document box, and 1 card box)
Abstract
Lt. Col. John R. Buschmann compiled this information about the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, known as "T-Square 54," through personal research and interviews with former crew members. In 2015 these materials, including a short history of the plane written by Lt. Col. Buschmann, were donated to the Museum of Flight in an effort to keep the physical plane and its history housed in one location.
Historical Note: Boeing B-29 Superfortress "T Square 54"
The T-Square 54 Boeing B-29 Superfortress was flown by the 498th Bomb Group during World War II. The 498th Bomb Group completed bombing missions over Japan, hitting targets such as Tokyo and Iwo Jima. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress provided troops with a plane that could carry larger payloads and fly faster than previous planes. After World War II, the T-Square 54 B-29 was modified and flown as an aerial refueling tanker in the Korean War.
Initial reconstruction of the plane was attempted at the Lowry Air Force Base's Museum in Denver, Colorado. When those restoration efforts fell through, the plane was transfered to the Museum of Flight for restoration and display.
Initial reconstruction of the plane was attempted at the Lowry Air Force Base's Museum in Denver, Colorado. When those restoration efforts fell through, the plane was transfered to the Museum of Flight for restoration and display.
Biographical Note: John R. Buschmann
Lieutenant Colonel John R. Buschmann is the author of T-Square 54, the Last B-29. He retired from the United States Air Force after 23 years of service and is active in the Colorado Civil Air Patrol. No further information is known.
Accruals
No further accruals expected.
- Airplanes
- Airplanes, Military
- Boeing B-29 Superfortress
- Funk, James Osgood, 1917-1998
- Gottfried, William, 1923-
- Jacobson, Olaf Hildebrand
- Japan
- Pierson, Sture B., 1922-
- Robinson, William M., 1921-2012
- TMOF Aircraft
- Taylor, James H., Jr.
- Tonnies, Lawrence Albert
- United States. Army
- United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Group, 498th
- United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Wing (VH), 73rd
- United States. Army. Signal Corps. Aeronautical Division. Flight Detachment, 173rd
- World War, 1939-1945
- audiocassettes
- correspondence
- decals
- manuscripts (documents)
- newsletters
- oral histories (literary works)
- photographic prints
- technical reports
- yearbooks
Creator
- Buschmann, John R. (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the John R. Buschmann B-29 Collection
- Status
- Completed - Level 3
- Author
- H. Kolesar
- Date
- 2018
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Edition statement
- 2nd edition
Revision Statements
- 2018 Novmeber: Finding aid migrated to ArchivesSpace.
- 2022 July: Minor edits to formatting; reorganized Series II alphabetically by name.
Repository Details
Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository
Contact:
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org