The Last B-36

This is the Last Peacemaker, B-36J-III 52-827, the last of 385 Convair B-36 Peacemakers built in Fort Worth, Texas, between 1946 and 1952. The "before" photos were taken in the late 1970's. They show what 20 years of exposure to the weather, birds, and vandals do to an airplane. The "after" photos were taken in the mid 1990's, after thousands of hours of volunteer effort to restore the aircraft. Their efforts will not be wasted.

Sadly, the effort to keep the airplane in Ft. Worth failed, and in 2006 the City of Ft. Worth was moved to Pima, AZ.

Before
After
B-36 nose, 1979 B-36 nose, 2002
7th Bomb Wing B-36 Association photograph by Doug Wood.
B-36 cockpit, 1979B-36 cockpit-pedestal, 1979 B-36 cockpit, 2002
B-36 lower deck, 1979B-36 lower deck, 1979 B-36 lower deck, 2002
B-36 external skin, 1979

Photo sources:

"Before": Corrie Bergeron personal collection. These and more are available on Saving the Last Peacemaker.

"After": Don Pyeatt's B-36 Peacemaker Site, Goleta Air Museum , Moving the Last B-36 (ctyftworth213.jpg, 7th Bomb Wing B-36 Association photograph by Doug Wood. )

Demo for proposed museum (.pps file)