Operation Boston Blackie – the B-36's that never arrived

Readers will wonder what this has to do with to do with New Zealand let alone the Aviation Historical Society? Well, had plans come to fruition, in 1955 Christchurch Airport (then known as Harewood) would have been home to a massive USAF operation involving nearly 300 servicemen, six B-36, several C-124 Globemasters, a Boeing Superfortress, specifically an SB-29 air-sea rescue version carrying a droppable A-3 lifeboat along with additional radio equipment, provisions, survival kits and extra crew. Support would be provided by USAF C-54 while the US Navy would provide two weather ships to be stationed along the track.