A-3 lifeboat
Encyclopedia
The A-3 lifeboat was an airborne lifeboat
developed by the EDO Corporation
in 1947 for the United States Air Force
(USAF) as a successor to the Higgins Industries
A-1 lifeboat
. The A-3 lifeboat was a key element of "Dumbo"
rescue flights of the 1950s.
performing air-sea rescue
duties during the Pacific War
. Approximately 100 of these lifeboats were built—their serial numbers began at 501 and continued in sequence.
The A-3 lifeboat was 30.05 feet (9.2 m) long and it weighed 2736 pounds (1,241 kg) when fully loaded and ready for attachment to the aircraft. The A-3 lifeboat could rescue 15 people. It was powered by a four-cylinder four-stroke Meteor 20 gasoline
engine made by the Red Wing Motor Company. With an Ailsa Craig propeller
it was expected to give a speed of 8 knots (9.7 mph) under calm water conditions. Nearly 100 gallons (378.5 l) of fuel were on board. The airborne lifeboat was dropped from the SB-29 on a single 100 feet (30.5 m) parachute
. Like previous airborne lifeboat designs, it was self-righting. The boat had a boarding ladder, and carried food and water for the rescued people.
In March 1951, Time
magazine reported that the USAF was testing a radio control
led steering device for the A-3 lifeboat. After the boat dropped into the sea, a radio operator aboard the rescue aircraft would start the lifeboat's engine remotely, then direct the boat toward the survivors to make it easier for them to reach it. After climbing aboard, the survivors could talk to the circling aircraft by two-way radio. A gyrocompass
aboard the lifeboat would be set toward the nearest safe land, and the supply of fuel would allow for 800 mile of range, with further range possible if additional water, food and fuel supplies were dropped along the way. The USAF expected all their A-3 lifeboats to be equipped with radio control by early 1952.
, 16 B-29 Superfortress
bombers were assigned rescue duty on a rotating basis, a role called "Super Dumbo". Such pared-down B-29s, with reduced armament and added fuel capacity, served in the Pacific War
during massed bombing sorties made by regular B-29s. After the war, some 16 of the very heavy bombers were converted to air-sea rescue duties and redesignated SB-29 Super Dumbo. They served in the Korean War
, where they were fitted with the EDO airborne lifeboat. A-3 lifeboats were carried by Super Dumbos over the Yellow Sea
and the Sea of Japan
.
From the beginning of the Korean War, the A-3 lifeboat was kept shackled underneath an SB-29 waiting in constant readiness on the ground at each rescue airbase. However, rainwater could enter the boat and pool inside an open end of the parachute bag. After one air drop which failed because of water that had frozen at high altitude, trapping the parachute, the A-3 lifeboat was stored disconnected from the aircraft and with a rain cover in place.
.
Airborne lifeboat
Airborne lifeboats were powered lifeboats that were made to be dropped by fixed-wing aircraft into water to aid in air-sea rescue operations. An airborne lifeboat was to be carried by a heavy bomber specially modified to handle the external load of the lifeboat...
developed by the EDO Corporation
EDO Corporation
EDO Corporation was an American company, which was acquired by ITT Corporation in 2007. EDO designed and manufactured products for defense, intelligence, and commercial markets, and provided related engineering and professional services. It employed 4,000 people worldwide and had revenues of $715...
in 1947 for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF) as a successor to the Higgins Industries
Higgins Industries
Higgins Industries was the company owned by Andrew Higgins based in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Higgins is most famous for the design and production of the Higgins boat, an amphibious landing craft referred to as LCVP, which were used extensively in D-Day Invasion of Normandy...
A-1 lifeboat
A-1 lifeboat
The A-1 lifeboat was a powered lifeboat that was made to be dropped by fixed-wing aircraft into water to aid in air-sea rescue operations. The sturdy airborne lifeboat was to be carried by a heavy bomber specially modified to handle the external load of the lifeboat...
. The A-3 lifeboat was a key element of "Dumbo"
Dumbo (air-sea rescue)
Dumbo was the code name used by the United States Navy during the 1940s and 1950s to signify search and rescue missions, conducted in conjunction with military operations, by long-range aircraft flying over the ocean. The purpose of Dumbo missions was to rescue downed American aviators as well as...
rescue flights of the 1950s.
Specifications
EDO built the lifeboat of aluminum alloy to be carried by the SB-29 Super DumboB-29 Superfortress variants
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was produced in a large number of experimental and production models.-XB-29:The XB-29, Boeing Model 345, was the first accepted prototype or experimental model delivered to the Army Air Corps, incorporating a number of improvements on the design originally submitted,...
performing air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
duties during the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. Approximately 100 of these lifeboats were built—their serial numbers began at 501 and continued in sequence.
The A-3 lifeboat was 30.05 feet (9.2 m) long and it weighed 2736 pounds (1,241 kg) when fully loaded and ready for attachment to the aircraft. The A-3 lifeboat could rescue 15 people. It was powered by a four-cylinder four-stroke Meteor 20 gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
engine made by the Red Wing Motor Company. With an Ailsa Craig propeller
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
it was expected to give a speed of 8 knots (9.7 mph) under calm water conditions. Nearly 100 gallons (378.5 l) of fuel were on board. The airborne lifeboat was dropped from the SB-29 on a single 100 feet (30.5 m) parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
. Like previous airborne lifeboat designs, it was self-righting. The boat had a boarding ladder, and carried food and water for the rescued people.
In March 1951, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine reported that the USAF was testing a radio control
Radio control
Radio control is the use of radio signals to remotely control a device. The term is used frequently to refer to the control of model vehicles from a hand-held radio transmitter...
led steering device for the A-3 lifeboat. After the boat dropped into the sea, a radio operator aboard the rescue aircraft would start the lifeboat's engine remotely, then direct the boat toward the survivors to make it easier for them to reach it. After climbing aboard, the survivors could talk to the circling aircraft by two-way radio. A gyrocompass
Gyrocompass
A gyrocompass is a type of non-magnetic compass which bases on a fast-spinning disc and rotation of our planet to automatically find geographical direction...
aboard the lifeboat would be set toward the nearest safe land, and the supply of fuel would allow for 800 mile of range, with further range possible if additional water, food and fuel supplies were dropped along the way. The USAF expected all their A-3 lifeboats to be equipped with radio control by early 1952.
World War II and Korean War
Toward the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 16 B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
bombers were assigned rescue duty on a rotating basis, a role called "Super Dumbo". Such pared-down B-29s, with reduced armament and added fuel capacity, served in the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
during massed bombing sorties made by regular B-29s. After the war, some 16 of the very heavy bombers were converted to air-sea rescue duties and redesignated SB-29 Super Dumbo. They served in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, where they were fitted with the EDO airborne lifeboat. A-3 lifeboats were carried by Super Dumbos over the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
and the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
.
From the beginning of the Korean War, the A-3 lifeboat was kept shackled underneath an SB-29 waiting in constant readiness on the ground at each rescue airbase. However, rainwater could enter the boat and pool inside an open end of the parachute bag. After one air drop which failed because of water that had frozen at high altitude, trapping the parachute, the A-3 lifeboat was stored disconnected from the aircraft and with a rain cover in place.
Survivors
Lifeboat number 603 is under restoration at the National Museum of the USAFNational Museum of the United States Air Force
The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display...
.