The Propeller Hanging Above the Bar
A piece of aviation history at Gate 12
A Piece of Aviation History at Gate 12
The propeller mounted in the ceiling above the bar at Gate 12 is believed to have come from the B-29 Enola Gay, the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945.
Its story, however, doesn't end with World War II. The propeller eventually found its way to Texas A&M University, where it became part of the university's aviation and wind-tunnel history.
From the Enola Gay to Texas A&M
In the late 1940s, Texas A&M was constructing a Low Speed Wind Tunnel located just across the parking lot from what is now Gate 12. Engineers determined that a B-29 propeller was needed to provide the airflow required to operate the tunnel.
Texas A&M contacted the U.S. Army Air Corps and received the propeller, along with the story that it had come from the Enola Gay.
To make the propeller work in the wind tunnel, 18 inches were removed from each blade. The shortened blades then operated within a narrow channel surrounding the tunnel, helping reduce turbulence at the blade tips and providing better airflow for testing models.
An Unexpected Chapter
At some point during the wind tunnel's history, a model being tested broke apart and was pulled through the spinning propeller.
The damage can still be seen on the blades today.
Because the damaged blades could potentially crack or fail during operation, creating a catastrophic hazard inside the wind tunnel, the propeller was eventually retired and replaced with another B-29 propeller.
From the Wind Tunnel to Gate 12
When plans for Gate 12 were being developed, Texas A&M wind tunnel management offered the retired propeller for display.
The propeller was a natural fit for Gate 12. Both the historic propeller and the Gate 12 building are connected to Texas A&M, making the restaurant an ideal place to preserve and display this remarkable piece of aviation history.
After discussions with Texas A&M, approval was given for the propeller to be placed on permanent display at Gate 12.
Look Up the Next Time You're at the Bar
The next time you visit Gate 12, take a moment to look up.
Whether or not the propeller can ultimately be proven to have flown on the Enola Gay, its journey from a B-29, to Texas A&M's wind tunnel, and finally to Gate 12 is a remarkable piece of local aviation history.