B-29 Doc Gets Certified for Airworthiness!

War History Online ^ | June 8, 2016 | War History Online

[re_tail20]

The B-29 bomber known as Doc may be flying again before the summer is over.

On May 20th, the nonprofit group Doc’s Friends announced that they had accepted an airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Several dozen members of the group, along with other supporters, attended a ceremony at Doc’s hangar at Air Capital Flight Line, the former Boeing Wichita factory complex.

“The biggest thing is how important this airplane is to history,” said Jeff Turner, board chairman for Doc’s Friends. “The light of freedom was growing dimmer (during World War II), and the men and women of our nation rose up and secured our freedom. I don’t want us to ever forget that.”

The certificate was one of the final hurdles in the restoration plan for the plane. The group will now be seeking permission to operate the plane from McConnell Air Force Base.

Jim Murphy, program manager for the restoration, said that the certification announcement came 16 years to the day from when the pieces that make up Doc arrived in Wichita on flatbed trucks from California.

Turner, the former CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, thanked all who had helped with the project over the years. He said that 26 of the volunteers have since died. Over 350,000 volunteer hours were put into the restoration.,,

[Chode]

[NonValueAdded]

There is a B-17 under renovation at the National Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force. I wish that project Godspeed. May they take strength from the restoration of Doc.

http://www.mightyeighth.org/b-17-exhibit/

[Doogle]

[DCBryan1]

Great! Maybe now DOC and FIFI can be loaded with B61 nukes and drop them on Raqqah.

[headstamp 2]

Soon to be on one of my “Ghosts” calendars.

Godspeed.

[bigbob]

Nice to see FIFI will be having a little company up there!

[Zathras]

I’ve seen FIFI flying in Colorado.
Very impressive!

[dainbramaged]

On the night of 9–10 March 1945 ("Operation Meetinghouse"), 334 B-29s took off to raid with 279 of them dropping 1,665 tons of bombs on Tokyo. The bombs were mostly the 500-pound E-46 cluster bomb which released 38 napalm-carrying M-69 incendiary bomblets at an altitude of 2,000–2,500 ft . The M-69s punched through thin roofing material or landed on the ground; in either case they ignited 3–5 seconds later, throwing out a jet of flaming napalm globs.
My Dad's buddy from high school was a crewman on one of those planes, made it home safely and lived to age 90.

[hadrian]

Four weeks ago I heard a rumble outside and knew it was something different; I ran outside and a B-29 with a big “A” on the tail flew directly over me about 1000 feet up. I of course googled it and found out it was FiFi. My dad was an armorer for B-17s, B-24s and B-29s in the South Pacific, so it was so cool to see.

[Don W]

The B-17 known as “Aluminum Overcast” was here last weekend selling flights. She was a thing of beauty to see and hear.

[truth_seeker]

They fly a lot of WWII era planes around SoCal, regularly.

I know a man that pilots them.

[Chode]

with Tehran as a secondary

[pleasenotcalifornia]

Very cool. My dad was an Electrical Specialist and worked on B25’s and P47’s etc.. in the China-Burma Theater. He is still with us at 92.

[867V309]

I’ve seen FIFI flying in Colorado.
Very impressive!

Years ago I was privileged to sit in the pilot's seat of FIFI (on the ground, of course.) I'll never forget that moment.

[hadrian]

Bless him. My dad passed 20 years ago; he was a grocery clerk in Illinois when Pearl Harbor was bombed and tried to enlist, but his eyesight was too bad. Six months later, he tried again and his eyesight had miraculously improved! His Army Air Force training taught him circuitry and his career was with Idaho Power, designing remote control systems for hydro dams.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Curious that 55 of the B-29s didn’t drop any bombs. I wonder why. I read that 27 failed to return, but some of those probably dropped their bombs before being lost.

[Zathras]

Next time I get a chance, I’m going to pay for a flight.
Always liked the B29 since I saw “Bock’s Car” in the Air Force Museum in Dayton.

[Big Red Badger]

B29’s,,,
Awsome!

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

I have followed this rebuild for years and its great to see her all polished and ready to hit the airshow circuit.