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Oshkosh AirVenture Plane of the Day: Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bomber

Brooks
Retired Community Manager

To be in the presence of this airplane is pretty surreal, for a number of reasons.  This Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bomber, named "Fifi," is currently the only one in the entire world fit enough to fly.  More than two dozen of these planes are in aviation museums, and other museums around the world.  They will likely stay on land forever, no longer able to make the journey to the sky.
 
B-29 Front
Front of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bomber
 
The B-29 was primarily used during World War II and the Korean War, as a bomber that ran day missions at a high altitude. The most famous B-29 Bomber is the Enola Gay. The Enola Gay played the center piece in one of the most historical events in world history: it was the plane that carried the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
 
Military mechanics had fits keeping the B-29 in the sky, because of its engine (hence, why only Fifi is able to fly today).  A couple of my Coworkers saw Fifi come in, and I am hoping to see her when she takes off.  Fifi's four propellers are massive.
 
B-29 Propeller
Propeller on the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bomber
 
The body and tail of this Bomber are equally enormous.  In the back is a pair of machine guns, used to fend off enemy planes.
 
B-29 Tail
Rear and Tail of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bomber
 
One of the military veterans who participated in our Oshkosh Honor Flight yesterday flew in a B-29 during World War II. Our Honor Flight left Oshkosh yesterday morning with full capacity, bound for the war memorials in Washington, D.C. It returned yesterday evening.  I wanted to share a picture of those veterans arriving back in OSH last night, and thank you all, and all of our service men and women, for your dedication to our country.
 
Veterans Disembarking
Honor Flight Returning from Washington, D.C.
 
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