WESTSIDE - The only fl ying Boeing B-29 Superfortress will grace the skies over Northwest Arkansas on Sept. 19 as part of the Bikes, Blues, BBQ and Bombers event in Fayetteville.
The B-29, affectionately knownas “Fifi ,” is owned andoperated by the Commemorative Air Force base in Midland, Texas. It, along withseveral other aircraft, was war surplus at the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, Calf., and was used for target practice. The then Confederate Air Force got government permission to retrieve the aircraft from the weapons center in March of 1971. They were requiredto restore it on site and ferry it to the CAF’s headquarters in Harlingen, Texas.
The restoration took five months to complete. The volunteer force replaced many systems in the aircraft, including gas, oil, and hydraulic lines. With a ready supply of B-29 parts available, the group salvaged parts from other aircraft. Finally, on Aug. 3, 1971, after a completerun up of engines, propellers and landing gear, the B-29 took to the sky once again. The aircraft was piloted by Neil Agather, the project leader, and took off from China Lake en route to Harlingen.
As the story goes, the B-29 was taxiing onto the runway at China Lake and a large crowd of military and civilianpersonnel hadgathered expecting to seeplane
abort take-off or
crash on the dry lake bed near the weaponsceninto the air, much to the surprise ofeveryone on the ground. It tookAgather and his crew six hours to reach south Texas. They arrived without incident.
It took the CAF three years to completely restore the Superfortess to FAA airworthiness standards. Late in 1974, “Fifi” took to the skies and has been an ambassador for the CAF and World War II veterans across the United States.
The B-29 has visited Northwest Arkansas on several occasions. In the late ’80s and ‘90,s “Fifi” had ties to Northwest Arkansas in the form of Decatur native D.K. Bredehoeft. Bredehoeft served as a pilot and flight engineer for the B-29. He was one of several crew members who volunteered their time to bring the Superfortress to airshows across the country.
The B-29, along with a Consolidated B-24, “Diamond Lil” (one ofonly two still fl ying), Beech C-45 “Bucket of Bolts,” Navy SB2CHelldiver (the only fl ying aircraft of that type) anda North American AT-6Texanwill beon display at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum at Drake Field beginning Sept. 19, from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. On Sept. 20 through 22, the display will be open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Admission will be $15 per person, and a family rate is available.
For more information, contact the Arkansas Air and Military Museum at 521-4947.
ter. Aga t h
er began his
take-off roll and, when he reached take-off speed, pulled the yoke back and the aircraft lifted its nose
News, Pages 2 on 09/11/2013