B-29 "DOC" Restoration Project

 

May 27, 2010 Bomb Wing 73rd Visit Tom Brokaw wrote about the Greatest Generation, the veterans and their families, their sacrifices for their families and their beloved country.  On May 27th we shared some of those nostalgic moments again.    Watching a veteran get off the bus and walk slowly over to the B-29-Doc and gently pat the nose tires, made one wonder what was going through his mind and heart.   Others walked slowly over to the B-29 and looked at it with such warmth and affection, respect and thanksgiving that she and others like her brought them home safely after each mission.   Veterans, spouses, children and grand children climbed the aero stand to peer in to the cock pit, take photos, tell stories and remember.  Some climbed in the back door and went to the small space reserved for the tail gunner.  Many went to the open bomb bay doors, stood and looked inside at the wiring and the interior of the plane.  Others sat under the protective shade of her massive wings and told their stories:  One pilot told of flying out on 39 missions and returning his crew safely.  A knuckle sore mechanic said he changed out engines on many a B-29.   A weather man, who flew ahead with a crew in order to notify the rest of the squadron when the weather was ok for them to make their trip and return safely to their home base. He made 20 different missions.  This same weather man said he crashed five different times and each time he had been hungry before he took off and had no food with him.  Now-a-days he always carries an energy bar in his pocket.   A bombardier was in position as they taxied out the runway.  The brakes failed and the plane was headed for a bunker.  The vet flipped over his seat and landed between the pilot and co-pilot without touching either one.   When a WWII vet, wearing his WWII cap, and relative were returning to Saipan in 2007, the stewardess stopped to chat with him.  She then went up to the flight deck.  She returned shortly and said, “The pilot and co-pilot are both retired navy pilots and they said, ‘WWII Vets fly first class on their plane’”.  So he and relative moved to first class for the rest of the flight.   My sister, Loretta Shark, invited me to attend the Bomb Wing 73rd Reunion this month and I’m so glad to have been able to be part of this experience   Some of the stories I’ve heard have given me an even greater first hand appreciation of this Greatest Generation. By Sylvia Raftery & Loretta Shark