Will Fly In On Opening Day -- Monday, July 24
The EAA told Aero-News
Tuesday that two of the greatest airplanes from the World War II
era -- the Boeing B-29 and Consolidated LB-30 (better known as the
B-24 Liberator) -- will be coming to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006.
Both aircraft are part of Commemorative Air Force's "Ghost
Squadron" fleet, based in Midland, TX.
The LB-30 was part of EAA AirVenture's salute to the 60th
anniversary of the end of World War II last year. The B-29 is
making its first appearance at Oshkosh since 1995 (it was scheduled
to appear at AirVenture last year, until mechanical difficulties
prevented that visit.)
"The addition of the B-29 and LB-30 to the lineup for EAA
AirVenture 2006 again proves that Oshkosh is the greatest aviation
gathering point in the world," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president
and AirVenture chairman. "These two airplanes represent the
highest American bomber technology from the beginning and end of
World War II."
The Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" is best known to many as the
aircraft from which the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
in 1945. "Fifi" is the world's only airworthy example of the B-29,
which was designed as a replacement for the older B-17s and B-24s,
with longer range and greater bomb loads. It was first flown in
1942 and began active service in 1944, and served throughout the
1950s until the jet age took firm hold.
This particular B-29 was saved from use as a ground target for
weapons tests in the 1960s, and was first flown by the CAF in 1971.
The B-29 is named "Fifi" in honor of the wife of Col. Victor N.
Agather, who had been on the wartime development team for the
aircraft and had been personally committed and involved with the
airplane's restoration.
The Consolidated LB-30 is one of the earliest models of the
famed B-24 "Liberator" bomber, and is the oldest of the only two or
three airworthy examples of this airplane that still exist. It was
built in 1940 and purchased by Great Britain before the start of
that nation's Lend-Lease program with the United States --- hence,
the LB-30 designation as Consolidated's 30th model in its Land
Bomber series. More than 18,000 of the LB-30/B-24 model were
produced.
"Diamond Lil," the 18th LB-30 off the assembly line, was damaged
in an operational accident and never saw the skies over England.
The CAF purchased the aircraft from the Pemex Oil Company of Mexico
in 1967, and restored the airplane in the combat markings of the
98th Bomb Group of the 9th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Corps.
Both aircraft will fly in to Wittman Field Monday, July 24 (EAA
AirVenture's opening day) and will remain throughout the event's
duration. The two airplanes will be parked on the main AeroShell
Square showcase ramp.
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