P-51D “Gunfighter” To Join B-29 “Doc” in Kansas | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.16.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.17.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Sun, Sep 08, 2024

P-51D “Gunfighter” To Join B-29 “Doc” in Kansas

Iconic World War II Aircraft Pair Up At Great Bend AirFest

The History Restored Tour of the B-29 Superfortress Doc will be at the Great Bend Municipal Airport (KGBD) in Kansas for a brief stop and will be available for flight experience rides September 19-23.

In a symbolic recreation of their historic roles in World War II, Doc will be joined by the P-51D Gunfighter, one of the aircraft that provided long-range escort and top-cover for the bombers in the Pacific Theater. The additional protection and firepower provided significant advantages in helping Allied air power defeat Japan.

Gunfighter was built in North American Aviation’s Inglewood, California plant, and both it and Doc were delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) in March 1945. Doc was built by the Boeing Company plant in Wichita, Kansas.

Larry Lumpkin, Gunfighter Team Lead said, “Teaming up with B-29 Doc brings a unique past in our nation’s history to life. Both of these aircraft played a pivotal role in World War II, and bringing both to Kansas and a city that played a crucial role in the training of our nation’s arsenal of pilots, aircrew and maintainers, will further tell the story of what it was like to fly in these iconic airplanes.”

Following the war, Gunfighter was assigned to Olmsted Field in Pennsylvania, where present-day Harrisburg International Airport (KMDT) in Pennsylvania is now located. In another coincidence, both aircraft were retired from military service in 1956. Doc was reassigned to non-combat roles back in the U.S. assisting with radar calibration, target towing, and eventually as a bombing target at China Lake in California. Tony Mazzolini discovered Doc in 1987 after she sat in the Mojave Desert’s China Lake boneyard for more than 40 years. Thus began the nearly 15 year process of recovering and restoring the airplane now making the air show rounds for flight experiences for younger generations to appreciate the history behind the important aircraft of World War II.

FMI:  www.greatbendairfest.com/

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.15.25): Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach

Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach An approach conducted while operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot of an aircraft to proceed >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.15.25)

“When l became the Secretary of Defense, I committed to rebuild our military to match threats to capabilities. Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.15.25)

Aero Linx: Stearman Restorers Association Welcome to the Stearman Restorers Association. The Stearman Restorers Association is an independent “Not for Profit” 501C-3 Co>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Kjelsrud Gary Kitfox

Airplane Exhibited A Partial Loss Of Engine Power When It Was About Halfway Down The Runway Analysis: The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane was departing from his pr>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Cessna A150L

The Flight Path Was Consistent With Low-Altitude Maneuvering On June 18, 2025, about 0922 mountain standard time, a Cessna A150L airplane, N6436F, was substantially damaged when it>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC