The Bomber Will Soon Rejoin Her B-29 Sister Ship, FIFI, in the Skies

The Commemorative Air Force’s iconic B-24, Diamond Lil, is working hard to maintain its status as the only regularly flying Liberator. It recently accomplished its first engine run in more than a year and is now progressing through extensive testing and inspections before getting back in the air.

Diamond Lil was grounded in April 2024 after routine inspections revealed weather damage to her fabric-covered control surfaces. What began as a simple repair turned into a wholesale refurbishment of her rudders, ailerons, and elevators, along with a full replacement of the bomber’s intricate flight control cable network.

The CAF’s B-29/B-24 Squadron has been following the tortoise rather than the hare, carefully approaching each milestone of the project. This is for good reason: “There’s only one flying B-24 like her in the world. Every step must be perfect.”

The impact of their efforts was heard even outside Diamond Lil’s Dallas hangar when, on August 29, the bomber’s four Pratt & Whitney R-1830s came to life. While significant inspections and testing remain before the bomber can resume flight operations, the tides have clearly turned in favor of her return.

Her sister aircraft, the CAF’s B-29 FIFI, recently resumed touring after an extensive maintenance ordeal of her own. She was downed for supercharger issues in the spring, requiring the removal and repair of two engines. The bomber returned just in time for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, where she and her counterpart DOC once again reunited.

Warbird restorations like these are rarely quick, and never cheap. The CAF continues to lean on donors and volunteers to keep the project moving forward, directing supporters to its fundraising efforts to help cover the costs of returning Diamond Lil to the skies.

FMI: www.commemorativeairforce.org