EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017: Boeing Plaza - A Boeing B-29 Named Doc

By Fred Harl

One of the stars of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, the B-29 Superfortress named Doc, was not difficult to find in Boeing Plaza between flying appearances.  This second of only two currently flying B-29s joined her sister ship, Fifi of the Commemorative Air Force, on display in Boeing Plaza and in the air during bomber air show demonstrations.  Delivered in 1945, this B-29 was received too late to serve in combat and was used stateside for calibration and target-towing duties before serving as a target at the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake, CA.  In 1987, Tony Mazzolini and his team began the process of recovering the B-29 for restoration to flying status.  It would take 12 years of government red tape and another 16 years of restoration work.  First flight was accomplished on July 17, 2016, and it has appeared at several national events this year.  Today, Doc's Friends is a 501c3 non-profit organization that manages the operations of the aircraft from Wichita, KS.

The Aero Experience coverage of Doc at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017 begins here with some views of the bomber in Boeing Plaza, including an inside tour, and will continue later with coverage of Doc and Fifi flying in our future air show series.