Warbird Information Exchange

Is there anywhere in the US that anyone with no special access can sit in the pilots seat of a B-29?

I think there are a few left that haven't been blown to bits. ... but remember you might get blown to bits in some "weapons test" like we don't know what a weapon will do to an aircraft....

I would imagine that if you came to Midland to give Dave a hand, he'd be happy to let you sit in the cockpit of FIFI while you're taking a break.

Gary

Going by your location (Vermont) perhaps you could contact the New England Air Museum and ask them. B-29 "Jacks Hack" is on display there.

I dont think the general public can just waltz right into the plane, but perhaps you could make special arrangements if you talk to the right people.

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Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

True.
If you've got a yearning to sit in a 29, they can make it happen. Just my a nice inquiry with your intentions and they should be able to work something out.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

The people that run the museum in Pueblo, Co. are some VERY nice folks..They are almost all retired vets...(a lot of Navy types! go figure!) I am a special nobody, and they allowed me access to their B-29...nose to tail. May I suggest offering a nice little donation to their coffers....it wouldn't hurt!

It's worth it! BTW Gary, my Dad, Sean and Mikey all say "Hi!"

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

Visit Django Studios online or Facebook!

Gen. Paul Tibbets reminiscing in the cockpit of the B29 Fertile Myrtle at the Weeks Air Museum.

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http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/AVIATION

When was that?

I hosted visits by Gen. Tibbets to the Weeks Air Museum (Tamiami Airport day's) during 1999 and 2000. This was taken during the 2000 visit.

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http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/AVIATION

We had some of the crew of Bockscar in the B-29 at the NMUSAF. It is always pretty cool to see a vet reunited with his aircraft.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I got my first class medical renewed today by Dr. Charlie Smith, M.D. He flew B-29's on the opening day of Korea. He had a wooden model of a B-29 signed by Paul Tibbets in his examining room.
He told me that when Col. Tibbets was training his men a few of them were complaining about the rigors and difficulty of the training. So COl Tibbets trained a couple of female pilots and let them demonstrate the B-29 to the male pilots. End of complaining pilots!

It was at the museum after hours that I ran into LtCol. Olivi and got my Bockscar's postcard signed by him (picture of it posted in the "Preserving Signed Items" thread).

Great guy.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Not to hijack the thread, but are any of the crewmembers of Enola Gay and Bock's Car still with us?

SN

From what I could find Gen Tibbets was the last surviving member from the Enola Gay

Beser, Jacob b. March 15, 1921 d. June 16, 1992
Veteran of World War II. He was the Radar Countermeasure Officer aboard the Enola Gay the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 (Bio by: Erik Lander)
Baltimore Hebrew Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore city, Maryland, USA
Plot: Division 1, Section 5, Lot 1099.

Caron, George b. October 31, 1919 d. June 3, 1995
World War II United State Army Air Corps Officer. He was the tailgunner on the "Enola Gay," the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. (Bio by: Erik Lander)
Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA
Plot: 8, 0, 1106 [unmarked]

Duzenbury, Wyatt E b. April 6, 1913 d. August 31, 1992
Veteran of World War II. He was the flight engineer aboard the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. (Bio by: Erik Lander)
Georgia Memorial Cemetery, Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia, USA

Ferebee, Thomas Wilson b. November 9, 1918 d. March 16, 2000
Veteran of World War II. He was the bombadier on the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. (Bio by: Erik Lander)
Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, Mocksville, Davie County, North Carolina, USA

Lewis, Robert Alvin b. October 18, 1917 d. June 18, 1983
World War II United States Army Soldier. He was the co-pilot aboard the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. (Bio by: Erik Lander)
Holmdel Cemetery, Holmdel, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA

Nelson, Richard H b. 1925 d. February 1, 2003
United States Army World War II Veteran. He was the Radio Operator aboard the Enola Gay the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 (Bio by: Erik Lander)
Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside County, California, USA

Parsons, William Sterling 'Deak' b. November 26, 1901 d. December 5, 1953
United States Army World War II Veteran. He was the Manhattan Project scientist aboard the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. (Bio by: Erik Lander)
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA
Plot: Section 3, Lot 2167

Shumard, Robert R b. September 7, 1920 d. April 24, 1967
United States Army World War II Veteran. He was the assistant engineer aboard the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. (Bio by: Erik Lander)
White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery, Troy, Oakland County, Michigan, USA

Stiborik, Joseph S. b. December 21, 1914 d. June, 1984
United States Army World War II Veteran. He was the radar operator aboard the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 (Bio by: Erik Lander)
Odd Fellows Cemetery, Rockdale, Milam County, Texas, USA

Tibbets, Paul b. February 23, 1915 d. November 1, 2007
United States World War II Army Officer. An officer in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, he was the pilot of the Boeing B-29 bomber nicknamed the "Enola Gay" which dropped the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. Born in Quincy, Illinois, he began his career as a medical student at the University of Florida before dropping out to purse his love of aviation. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1937 as a cadet, where he began his military training...[Read More] (Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.)
Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea, Ashes scattered across the English Chanel