PRESS RELEASE
B-25 Miss Mitchell from the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Minnesota Wing will make a tour stop in Wichita at the B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center, Oct. 4-8, 2023. The B-25 arrival and corresponding tour stop in Wichita will coincide with the B-29 Doc WSU Tech Pull a Plane event, Saturday, Oct. 7. In addition to B-25 ride flight experiences on Oct. 7 during the Pull a Plane event, Miss Mitchell will be available for ride flights beginning Oct. 5 through Oct. 8.
“The connection between the B-25 and the B-29 in our nation’s history is significant when it comes to World War II and the fight to defend freedom in the face of oppression,” said Josh Wells, B-29 Doc executive director. “The stories of our nation’s heroes from the Greatest Generation come alive when these historic warbirds allow people to climb inside the aircraft and get a hands-on and up-close look at the machines that helped deliver victory for the Allied Forces during the war.”
B-25 Miss Mitchell will arrive in Wichita on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, and will be available for ride flight experiences October 5-8. B-29 Doc Flight Experiences will be available on Sunday, Oct. 8.
In addition, to ride flight experiences through the week, both aircraft will be involved in the Pull a Plane fundraiser to benefit B-29 Doc and the WSU Tech Foundation. While Doc will be the main aircraft pulled by teams during the event, children ages 7-17 will be able to sign up to pull the B-25.
“We are excited to be a part of the event and to be partnering with the B-29 Doc again; there’s so much history to share,” said Amy Lauria the CAF Minnesota Wing’s development officer. “We look forward to helping to share the history of Miss Mitchell and her crew with people in Wichita.”
“Miss Mitchell” is a pristine example of what a dedicated group of volunteers can accomplish. Donated to the Minnesota Wing in the 1980’s, volunteers immediately began a complete ground-up restoration of this versatile medium bomber. The B-25 placed itself in World War II history books on April 18, 1942 when 16 of the medium-range bombers launched from the deck of an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean and bombed mainland Japan. Led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, America had begun to turn the tables on the Japanese. The B-25J “Miss Mitchell” served in the 310th Bomb Group, 57th Bomb Wing of the 12th Air Force in North Africa and Italy completing over 130 missions. Its legacy of no crew fatalities during all of its missions was a rare accomplishment. Prior to taking command of the 8th Air Force in Europe in 1944, the 12th Air Force was under the command of then Brigadier General Jimmy Doolittle. After a 12 year restoration by the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, Miss Mitchell took her first flight on April 18, 1992 ~ exactly 50 years to the day of the daring Doolittle raid.
BOOK YOUR SEATS ON HISTORY NOW!
Ride flight tickets for both aircraft are on sale now and available via these links:
B-29 Doc: www.b29doc.com/rides
B-25 Miss Mitchell: October 5-8, 2023 B-25 in Wichita, KS with the B-29 Doc (cafmn.org)
“We are excited to partner with the CAF’s Minnesota Wing and its B-25 Miss Mitchell. Both organizations share the same mission of honoring our nation’s military heroes, both past and present, and ensuring the legacy of the Greatest Generation lives on for generations to come,” Wells said.
About Doc’s Friends and B-29 Doc
Doc’s Friends, Inc., is a 501c3 non-profit board managing the operation of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress known as Doc. Doc is a B-29 Superfortress and one of 1,644 manufactured in Wichita during World War II. It is one of only two remaining B-29s that are still airworthy and flying today. The mission of Doc’s Friends is to HONOR the men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedom of others, including those who designed, built, maintained and flew the B-29 during and after WWII. CONNECT people with the rich heritage of the B-29 and allow aviation enthusiasts to experience the thrill of a B-29 up close. EDUCATE today’s and future generations on the contributions of the Greatest Generation during wartime. For more information, visit www.b29doc.com
About the B-29 Doc History Restored Tour and B-29 Doc Flight Experience
Each year, B-29 Doc travels to cities across the United States to allow aviation enthusiasts a chance to B-29 Doc up-close and personal. Doc’s annual tour mission includes an average of 100 flight hours, beginning in early April and spanning through the summer until late October. Tour stops include ground and flight deck tours, as well as B-29 Doc Flight Experiences. The B-29 Doc Flight Experience will last approximately 90 minutes and include a 30-minute ride. Prior to takeoff, passengers will experience a crew briefing and learn more about the history of the B-29 and the role it played in U.S. history. Passengers will also get to hear and see the sights and sounds of engine starts and run-ups prior to takeoff.
About the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing
The Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing was formed in 1971. The Minnesota Wing was the very first charter unit of the national headquarters wing of the Commemorative Air Force and operated as a maintenance support arm to help the CAF’s mission and its ever growing fleet of rare aircraft. Today, the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing is home to six aircraft, a large motor pool fleet, and a unique collection of World War II artifacts that are on display. For more information, visit www.cafmn.org.
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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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