Doc’s Friends Inc., Wichita, Kansas, has announced that three WWII bombers will be making a stop in Wichita this August as part of a public event at the B-29 DOC Hangar Education and Visitors Center. Expected to appear are Boeing B-29 Superfortress DOC, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey, and the North American B-25 Mitchell Maid in the Shade. The aircraft are due to be in Wichita between August 5 and 9, when visitors will be able to access the ramp area, tour the aircraft, and book ride flights while the bombers are on site.
DOC, one of only two flying B-29s remaining, was originally built in Wichita during WWII as part of the more than 1,600 examples produced there. Sentimental Journey, a B-17G built in California in late 1944, is one of only a small number of Flying Fortresses still flying today out of the more than 12,000 produced during the war. The B-25 Maid in the Shade was built in Kansas City in 1944 and later served with the 319th Bomb Group in France, flying combat missions during the war. It remains one of the few surviving airworthy bombers with wartime combat history.
“These three warbirds tell a powerful story of WWII, highlighting America’s airpower across both the European and Pacific theaters,” said Josh Wells, chief executive officer of DOC. “Seeing these historic aircraft together brings history to life and offers a rare opportunity for people to experience WWII up close.” The aircraft is expected to arrive in Wichita on August 3 ahead of the public event schedule. “Bringing the B-17 and B-25 together with DOC creates a remarkable tribute to the crews and aircraft that helped secure victory during WWII,” said Mike Garrett, CAF Airbase Arizona tour director. “Each of these airplanes represents a different chapter of the war, and seeing them side by side gives people a rare chance to connect with the history, sacrifice, and legacy of the Greatest Generation.”
According to organizers, public access at the hangar will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between August 4 and 7, with extended hours from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on August 8 and 9. General admission is set at $15 per person or $30 per family and includes ramp access and aircraft tours while the bombers are on the ground. Ride flight tickets for the aircraft are being sold separately. Click HERE to book ride tickets for B-29 DOC. Click HERE to get your ride tickets for B-17 Sentimental Journey & B-25 Maid in the Shade. For more information and to support Doc’s Friends Inc., click on this link: www.b29doc.com.
