Central Arizona airfield playing host to WWII-era bomber this week
Oct 5, 2016, 5:54 AM | Updated: 12:44 pm
(Commemorative Air Force Airpower History Tour Photo)
(Commemorative Air Force Airpower History Tour Photo)
PHOENIX — A Boeing B-29 bomber, one of the aircraft types that helped bring an end to World War II, will be on display at a central Arizona airfield this week.
The bomber, nicknamed “FIFI” will touchdown this week and be on display from Wednesday to Sunday at Love Field in Prescott. It will be available for viewing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will take to the air on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.
“For many people, it is a once in a lifetime experience,” Kim Pardon with the Commermorative Air Force Airpower History Tour said. “A lot of people come out every time we show up in a city. It’s a unique plane.”
Admission for the show at Love Field is $10 for adults and $5 for children.
“We keep it touring so we can keep it flying,” Pardon said. “That’s how they make money to keep the airplane flying.”
B-29s were used on thousands of missions in the Pacific Theater during WWII and destroyed parts of Japan, including portions of large cities such as Tokyo.
On Aug. 6, 1945, a B-29 called the “Enola Gay” dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later, a B-29 called “Bockscar” dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
Japan surrendered soon afterward, officially bringing WWII to a close.
