{"id":131,"date":"2011-08-11T19:58:48","date_gmt":"2011-08-11T19:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/americainuniform\/?p=131"},"modified":"2011-08-15T13:57:54","modified_gmt":"2011-08-15T13:57:54","slug":"fifi-back-in-the-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/americainuniform\/2011\/08\/fifi-back-in-the-air.html","title":{"rendered":"FiFi Back in the Air . . ."},"content":{"rendered":"

FiFi back in the air!<\/em><\/p>\n

For all of you ex Boeing employees and lovers of vintage aircraft.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

FiFi Back in the Air . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

To our friends who may not understand the passion we feel for planes and particularly planes from WW2, this is Fifi. She is the only B-29 Strato Fortress still flying in the world today.<\/p>\n

This is one of the combat airplanes that flew from Iwo Jima, Saipan, Tinian islands to bomb Japan and help win the war. It was usually escorted by P-51 Mustangs to protect her from enemy fighters but many thousands of planes and aircrews were lost fighting for our country.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This happened at a time in history before we had long range missiles and electronics. These planes were flown by men from our farms and cities who left their families at home and risked their lives in high altitude gun fights. It was up close, brutal and extremely dangerous but they risked it all to protect our country. Many never came home again. We love, respect and honor all of our veterans. But we also have a love affair with the planes.<\/p>\n

It is a permanent addiction for us so we preserve these wonderful aircraft so you can see and experience the marvelous machines that preserved our freedom.<\/p>\n

We have completely rebuilt this aircraft and those powerful prop engines to bring Fifi back to life. It took years to accomplish, many thousands of donated dollars and thousands of hours of work by many unpaid volunteers to make this happen so that everyone can share this important part of our history. This is a unique flying museum.<\/p>\n

If you get a chance to see her at an airshow, don’t pass up the chance. You are watching history and she is the only one left out of thousands. This is truly a rare aircraft. Enjoy the video.<\/p>\n

Col. Tom Leo<\/strong>
\nGolden Gate Wing<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Note: Someone did a nice job of filming Fifi, the only flying B-29 . . .<\/p>\n